Orioles will try Holliday at 3rd during rehab assignment

BALTIMORE—As part of second baseman Jackson Holliday’s latest rehab assignment, he’ll be playing third at Double-A Chesapeake.

Coby Mayo has struggled in the field at third and is hitting just .158 with 35 strikeouts, including three on Saturday in the Orioles’ 6-2 loss to Oakland.

Holliday hasn’t played this season after February surgery to remove the hamate bone from his right wrist. This is his third rehab stint because of recurring pain in the right hand.

The Orioles also have been without third baseman Jordan Westburg, who had a platelet-rich injection in his right elbow in February. Westburg has a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow.

When Westburg increased the length of his throws and intensity in his rehab, he felt discomfort in the elbow. He’ll  have a re-evaluation on Monday.

With Westburg’s availability for this season uncertain, the Orioles are planning to play Holliday at third while also continuing to play him at second. Holliday was the overall No. 1 draft pick by the Orioles in 2022 as a shortstop.

“He’s mixing in at third,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “We talked to him, see where his head was at, and he was for it. I think if you look at our roster, versatility is something that we need.

“We have Blaze [Alexander] that can play everywhere in the infield and go out in the outfield. With a lefty bat and with Jackson’s background, his athleticism, just thinking through to see what it looks like and see how he feels about it. He has the ability to play second, short and third, so we’ll see what it looks like when he gets down there.”

Holliday played one game at third for High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Bowie in 2023 while getting accustomed to second base. He has started seven games at shortstop in the majors.

“This is more just kind of versatility, see what it looks like,” Albernaz said. “He’s played the left side of the diamond his whole life. He was out there today, took some ground balls, it looks really good.” 

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