With Westburg and Holliday out, Jackson is proving his value to Orioles

BALTIMORE—A year ago, Jeremiah Jackson was toiling away for the Chesapeake Baysox, his fourth season in Double-A with his third different organization.

Jackson had been invited to major league spring training because the Orioles needed extra infielders. He was stuck in the auxiliary clubhouse and wasn’t with the team for long.

After hitting .254 with four home runs and 19 RBIs in 45 games for the Baysox, there was an opening at Triple-A Norfolk, his first stop at that level.

The 26-year-old infielder/outfielder surprised by hitting .377 with a 1.073 OPS, 11 homers and 22 RBIs in 40 games for the Tides. Then there was another opening.

The Orioles traded utility infielder Ramón Urías as part of their massive selloff in late July, and Jackson was promoted. He made an impression.

Playing third base and right field, Jackson hit .276 with five homers and 21 RBIs and a .775 OPS.

Injuries to second baseman Jackson Holliday and third baseman Jordan Westburg have given Jackson plenty of chances in the first 18 games, and he’s performed.

After a 12-for-25 homestand with four home runs and 10 RBIs, Jackson is hitting .340 with a .949 OPS. He’s far from a finished player. Jackson has yet to walk this season, striking out 12 times. Last year, he struck out 50 times and walked 11. But he has been clutch, and he has been impressive.

“Pitchers here are good,” Jackson said. “I don’t see the point in getting myself in a hole. If I see something early on that I like or I feel like I can handle well, I try to get a good swing off. Obviously, the game and the flow will dictate a lot of that. But if you’re going to put something over the middle of the plate early on, I’d like to hit it.”

Jackson was at the center of everything on Monday night. First, he hit a line drive into the dugout that manager Craig Albernaz didn’t have time to avoid. It broke Albernaz’s jaw and shattered his cheek bone. Not knowing the severity of Albernaz’s injury, Jackson pulled himself together and singled.

But he was just getting started. In the sixth, after Arizona had taken a 7-1 lead, Jackson hit a grand slam that brought the Orioles to within one, 7-6. It set up Pete Alonso for the go-ahead homer in the seventh, and Jackson added on in the eighth with his second home run in a thrilling 9-7 win.

Albernaz received medical treatment after being struck on the right side of his face in the fifth, but he briefly returned an inning later after Jackson’s slam. He and Jackson hugged before the manager headed off to the hospital.

A day later, when Albernaz returned to work, Jackson presented him with the home run ball: “Sorry, homie,” he inscribed.

Jackson’s production has been timely for a second reason. On Friday, the Orioles lost catcher Adley Rutschman and first baseman/designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle to injuries.

“Swinging it well,” Jackson said. “Started off slow, got a few hits every once in a while, but I’m starting to backspin the ball a little bit. It’s a tough game. Just going to try to continue to get good pitches, turn the page and get out there tomorrow [Thursday] in Cleveland.”

Jackson was shaky at times in the field last season. This year, he looks more comfortable, especially at second base, where he made another diving stop on Wednesday.

“I wouldn’t say he’s come far, but this is a great example of a player putting in the work,” Albernaz said. “Whatever’s asked of him, he’ll do, and you’re seeing that shine right now.

“He’s taken to second base and is playing it well. I think that’s an understatement. But he’s done a great job as far as his clock, reading hops, and obviously his range has been really impressive. I think that’s the one thing really standing out, the range, especially going to the four-hole [between first and second], stealing hits, and that’s huge for us.”

Jackson has been working with infield coach Miguel Cairo and third base coach Buck Britton.

“Cairo’s awesome, getting in a lot of work with him, Buck, Alby, too. Just him letting me know that I’m going to play here, be there, whatever the case is, he’s very vocal,” Jackson said. “So just to be on the same page always helps. But for me, I came up playing a lot of middle infield. So I just kind of had to, I guess, in a way, get calibrated to second over the left side of the infield. Yeah, I feel good over there. So just keep on making plays and having good at-bats and getting on another streak.”

Jackson hit another home run on Jackie Robinson Day when all players honored the major league’s first Black player in a game the Orioles lost to the Diamondbacks, 8-5, in 10 innings.

“Today’s a special day,” Jackson said. “Just to be here, be able to wear the jersey [42], it’s an honor, something that I’m very happy about being able to do. Yeah, it was a good day. Just wish we got the win.”

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