Jackson Holliday to Miss Opening Day After Hamate Surgery

Jackson Holliday will miss Opening Day and start the 2026 season on the injured list after undergoing surgery on Thursday, February 12, 2026, to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand. The injury occurred during batting practice on February 6 while he was taking live at-bats in Sarasota. Dr. Steven Shin performed the procedure in Los Angeles, removing the hamate bone.

Timeline

Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Holliday’s return is "measured in weeks." Holliday has expressed optimism about a faster recovery and aims to return to live hitting within three weeks based on conversations with other players who had the same surgery. Elias described the injury as a common baseball injury for hitters with no long-term concern.

Context

Holliday played 149 games in 2025, batting .242 with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs. The Orioles acquired Blaze Alexander the day before the surgery; Alexander will see increased playing time at second base during Holliday’s absence.

What It Means for AthX

Holliday’s share price will reflect his absence until he’s back; dynamic pricing will update as his return timeline firms. Blaze Alexander gets a short-term bump in opportunity and value. Once Holliday returns, his price will again reflect his role and production. Browse the marketplace to see how lineup and injury news affect player values on AthX. *Sources: ESPN, MLB Trade Rumors, AP, Baltimore Baseball. Fact-checked February 20, 2026.*