Quick Read
- Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday sustained a broken hamate bone in his right hand.
- The injury will force Holliday to miss all of spring training and the 2026 MLB Opening Day.
- Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias confirmed the injury, stating it is not concerning long-term.
- Holliday, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 Draft, is expected to undergo surgery on Thursday.
- The Orioles may utilize recent acquisition Blaze Alexander to cover Holliday’s absence at second base.
SARASOTA, Fla. (Azat TV) – Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday, the team’s promising former No. 1 overall draft pick, will miss the start of the 2026 Major League Baseball season and all of spring training after suffering a broken hamate bone in his right hand. The injury, sustained during batting practice last week, was confirmed Wednesday by Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias, marking a significant setback for the young star and the team’s infield plans.
Holliday, 22, felt discomfort in his right hand on February 6th while taking live batting practice in Sarasota. Subsequent medical evaluation revealed a broken hamate bone, a small carpal bone located on the pinky finger side of the wrist. Elias stated that while the injury is not concerning for Holliday’s long-term career, it necessitates a recovery period measured in weeks, which will prevent him from being ready for Opening Day.
Jackson Holliday’s Injury and Recovery Timeline
The highly anticipated season for Holliday, who was selected first overall in the 2022 MLB Draft, will now begin with a period on the injured list. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on Thursday, February 12th, to address the broken hamate bone. According to Baseball Prospectus’ database, players who have undergone hamate surgery typically miss an average of about seven weeks. With Opening Day 2026 approximately six weeks away from the announcement, Holliday’s return to the field will likely occur sometime after the regular season begins.
Holliday was looking to build on a solid 2025 season, his first full year in the majors, where he played 149 games, hitting .247 with 17 home runs and 17 stolen bases. His performance last year had set expectations for him to take a significant step forward in his progression this season.
Impact on the Baltimore Orioles’ Infield Depth
Holliday’s absence creates an immediate void in the Orioles’ infield. Fortunately, the team had recently acquired infielder Blaze Alexander from the Arizona Diamondbacks. This move, made before Holliday’s injury, now appears particularly prescient. Alexander, 26, is a strong candidate to fill in at second base during Holliday’s recovery. Last season, Alexander played 74 games, posting a .230 batting average with seven home runs and four stolen bases.
Orioles management will rely on existing roster depth and Alexander’s capabilities to maintain competitive play at the keystone position as they navigate the initial weeks of the season without their top prospect.
Hamate Bone Injuries Across Major League Baseball
Holliday’s injury is not an isolated incident in the recent MLB landscape. Several other prominent players have also suffered hamate bone injuries this spring training, drawing attention to the prevalence of this particular fracture among professional hitters. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is expected to miss about six weeks due to his own hamate injury, though he is still anticipated to be ready for Opening Day.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll also sustained a hamate bone fracture and is set for surgery on Wednesday, February 11th. Carroll’s injury will force him to miss the World Baseball Classic, and his status for the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day on March 26th remains unclear. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons describes the hamate as a crucial bone connecting the wrist to the hand, essential for gripping and swinging motions, making its fracture particularly debilitating for baseball players.
The prevalence of hamate bone injuries among prominent players like Holliday, Lindor, and Carroll this spring training highlights a recurring challenge for MLB teams in managing player health, particularly for those involved in high-impact hitting, and underscores the delicate balance between aggressive training and injury prevention as the season approaches.