HOW WILL ORIOLES REPLACE BLAZE ALEXANDER AFTER BEING HIT BY PITCH IN 7TH INNING AGAINST THE ROYALS?
The Baltimore Orioles are facing a major roster challenge after breakout infielder Blaze Alexander suffered a broken hand that will sideline him for several weeks, if not the rest of the regular season.
The Impact of the Injury
Lineup Loss: Alexander was a vital force in the lineup, carrying a .310/.368/.439 season batting line.
Elite Stretch: Since May 25, he had been one of the league's best hitters, slashing .388/.442/.578.
Defensive Hole: His breakthrough had successfully solved the Orioles' massive hole at third base during Jordan Westburg's absence.
Internal Replacement Options
Manager Craig Albernaz faces a significant issue against right-handed pitching (RHP), as Alexander's potential replacements have stark platoon splits:
Coby Mayo: While Mayo crushes left-handed pitching (1.092 OPS), he is virtually unplayable against righties with a meager .447 OPS.
Jeremiah Jackson: The likely next man up to play third base against righties, though he carries a pedestrian .685 OPS against them.
Jackson Holliday: Holliday's playing time will be impacted; while his bat is heating up, shifting him around makes it harder for the manager to shield him based on matchups.
Triple-A Norfolk Depth: The Orioles could look to Triple-A for Christian Encarnacion-Strand, José Barrero, Bryan Ramos, or Luis Vázquez, though none represent an ideal or highly attractive solution.
Potential Trade Deadline Targets
Because internal options are limited, the front office is expected to aggressively explore the trade market before the deadline in three weeks. Speculative external targets include:
Luis Arraez (Giants)
Gleyber Torres (Tigers)
Brett Baty (Mets)
ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON JULY 13, 2026 AT 9:00 AM EDT