Jeremiah Jackson eyes spot on Orioles’ roster in 2026

When the Orioles dealt Ramón Urías to the Houston Astros at the trade deadline, there was a need for a utility player.

Urías, who won the Gold Glove at third base in 2022, was an underappreciated Oriole. He played each of the four infield positions, though more at third than anywhere else.

He had another year before he was eligible for free agency, but his trade enabled the Orioles to take a look at Jeremiah Jackson.

Jackson wasn’t exactly a replacement for Urías. They also had Luis Vázquez, who could play each of the infield positions, but Vázquez didn’t have much punch.

In 32 games with the Orioles, Vázquez hit just .160 with a home run and three RBIs and chipped in by pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings in four games, helping to save the bullpen in blowouts.

Jackson, who was signed by the Orioles as a minor league free agent last November, was an afterthought in spring training. He was stuck in an auxiliary clubhouse, and was among the first cuts.

He began the season with Double-A Chesapeake, his fourth straight season at that level.

After hitting .254 in 45 games, Jackson received his first promotion to Triple-A at 25. His career took off.

He hit .377 with a 1.073 OPS, 11 home runs and 22 RBIs at Norfolk, and the Orioles took notice.

With open roster space, Jackson took advantage of the opportunity, and hit .323 with an .828 OPS and had a 13-game hitting streak that ended September 2^nd.  He also hit in 18 straight starts, the longest streak since Cedric Mullins’ 20-game streak in 2021.

Jackson had 35 hits in his first 30 games, trailing only Billy Ripken (41 hits in 1987) and Curtis Goodwin (40 hits in 1995).

September was rougher for Jackson. He hit only .221 with a .713 OPS, and finished the season with a .276 average, .775 OPS, five home runs and 21 RBIs.

Jackson had 31 starts in right field and 10 at third base. He committed three errors in only 24 chances at third and was regularly removed for a defensive replacement late in games the Orioles led.

He played shortstop in the minor leagues, but with Jackson Holliday on hand, it was easy having him play shortstop on the rare occasions Gunnar Henderson didn’t.

Since Holliday and Henderson played regularly, there wasn’t the need for Jackson to play short or second, though he did play second base for an inning.

With Jordan Westburg hurt during Jackson’s time with the Orioles, there was a need for him to play third.

It’s often been thought that a utility player needs to play shortstop, but interim manager Tony Mansolino said that wasn’t the case. If Henderson, Holliday and Westburg are healthy next season, Jackson might find spot as a right-handed hitter off the bench.

With left-handed hitters Dylan Beavers and Colton Cowser, Jackson could get some playing time in right, although if Tyler O’Neill is healthy, that could be an issue.

Even though Jackson surprised with his performance in the final two months of the season, he’s not guaranteed a spot on the 2026 Orioles, but he will enter spring training with an opportunity to make it.

Managerial update

On Monday night, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that the Orioles had interest in former Seattle manager Scott Servais, who also reportedly had interest from Minnesota.

Earlier, it had been reported that former New York Mets manager and current Yankees third base coach Luis Rojas had interviewed, and that the Orioles were going to interview Albert Pujols.

Pujols withdrew from the Los Angeles Angels’ search, and the Angels have hired longtime major league catcher Kurt Suzuki for their job. Suzuki had not been linked with the Orioles.

Servais, a longtime major league catcher, was 680-642 in nine seasons with the Mariners. He’s currently a special assistant in San Diego’s front office.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.