The Baltimore Orioles just took a tough hit in their 2026 campaign, and it's news that Boston Red Sox fans will want to pay attention to. According to Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner, Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg is set to undergo season-ending elbow surgery, sidelining the All-Star for the rest of the year.

Westburg has been on the injured list all season after suffering a partially torn UCL in his right elbow during spring training. This is just the latest in a string of frustrating setbacks for the 27-year-old. He missed nearly two months with a hand injury in 2024 after making the American League All-Star team, and last season he was limited to just 85 games due to a hamstring strain and ankle sprain.

When healthy, Westburg has shown real promise—posting a .264/.312/.456 slash line over 260 career games, with a notable power surge of 17 home runs in limited action last year. His solid defense at second and third base has been a key part of Baltimore's infield, making his absence all the more significant.

The Orioles' offense has been struggling, currently ranking 20th in MLB with a .693 OPS. Star shortstop Gunnar Henderson is hitting just .197, and offseason signing Pete Alonso is off to a modest start at .218/.310/.424. To make matters worse, top prospect Jackson Holliday has yet to play this season after undergoing surgery on a fractured hamate bone in his right hand back in February.

With Westburg and Holliday both out, Baltimore has been forced to rely on infielders like Jeremiah Jackson, Weston Wilson, Blaze Alexander, and Coby Mayo—a far cry from the lineup they envisioned at the start of the season.

As it stands, the Orioles hold a slim 1.5-game lead over the Red Sox with a 20-24 record. Boston will host Baltimore for a three-game series starting June 1st, and this injury news could shift the momentum in the AL East rivalry. For now, the Red Sox have a chance to capitalize on a division foe's misfortune.