Jordan Westburg is becoming a “special player” for the Baltimore Orioles.
That’s the sentiment from manager Brandon Hyde when Westburg delivers a clutch hit or makes a sensational defensive play in the infield.
Westburg has played a key role in the Orioles’ renaissance along with other emerging superstars like catcher Adley Rutschman, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, outfielder Colton Cowser and starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez.
Westburg is embracing the expectations of playing for a team that is expected to be a World Series contender for the next several years. These young Orioles expect to win every night.
“When I got called up last year, I felt like we played a lot of intense games, a lot of close games that could go either way,” Westburg said. “With the core that we have, a lot of the same guys, we’re used to it, unfazed. We know a lot of opportunities aren’t going to go our way, but if they keep coming up, one of them is bound to happen.
“I think there’s just a confidence in everybody on this club, whether it’s the bullpen, starters, one through nine, bench players coming in and making an impact. I think everybody plays confident and has each other’s back.”
Westburg began the 2023 season at Triple-A Norfolk but was promoted on June 26. He slashed .260/.311/.404 (54-for-208) with 22 extra-base hits, 26 runs scored, 23 RBIs, 16 walks, one hit-by-pitch and four stolen bases in 68 big league games (54 starts). His 17 doubles in his first 68 career games are the second most in Orioles history since 1954 behind Rutschman, who had 22 in 2022.
Westburg has been even better this season. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound infielder is hitting .283/.336/.512 with 34 extra-base hits and 46 RBIs entering play on June 27. In May, he had his first career four-hit game and his second walk-off hit in a 5-4, 11-inning win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Hyde has been impressed by Westburg’s overall approach to the game.
“He’s just getting better and better,” Hyde said. “He’s a special player. This guy’s going to be really good, and it’s his first full season in the big leagues. He’s just doing a little bit of everything. How much better he’s gotten defensively at third base, second base, the at-bats he takes. He never takes a pitch off. He just battles every single pitch at the plate and he can cover and hit the ball to all fields hard. Really impressed with him so far.”
Westburg has one of the best work ethics of any player on the Orioles. That means arriving at the ballpark early to take swings in the batting cage, lift weights or work on his fitness. That type of mentality has caught the attention of his coaches.
“He is super disciplined and consistent with his work every day and it shows on the field,” co-hitting coach Ryan Fuller said. “His approach is very simple. He wants to be a complete hitter going line to line, line drives all over, and when he does that he hits the ball hard, too.
“He does a great job of controlling the strike zone. All the things we want in our hitters, he exemplifies every day in what he does in his work before the game and then when he plays the game, too. Just a really consistent, great hitter.”
Hyde has also been impressed by Westburg’s approach to the game. He has a quiet demeanor when speaking with the media, but Hyde said that Westburg is one of the most engaging players on the roster when the Orioles have their discussions behind the scenes.
Two words that come to mind for Hyde are “consistent” and “disciplined.”
“His approach this year is off the charts and that kind of growth in one year is unbelievable,” Hyde said. “He’s going to be a really good baseball player and a hard-nosed, winning player. You know what you’re going to get out of Jordan Westburg every single day, and that’s going to be four of the toughest at-bats of the game and never miss a pitch defensively or offensively. And that’s all you can ask for.”
Westburg has been the perfect fit for the Orioles’ deep and talented lineup. This season, he has batted everywhere but the nine hole. He has played both second and third base at a high level. His versatility makes him a valuable asset to the Orioles.
“I think this offense can do a lot of things, and one through nine plus the four guys on the bench, whoever they are, anybody on our team at the end of the day can impact the game,” Westburg said. “There’s just a confidence in all of our abilities. We all have confidence in each other. Everybody’s working. Nobody’s going to get in that spot and be unprepared.”
Photo Credit: Colin Murphy/PressBox
Originally published June 19, 2024. Updated June 27, 2024.