The Baltimore Orioles have suffered a major setback as infielder Jordan Westburg undergoes Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, sidelining him for the entire 2026 season. The 27-year-old, who earned All-Star honors in 2024, had been battling a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament since spring training.

General Manager Mike Elias confirmed the news Friday, describing it as a "pretty normal Tommy John surgery." While the recovery timeline remains flexible, Elias expressed optimism about Westburg's return: "It's too early to set a specific timeline, but him being back as a full player early in 2027 is very much in play."

Westburg had initially tried a conservative approach, receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in February in hopes of returning this season. "To Jordan's credit, he wanted to try everything he could to come back and help the team as an infielder this year," Elias explained. "But the conservative route just wasn't working out, so we went ahead with the surgery. I don't think much was lost in terms of his 2027 timeline."

The procedure was performed by renowned Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache, whom Westburg consulted earlier this week. This marks another chapter in what has been a challenging stretch for the talented infielder, who was limited to just 85 games last season due to a series of injuries—including his left hamstring, left index finger, and right ankle.

Despite those setbacks, Westburg showed his All-Star caliber in 2024, posting a .265 batting average with 17 home runs and 41 RBIs over 85 games. For Orioles fans and fantasy baseball enthusiasts alike, his absence will be deeply felt, but the team remains hopeful that this surgery paves the way for a strong comeback in 2027.