February 24, 2026

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg carries high risk in drafts, given his recent UCL tear. According to reports, the team's primary third baseman will be sidelined through April with this injury and could be in danger of missing additional time if he does not progress well. Westburg has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his young career, appearing in only 85 games in 2025 and 107 in 2024. However, when on the field, Westburg has been quite productive and worthy of a selection within the top group at the third base position. Last season, the 27-year-old posted a .265/.313/.457 slash line with 17 long balls, 59 runs, and 41 RBI. Under the hood, he generated a strong 11.2% barrel rate, marking the second straight time he had a barrel rate over 11.0%. However, his high 22.7% K% rate and low 4.8% BB% significantly hinder his value in points leagues. The previous season, Westburg launched just 18 home runs in a larger sample size, suggesting his power upside is gradually increasing. Due to this recent injury, managers in standard formats should steer clear of the Mississippi State product at his current 221.5 ADP (since February 15) on the NFBC. While he may have some appeal in leagues with multiple IR spots, he may play a minimal role in the first half of the season, which will hinder your team's early production. One minor setback could further derail his campaign, especially in the first half. While he is sidelined, utility infielder Blaze Alexander or third baseman Coby Mayo could offer some low-end streaming upside as they should see close to an everyday role.--Andy Smith