Orioles authorities vp and regular supervisor Mike Elias normally speaks of his need to see prospects “graduate Triple-A” by the use of effectivity sooner than promoting them to the majors. Jordan Westburg’s cap and gown finally received right here Monday.
After higher than a 12 months of sturdy performances with Triple-A Norfolk, the Orioles referred to as up Westburg, a 24-year-old infielder Baseball America ranks as a result of the No. 4 prospect throughout the group and No. 46 throughout the sport, sooner than Monday night’s sport in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds.
Earlier than batting seventh and having fun with second base in his foremost league debut, Westburg acknowledged the wait wasn’t one factor he centered on. It confirmed in his play, displaying the consistency that has earned him the nickname “Captain” from completely different Orioles minor leaguers. In 158 video video games with the Tides all through the earlier two seasons, Westburg hit .283/.366/.533 with 36 home runs and 128 runs pushed in.
“I trusted that it was going to come back,” Westburg acknowledged. “Possibly not in my time, nevertheless in due time.
“I positively felt like I used to be making the correct strides to get to this degree, and I didn’t actually put an excessive amount of thought to it. I used to be simply centered on making an attempt to get higher each single day, making an attempt to verify I used to be doing what I’m doing to possibly set myself to be at this step and the place I’m proper now. Didn’t really feel like a very long time. Felt like I received drafted yesterday. So, it’s been actually fast, actually enjoyable.”
To create roster home for Westburg, the Orioles optioned infielder Joey Ortiz — one different well-regarded prospect — to Norfolk, whereas catcher José Godoy cleared waivers and accepted an challenge to Norfolk, opening a 40-man roster spot.
Promoted to Norfolk alongside eventual prime whole prospect Gunnar Henderson early remaining June, Westburg wanted to attend for for much longer for his first different throughout the majors. Westburg had 714 Triple-A plate appearances sooner than his promotion, in distinction with Henderson’s 295.
Like Henderson, Westburg was Baltimore’s second alternative in a draft, taken thirtieth whole in 2020 out of Mississippi State a 12 months after the Orioles drafted Henderson out of an Alabama highschool atop the second spherical with resolve No. 42. His faculty experience gave him an early leg up on Henderson, nevertheless the pair spent plenty of their climbs up Baltimore’s farm system sharing infields. Most of Westburg’s defensive appearances throughout the minors received right here at shortstop, nevertheless he normally ceded the place to Henderson and Ortiz whereas seeing widespread time at second and third base.
Each beat him to the majors. Henderson was referred to as up remaining August, baseball’s prime prospect arriving amid the Orioles’ shocking playoff push. Ortiz, moreover a member of Baltimore’s 2019 draft class, was eligible for the Rule 5 draft this earlier offseason and thus was added to the group’s 40-man roster, making it easier for the membership to promote him over Westburg when a necessity arose for a right-handed-hitting infielder early this 12 months.
Monday, they swapped places, reuniting Henderson and Westburg.
“He’s been killing all of it 12 months, so I’m actually joyful for him to be up right here, and I’m actually trying ahead to having the ability to share the infield with him once more,” Henderson acknowledged. “We’re aggressive with one another. We pushed one another each day after we had been down there, and actually trying ahead to doing the identical factor up right here. I do know it’s simply going to assist each of us develop into the most effective participant we might be.”
Earlier this month, the Orioles added Josh Lester, a minor league veteran, to the 40-man roster and promoted him over Westburg, with supervisor Brandon Hyde explaining Lester’s call-up by saying the membership sought one different left-handed bat ahead of a string of matchups with right-handed starters. In his expert career, Westburg has fared a lot better in opposition to right-handed pitching, posting an OPS higher than 350 components higher this season when coping with same-handed pitchers in distinction with when he has the platoon profit.
His debut received right here in opposition to Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson, with fellow right-handed hitters Jorge Mateo and Ramón Urías moreover starting on the infield whereas Henderson and Adam Frazier, who hit from the left facet, have been on the bench. Hyde acknowledged having fun with time going forward was “not set in stone,” with matchups and wishes for rest the determining elements.
Henderson and catcher Adley Rutschman, moreover a former No. 1 whole prospect, are the one avid gamers the Orioles have promoted into full-time roles beforehand two seasons. It’s not however clear whether or not or not Westburg will probably be a part of them.
“We simply felt like he was prepared to assist affect our group,” Hyde acknowledged. “We really feel like Jordan may help us win, affect our group positively. It’s not a improvement state of affairs. We’re making an attempt to win video games.”
If Westburg had any frustrations over being bypassed, he on no account enable them to current in his effectivity. He accomplished 2022 with an .852 OPS, 27 home runs and 106 RBIs between Norfolk and Double-A Bowie, acknowledged as a result of the group’s minor league participant of the 12 months. This season with the Tides, Westburg has hit .295/.372/.567 with 18 home runs and 54 RBIs in 67 video video games. Westburg moreover made six defensive appearances throughout the outfield for Norfolk, reflecting the flexibleness he now brings to Baltimore.
Hyde acknowledged he’ll primarily play second and third for the Orioles, with shortstop moreover an chance. Westburg acknowledged “I embrace the problem” of having fun with quite a lot of positions, together with he merely wishes to do what he can to help the Orioles win.
“He’s a real skilled in each facet of the phrase,” Lester acknowledged earlier this month. “The best way he goes about his enterprise earlier than the sport, he’s most likely one of many, if not probably the most ready particular person on the sector always.”
Westburg was one amongst six infield prospects in Baltimore’s foremost league camp who appeared on on the very least one offseason itemizing of baseball’s prime 100 prospects, and solely he and Henderson lasted until the tip of spring. A late-camp hurt to considered one of many Orioles’ established infielders may want resulted in Westburg landing on the opening-day roster.
As an alternative, his wait continued months into the season. However Sunday afternoon, after Norfolk completed a major half throughout which it topped the Worldwide League, Tides supervisor Buck Britton launched Westburg into the visiting supervisor’s office in Nashville, Tennessee, and knowledgeable him he was heading to the majors.
Not usually referred to as one to smile, Westburg responded with a nod and a “Sure, sir.”
“It hit me fairly exhausting, and I used to be making an attempt keep composed, I feel,” Westburg acknowledged a day later throughout the Orioles clubhouse. “It seems worse than it really felt, that’s for certain.”
He then went about calling family, discovering the service throughout the tunnel of Nashville’s ballpark to be “brutal.” However finally, he purchased by way of to his dad and mother, Paul and Christine, and partner, Anna Claire. The three of them joined him at Camden Yards on Monday, a day he described as a “whirlwind” as he settled proper right into a ballpark he waited a lifetime to get to and hopes to spend years to return.
“First few hours had been loopy, making an attempt to determine journey plans, and received in right here fairly early this morning,” Westburg acknowledged.
“However we’re right here now.”
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