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Jordan Westburg Opens Up About Emotional Frustration as Orioles Star Recovers From Elbow Injury<\/strong><\/p>\n The Baltimore Orioles<\/span><\/span> will begin the 2026 MLB season without one of their key infielders, as Jordan Westburg<\/span><\/span> continues recovering from a partially torn UCL in his right elbow<\/strong>. The injury is expected to sideline the standout third baseman through at least April, dealing an early blow to Baltimore\u2019s lineup.<\/p>\n While the Orioles must now adjust their roster plans, no one feels the impact of the injury more than Westburg himself. The talented infielder recently spoke candidly about the emotional and physical challenges of his recovery<\/strong>, revealing just how difficult it has been to watch from the sidelines.<\/p>\n In an interview conducted on March 13 with Ryan Ripken<\/span><\/span>, Westburg provided a rare and honest glimpse into what the rehabilitation process has been like.<\/p>\n Ripken, who hosts the Ryan Ripken Show<\/span><\/span> and frequently covers the Orioles, asked Westburg about recent videos showing him running during workouts. Westburg explained that running and light fielding are currently the only baseball activities he can perform.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, yeah. That\u2019s about all [I can do]. You know, it\u2019s slow. It sucks, right? Like, very disappointed to not be on the field.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Despite the frustration, Westburg is trying to maintain a positive outlook by focusing on small milestones during his recovery.<\/p>\n \u201cTrying to take every day as a win. I\u2019m starting to take ground balls again, so that\u2019s a win. Starting to run bases, that\u2019s a win.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Still, the limitations of his injury remain difficult to accept.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019m like a quarter of a ball player right now. No swinging, no throwing, but I can field it and run.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n For a competitive athlete who thrives on being in the lineup every day, that reality has been challenging.<\/p>\n Westburg also explained that the elbow problem didn\u2019t suddenly appear this season. Instead, it had been lingering for some time before becoming too serious to ignore.<\/p>\n Like many professional baseball players, he initially tried to push through the discomfort.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t play baseball, you don\u2019t understand that if anybody were to get an MRI on their elbow, everybody\u2019s elbow is messed up.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n According to Westburg, minor elbow issues are extremely common in baseball, especially for players who throw regularly from the infield.<\/p>\n For a long time, he believed his situation was no different.<\/p>\n \u201cFor a long time, I just wrote this off as like, we\u2019re just ballers. Everybody\u2019s got something wrong. You just kind of play through it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n However, the pain eventually worsened during the past season, making it impossible to ignore.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would come and go, sure. But it wasn\u2019t a normal thing until this past year.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n That realization ultimately led to the diagnosis of the partially torn UCL.<\/p>\n For Westburg, the hardest part of the injury has not been the treatment process itself, but the waiting period required for recovery<\/strong>.<\/p>\n After deciding on a treatment plan with the Orioles\u2019 medical staff, he now finds himself stuck in a frustrating holding pattern.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a hard pill to swallow. But I felt confident in the direction we took in the treatment.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Still, the uncertainty surrounding his return date has created another layer of frustration.<\/p>\n \u201cNow it\u2019s a waiting game. And that\u2019s another layer of frustration.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Like many injured athletes, Westburg must rely on patience as his body heals\u2014something that is often easier said than done.<\/p>\n Beyond the physical recovery, Westburg admitted that the emotional side of the injury has been particularly difficult.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to be on the field arguably more than everybody.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He acknowledged that players often say that while sitting out, but for him, the feeling is very real.<\/p>\n \u201cIt hurts. It\u2019s very disappointing to know that I\u2019m gonna miss out some more months and know that I\u2019m gonna have to watch from the couch.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n For someone who has worked relentlessly to establish himself as a key piece of the Orioles\u2019 roster, missing time early in the season is especially painful.<\/p>\n Despite the disappointment, Westburg remains determined to contribute to the Orioles whenever he is cleared to return.<\/p>\n His primary goal is simply to get back on the field, even if it means taking a reduced role at first.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it means I can come back and play every day, great.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n But he also made it clear that he would accept whatever role helps the team most.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it means I have to play every other day and take a backseat role, I\u2019m okay with that. I just want to be a part of the club.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n That mindset reflects the kind of team-first mentality the Orioles value within their roster.<\/p>\n Losing Westburg for the start of the season creates a challenge for the Baltimore Orioles<\/span><\/span>, who were hoping to build momentum early in the 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n Westburg has become an important piece of the Orioles\u2019 lineup thanks to his combination of defensive reliability, offensive production, and energy on the field<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Without him available in April, Baltimore will need other infielders to step up and fill the void until he is healthy enough to return.<\/p>\n Even with the frustration and uncertainty surrounding his recovery timeline, Westburg continues to approach rehabilitation with determination.<\/p>\n By focusing on small daily improvements\u2014whether it\u2019s running bases, fielding ground balls, or building strength\u2014he hopes those incremental victories will eventually lead back to the field.<\/p>\n For Orioles fans, his honesty about the emotional side of injury recovery has resonated strongly. Professional athletes are often expected to appear mentally unshakable, but Westburg\u2019s candid comments reveal the reality behind the scenes.<\/p>\n Ultimately, his goal remains simple: get healthy, return to the Orioles, and contribute however he can<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If his recovery continues progressing, Baltimore may still see Jordan Westburg back in action later in the 2026 season\u2014something both the team and its fans will eagerly anticipate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jordan Westburg Opens Up About Emotional Frustration as Orioles Star Recovers From Elbow Injury The Baltimore Orioles will begin the 2026 MLB season without one of their… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":163809,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-163808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nJordan Westburg Shares Honest Feelings About Recovery<\/h2>\n
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\nThe Injury That Forced Him to Stop Playing Through Pain<\/h2>\n
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\nA Difficult Reality for the Orioles Star<\/h2>\n
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\nMissing Time With the Orioles Hurts the Most<\/h2>\n
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\nHoping to Return in Any Role<\/h2>\n
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\nOrioles Facing Early Season Challenge<\/h2>\n
\nA Positive Attitude Moving Forward<\/h2>\n
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