Jordan Westburg underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and will miss the 2026 season, the report says. The operation was performed Wednesday after the Orioles determined a surgical repair was necessary to address a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament.
General manager Mike Elias described the procedure as routine and said the move will sideline Westburg for the remainder of the year. Elias added that it is too early to set a firm timetable for recovery, but a return as a full player in the early part of 2027 remains a realistic possibility, per the report.
Westburg, 27, had pursued conservative treatment earlier this year, receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in February and attempting to come back without surgery. Elias said the player was willing to exhaust nonoperative options to help the club this season, but the conservative route did not produce the needed results and surgery was chosen to protect the longer-term timeline.
Elias said Westburg met with Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache this week and that Dr. ElAttrache performed the operation, the report says.
The infielder was an All-Star in 2024 and was limited to 85 games last year because of injuries to his left hamstring, left index finger and right ankle. In those 85 games he hit .265 with 17 home runs and 41 RBIs, according to the report.
With the decision to proceed surgically, the organization is focused on Westburg’s rehabilitation with an eye toward him being available in early 2027, per Elias. The club will monitor his recovery and provide updates as the process unfolds.
