Orioles’ 2026 Hopes Rest on Internal Bounce-Backs as Holliday and Westburg Become Central to the Rebuild

There were many reasons the Baltimore Orioles failed to meet expectations during the 2025 season. Injuries mounted at inopportune moments. The starting rotation lacked depth and durability. A measure of bad luck played its part as well.

But when the dust settled, one issue stood above the rest as the most disappointing and unexpected shortcoming: the offense.

This was not supposed to happen.

Baltimore’s lineup was largely homegrown, built patiently through years of drafting and development, and widely viewed as the foundation of the organization’s championship window. Instead of carrying the team, that core faltered. The Orioles finished the year well below expectations, watching a season of promise unravel into frustration.

Recognizing that reality, President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias acted decisively this offseason. His objective was clear: restore power, stabilize run production, and prevent another offensive collapse in 2026.

Mike Elias Injects Power Back Into the Lineup

Elias’ most consequential move came in free agency with the signing of Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract. The expectation is straightforward. Alonso is being paid to deliver 35-plus home runs annually and anchor the heart of Baltimore’s lineup for the foreseeable future.

Before that, Elias swung a trade for Taylor Ward, a pending free agent who has slugged 61 home runs over the past two seasons. Ward brings not only power, but also on-base skill and positional flexibility.

In a matter of weeks, Elias reshaped an offense that had lost its identity.

The statistical drop-off in power was severe. In 2024, Baltimore ranked third in MLB in slugging percentage (.435). One season later, they fell to 19th (.394). While the departure of Anthony Santander played a role, the deeper issue was widespread underperformance from hitters expected to be long-term pillars.

External reinforcements raise the lineup’s floor. But the Orioles’ true ceiling in 2026 hinges on something more important: internal bounce-backs.

And no two players loom larger in that equation than Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg.

Jackson Holliday’s Gradual Climb Continues

One of the few Orioles hitters who showed genuine progress in 2025 was Jackson Holliday—a notable development given how turbulent his introduction to the majors had been.

Holliday’s early MLB experience was defined by struggle. Overmatched at times, pressing at others, he looked like a player adjusting not only to elite pitching but to the weight of expectations that follow a former No. 1 overall pick.

In 2025, however, signs of stabilization emerged.

Holliday improved his contact quality, showed more patience at the plate, and began to trust his approach rather than forcing results. While his overall numbers did not leap off the page, the underlying indicators—hard-hit rate, chase rate, and situational at-bats—suggested meaningful growth.

That matters.

The Orioles do not need Holliday to become a superstar overnight. What they need is a reliable, above-average everyday infielder who can lengthen the lineup, grind at-bats, and capitalize on the protection now provided by Alonso and Ward.

With pressure eased and experience accumulated, 2026 represents Holliday’s first real opportunity to establish himself as a cornerstone rather than a prospect still finding his footing.

Jordan Westburg’s Talent Is Undeniable—Availability Is the Question

If Holliday represents gradual growth, Jordan Westburg represents unfinished business.

When healthy, Westburg has shown everything the Orioles envisioned: power to all fields, athleticism, and the versatility to play multiple infield positions at an above-average level. His ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball makes him one of the roster’s most valuable pieces.

The problem has been availability.

Westburg’s 2025 season was repeatedly interrupted by injuries, preventing him from finding rhythm or sustaining momentum. The result was a stat line that failed to reflect his true talent—and an offense that felt his absence acutely.

Baltimore does not need Westburg to reinvent himself. They need him on the field.

If Westburg can stay healthy across a full season, his blend of power and athleticism could be transformative. Batting behind Alonso or Ward, Westburg would see better pitches and fewer situations where he must force offense on his own.

A healthy Westburg changes the dynamic of the entire lineup.

Why Internal Growth Still Matters Most

The additions of Alonso and Ward were necessary. They provide certainty, power, and veteran reliability. But the Orioles’ long-term success cannot be purchased alone.

This roster was built on development.

For Baltimore to contend in 2026 and beyond, players like Holliday and Westburg must not simply coexist with the new additions—they must thrive alongside them.

If Holliday takes the expected step forward and Westburg remains healthy, the Orioles suddenly feature a lineup that is:

• Deeper

• More balanced

• Far less vulnerable to prolonged offensive droughts

That version of Baltimore looks far closer to the team envisioned during the rebuild.

The Defining Question of 2026

The Orioles’ offseason moves addressed symptoms. The 2026 season will reveal whether the underlying foundation is truly sound.

Can Jackson Holliday turn growth into consistency?
Can Jordan Westburg turn talent into availability?
And can the homegrown core finally support the power Elias imported?

If the answers are yes, Baltimore’s disappointing 2025 season will be remembered as a detour—not a warning sign.

Because for all the external additions, the Orioles’ 2026 hopes still rest where they always have: on the development of their own.