Holliday back in Orioles’ lineup at 2nd after ‘long, exhausting’ rehab; O’s-Rays lineups

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida— Jackson Holliday will play for the first time this season on Tuesday night. Holliday, who had surgery to remove the hamate bone from his right wrist in February and had three rehab stints, will bat seventh and play second base against the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Kind of long, a little exhausting, honestly,” Holliday said when describing the lengthy rehabilitation. “There’s good out of everything and spent a bunch of time with my wife and played with a bunch of teammates in the minor leagues that I came up with.”

Holliday hit the only home run in his 74 at-bats of rehab on Saturday night for Triple-A Norfolk.

“It helps whenever you’re in a ton of pain trying to swing a bat,” Holliday said. “It was definitely much easier to get off a good swing than in the past. They weren’t great. It’s rehabbing for a reason. Unfortunately, a broken hand isn’t exactly the easiest to deal with, especially when you’re trying to make the team.”

Holliday had to end his first two rehab stints because of pain.

“It was pretty frustrating,” Holliday said. “I want to come up here and be able to help the team win, and at that point, I wasn’t probably much help. To go through some nagging things was a little frustrating, but I knew it was kind of expected. To be able to get through that is kind of relieving.”

With third baseman Jordan Westburg out for the season after Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, the Orioles are considering playing Holliday at third on occasion.

Manager Craig Albernaz is confident Holliday, who came up as a shortstop, can play third.

“One hundred percent. I have confidence that Jackson Holliday can go play center field right now,” Albernaz said. “He will not be playing center field. He’s playing second base tonight. We’ll see moving forward. As long as Jackson Holliday is in our lineup and on our team, we feel really good about it.”

Holliday is eager to try third base.

“I don’t know what [Albernaz] and the team needs and I would like to think maybe if I’m going out there and taking grounders … I’ll be ready as I can be. I’ll give it all I’ve got,” he said.

Injury update

Left-handed starter Cade Povich was evaluated by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday and received a cortisone injection to address the elbow inflammation.

Right-handed reliever Colin Selby, who’s with the team at Tropicana Field, was evaluated by Dr. Chris Looze in Baltimore because of what the Orioles say are “mild shoulder symptoms.” Treatment options are being discussed. Selby is on the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.

First baseman Ryan Mouncastle, who’s on the 60-day injured list with a fractured left foot, is also at Tropicana Field. He’s walking without a boot.

High-A Frederick first baseman/outfielder Ike Irish will be out of the Keys’ lineup for the next few days with a bruised right wrist.

Orioles-Rays lineups

Orioles

Taylor Ward-LF

Gunnar Henderson-SS

Adley Rutschman-DH

Pete Alonso-1B

Samuel Basallo-C

Leody Taveras-CF

Jackson Holliday-2B

Coby Mayo-3B

Colton Cowser-RF

Kyle Bradish-RHP

Rays

Chandler Simpson-LF

Junior Caminero-3B

Jonathan Aranda-1B

Yandy Diaz-DH

Richie Palacios-2B

Jonny DeLuca-RF

Cedric Mullins-CF

Hunter Feduccia-C

Taylor Walls-SS

Griffin Jax-RHP

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