One year into Orioles career, Jordan Westburg’s intensity has been a constant: ‘Mr. Routine’
The Orioles know what they’re getting in Jordan Westburg.
It’s not often teams can say something like that about a player only one year into his MLB career. The highest level tests players in nearly every aspect of their lives, making consistency in both demeanor and production one of the most difficult qualities to achieve. Yet that’s exactly what the hard-nosed, steadfast infielder has done in Baltimore since making his debut a year ago Wednesday.
Westburg, 25, has been among the Orioles’ most productive players this season. He reached base five times in the club’s 10-8 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night, raising his slash line to .283/.337/.516 with 13 home runs, 16 doubles, 46 RBIs and six stolen bases in 73 games. Westburg has also delivered in big moments with two walk-off hits, started at every spot in the lineup except ninth and split his time on defense between second and third base despite being a natural shortstop.
“He’s just always kind of been the same guy,” teammate Colton Cowser said. “He really hasn’t changed too much. Other than him playing shortstop in the minor leagues and he’s kind of just accepted the change of playing second and third really professionally. I think that tells you a lot about him and his character.”
The 2020 first-round draft pick has also established himself as an intense presence in the dugout, driven to succeed at everything he does, every time he does it. He draws his motivation from within, a fact evident last weekend when he homered for the first time in his home state of Texas. Though he had a strong contingent of family and friends at the ballpark, Westburg didn’t dwell on the meaning of his home run beyond a few minutes after the blast.
“I don’t play this game for the external factors,” Westburg said. “I’m intrinsically motivated. At the end of the day, I know my why and I’m going to stick to it. It’s always good to see family and friends. I love them to death but, for me, I just try to keep my head down, play the game I know how to play it and learn from your mistakes.”
There haven’t been many mistakes. The Orioles first called Westburg up with the club halfway through its American League East division title-winning campaign last year and never sent him back down, a treatment other top prospects such as Cowser, Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad and Connor Norby never got. Rather, he’s in the same territory as Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, two cornerstones of the franchise who have yet to return to the minors since having their contracts selected.
While speculation swirled around which top prospect would be making the Orioles’ roster out of spring training this season, the Orioles were comfortable giving Westburg an opportunity to be an everyday player from the start. He has taken that opportunity on with a “blue collar” approach, as he called it in spring, and left a strong impression on those who watch him go to work on a day-to-day basis.
“He’s going to be one of those guys where every young player is going to come up when he gets older and be like, ‘Go watch that guy work. Go watch the way that guy prepares. Watch what he does in the weight room, pregame and postgame. Just watch how he goes about his business.’ Because already in his first full year, the guy is the ultimate pro in every single way and he’s just incredibly hard-nosed and loves to compete,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “So, there’s going to be a lot of people watching him over the years and try to imitate how he goes about his business because it’s off the charts.”
Away from the field, Westburg can loosen up and take things a little less seriously. Cowser, who was also teammates with Westburg in the minor leagues, called him a “goofy guy at heart” and said their shared interest in the “Star Wars” franchise helped them become closer over the years.
When it comes time to get to work, however, Westburg’s intensity takes over. Coming off a good day, he’s all business. Coming off a bad day, Westburg is all business — and best of luck to anyone in his way.
“Just kind of the way he goes about his business,” Cowser, a 2021 first-round pick, said of what impresses him the most about Westburg. “Really hard worker, really disciplined guy and just kind of ‘Mr. Routine.’ He knows what he has to do to get ready for a game and he’s not going to be too flashy or anything like that in the game, but you’re going to look up and you’re like, ‘Oh [crap], Jordan’s got a couple of hits.’ Just kind of how he is.”