Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg recently chatted with PressBox about his favorite dish to cook, the bucket-list place he’s never been and more.
PressBox: Who was your favorite sports star growing up?
Jordan Westburg: I had a poster of Michael Young. … He was everything I wanted to be. Consistent, quiet, seemed like he just worked hard playing the game the right way.
PB: If you weren’t a ballplayer, what do you think you’d be doing?
JW: When I was real young, I was infatuated with Navy SEALs, military, so in another universe maybe that.
PB: What’s your favorite dish to cook?
JW: My wife and I’s go-to is usually hamburger steak with mushroom and onion and then a couple sides. Whether that’s asparagus or mashed potatoes, throw some cornbread in there — a good southern meal.
PB: What’s your favorite thing to do on a day off?
JW: Depends. If we’ve had a long stretch and I haven’t had an off day, I’m chilling. I’m not doing squat. But if we’ve had a few off days and I still feel fresh, I don’t know — go for a walk with my wife.
PB: What’s your favorite pregame meal or snack?
JW: Whatever the kitchen has.
PB: What’s your favorite “guilty” food?
JW: Probably donuts.
PB: What’s a bucket-list place you’ve never been?
JW: Maybe Rome.
PB: What’s your favorite road city?
JW: I think one of my favorites is Boston. Good hotel, good area. In the mornings, go get breakfast and coffee and just walk around and enjoy the city a little bit. You can walk to the ballpark if it’s not too hot. The ballpark itself, there’s always a good atmosphere. It’s always competitive games. It’s an enjoyable trip for me.
PB: What’s the best tip you’ve ever been given?
JW: I’m OK with being a great man when we’re not being noticed and not being praised. I just want to do my job to the best of my abilities and hopefully use this platform for something bigger than myself.
PB: What’s a habit you wish you had?
JW: I read but it’s not at a pace that I wish. My wife blows through books and it takes me a month and a half to get through books. When I was younger, I was a big reader. I wish I would have kept that up.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox
Issue 294: August / September 2025
Originally published Aug. 13, 2025