Jordan Westburg: a soft-spoken, intense leader

SARASOTA, Fla. – Jordan Westburg is intense. Fans like intense. 

Would his friends and family describe him that way?

“Probably,” Westburg laughed. “I can be intense, you know? I’m not gonna dodge those allegations. But I do think there’s a lighter side, there’s a less serious side to me off the field especially. But here, I’m kind of very business-like, very matter of fact.” 

Westburg was all business in 2024. Flying under the radar entering the year, the third baseman put together an All-Star campaign. Westy posted a .792 OPS in his 107 games, but rather than boasting about the positives, he would point to the fact that his total wasn’t closer to 160. 

“I learned a lot last year from getting to play more,” Westburg said. “I was very bummed that I didn’t get a full season. I’m looking forward to trying to stay healthy this year and get a full season and see what we can piece together” 

Those 107 games weren’t for a lack of trying, though. If you could heal a broken hand through sheer will-power, the former top prospect would’ve found a way. He was not going to be denied a chance at the postseason. 

“I didn’t know any other thing other than to work because I wanted to get back,” Westburg said. 

On a personal note, I think back to my early afternoons preparing for a game in the warehouse at Camden Yards last season. From the MASN All Access studio, I could peer out an agape window down to the field. Who did I see more often than not? Westburg. An injured Westburg. Who, with a broken hand, was doing anything he could to stay in playing shape, any drill that didn’t require the use of his hand. It was a work ethic I couldn’t help but admire from afar. 

“I think [I get my work ethic] from my dad,” Westburg said with a knowing smile. “He’s a blue collar guy, hard worker, kind of set the foundation very young of ‘hey you might not be the most talented guy, but you can definitely out-work and have the right attitude about going about your work.’ So just growing up and watching him in his profession, kind of being around him, I think that’s kind of what molded me into who I am today.”

While Westburg may not have been the Orioles’ highest ranked prospect, the former shortstop certainly had the talent. Entering the 2023 season, there may have been four members of the organization ranked ahead of Westburg on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, but Westy still checked in at No. 74 in all of baseball. Baltimore’s embarrassment of riches on the farm could sometimes make players fly under the radar, but it certainly didn’t make the prospects any less skilled. 

The Mississippi State product showed off his value last year as one of the O’s most clutch hitters. Westburg had a whopping .923 OPS with runners-in-scoring-position last season and saw his batting average jump nearly 20 points from his season average. With men on base, that batting average jumped all the way up to .309. And in late and close situations? There may not have been many hitters better in the game. Westburg hit a ridiculous .429, slugged .776 and had an OPS close to 1.250. There was nearly a .500 point difference in his OPS in high leverage and low leverage situations. The dude is just built for the big moments. 

A fully-healthy Westburg is going to be a different player than we saw in 2024. 

While his outward nature may seem stoic, the 26-year-old learned how to play a different role in the clubhouse while recovering from his right hand fracture. His play couldn’t do the talking anymore; he had to learn how to develop a leader’s presence. And that role will only expand heading into this season. 

“It’s gonna develop more into that leadership role, into that more vocal guy,” Westburg said. “I don’t think I’ll ever be a quote-unquote vocal guy; I do think that there will be more room and opportunity to speak up, to be more of a vocal leader when need be.”

The O’s clubhouse has seen a lot of turnaround. Gone are veteran leaders like Anthony Santander, John Means and Austin Hays. It’s time for the young core to step up and prove that they aren’t just some of the best players on the team, they’re also ready to lead the team in the clubhouse as well. 

And you can expect a more experienced Jordan Westburg to be leading the pack.