Jeremiah Jackson made his MLB debut right when the Orioles traded Cedric Mullins to the Mets — a clear indication that the season was slipping away from Baltimore early on. After the deadline, those still listening to MASN every night had almost only one goal: to find something worth watching, a surprise name that could brighten up 2026.
And then Jackson appeared — 25 years old, a 2018 second-round pick for the Angels, signed by the Orioles as a minor-league free agent before the season. An unflashy name, never having surpassed Double-A in previous seasons, and seemingly just a “depth” player.
But when he reached Triple-A, everything changed.
At Chesapeake, Jackson shot .254/.291/.412 in his first two months. Not bad, but not enough to make anyone jump. Upon arriving in Norfolk, he transformed into a different person: .377/.400/.673, 11 home runs, 22 RBIs in 40 games. OPS exceeded 1,000. The player who had hit .205/.245/.373 in Double-A last season suddenly looked like a hitter ready to step onto the big stage.
The front office couldn’t ignore it. The Orioles were short on space, short on something to inspire confidence. And when such a hot bat appeared, they called him up—and let him prove himself.
There was only one problem: Jackson went to MLB… without a “home.”
In the minors that season, he was everywhere: 2B, SS, 3B, even LF and RF. But at the Orioles, shortstop was a no-go zone with Gunnar Henderson locking him down. Second base wasn’t easy to touch either, with Jackson Holliday already there, and Jordan Westburg needing to be kept at 2B/3B depending on the situation.
So Jackson was pushed to the outside corner. In August, he played mostly on the right field. Then, when Westburg sprained his ankle, the third base door opened, and Jackson switched roles again. The season ended with 34 field appearances at the right field, 13 at the third base, and 1 at the second base.
What makes the story fascinating is that his bat never cooled.
170 at-bats, Jackson hit .276/.328/.447, 5 home runs, 21 RBIs, 20 runs. A late-blooming rookie on a struggling team, yet he felt “usable.” The “utility” label was attached to him almost immediately—because Baltimore always needed a player who could fill in multiple positions when injuries struck.
But then the “elephant in the room” appeared: Was Jackson truly the utility man the Orioles needed?
A traditional utility infielder must be able to handle shortstops. Reliable utility outfielders typically need to be able to play center field. Jackson has never played either of those positions in MLB.
While he has a history of playing shortstops in the minors, the question is: would new head coach Craig Albernaz dare to put him there in a real MLB game? When Henderson needs a rest, Holliday could move to the SS, Westburg could slip to the 2B — a much safer option than “testing” Jackson in short in a close game.
On the outfield, the Orioles are even more vulnerable. They have too many corner outfielders, but the center field is thinner. Jackson played center in Double-A in 2023, but that was a long time ago. If Baltimore doesn’t trust Dylan Beavers in center, they could choose Leody Taveras while Enrique Bradfield Jr. accumulates at-bats in Triple-A. In that picture, Jackson becomes a dilemma: he has bat, but he’s not necessarily in the position the Orioles need most from a utility.
One more crucial detail: Jackson still has three minor-league options. This means the Orioles could send him to Norfolk to hone his defensive skills without losing him. And that makes spring training in Sarasota a silent trial: is he reliable enough to keep his job right now?
Baltimore has firepower. Pete Alonso adds weight to a lineup already featuring Mayo, Mountcastle, Henderson, Westburg, and Holliday. Outfield corners are also plentiful: Ward, O’Neill, Beavers, and possibly Kjerstad if fit.
What they lack is a defensive utility they dare to rely on.
Jackson will enter the spring season with his eyes glued to his feet, hands, running angles, and catching rhythm—not just his bat. If he passes that test, he could make the roster. If not, he’ll still be a beautiful story… but locked in an “offensive depth” role for players prone to injury.
And that’s the lingering question: Will Jeremiah Jackson be the real piece of the puzzle — or just a last-minute glimmer of hope that the Orioles haven’t had a chance to test yet?
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