Orioles’ Jackson Holliday playing vs. Rays, but there’s a catch

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday worked hard to return from his hand injury and he was recently activated from the IL. While he is expected to make his 2026 season debut on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, Holliday is still dealing with some pain from the injury.

“Jackson Holliday said he’s in the lineup tonight at second for the Orioles. His hand still nags a little bit by his scar, but he said that’s ‘completely normal’ and the sensation will go away eventually,” Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner reported.

“It helps when you hit it on the barrel, so I’m going to try to do that,” Holliday said via Kostka.

Hitting the baseball on the barrel is certainly a good plan. There isn’t a batter in the game who enjoys making contact off the end of the bat or getting jammed near the hands. When a batter is dealing with a hand injury, though, there is even more motivation to square the baseball up. Otherwise, you will likely feel it.

The good news is that Holliday is returning after missing the first portion of the 2026 season. The Orioles have endured ups and downs all season long, so they will benefit from Holliday’s return.

Baltimore is set to enter the game on Tuesday night with a 21-27 overall record. The team is in fourth place in the American League East standings. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay leads the AL East with a 31-15 record.

First pitch for the Orioles and Rays game is scheduled for 6:40 PM EST.

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