The Baltimore Orioles lost All-Star third baseman Jordan Westburg to a broken right hand on Wednesday after a pitch hit him in the fifth inning.
Manager Brandon Hyde hopes Westburg might return by the end of the regular season, but he couldn’t say for sure. Westburg, who debuted in the big leagues last year, is hitting .269 with 18 home runs and 58 RBIs this season.
“They just X-rayed it,” Hyde said after Baltimore’s 10-4 win over Toronto. “How it heals and those things are beyond my expertise.”
Ramón Urías, who also plays third base for Baltimore, might step in, but the Orioles also have a top prospect at Triple-A Norfolk.
Coby Mayo has hit 20 home runs in 75 games this year and has an OPS of .944.
When Westburg was hit, it loaded the bases for rookie Jackson Holliday, who then hit a grand slam. Westburg stayed in to run but was replaced on defense.
“Obviously it’s tough seeing Westburg get hit in the hand. Really thinking about him right now,” Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez said. “You never want to see that happen.”
