It’s fact: The Baltimore Orioles are going to have multiple All-Stars this summer in Texas.
There are easy selections like Adley Rutschman, who is leading AL catchers with a .289 average, and Gunnar Henderson, with his 22 home runs and six defensive runs saved at shortstop.
Corbin Burnes will almost certainly be in that All-Star rotation, and believe it or not, there is a strong case for closer Craig Kimbrel as well.
There is one Oriole whose case isn’t as clear, although it should absolutely be. That’s Jordan Westburg because it’s Westy’s world, and we’re just living in it.
Westburg has played in 66 games this season out of the Orioles’ total of 71. Having only played 68 games in 2023, the way Westburg has cemented himself as an everyday player on a team of this caliber is impressive in itself.
A look at the numbers proves it goes beyond being impressive. It is known that Westburg has become a good two-strike hitter. But just how good?
In 146 two-strike plate appearances, Westburg has won the at-bat with hits in 33 of those situations. That’s good for a .244 average, which is more than .100 higher than the league average.
What’s really impressive with the two-strike hitting is his 192 OPS+ in those situations. A player less than 140 games into his career is nearly 200% better than the league average hitter for power while having two strikes against him.
More on the bat, there are reasons for this two-strike success, and these reasons also bring his overall offensive success.
Westburg has a swing that fills the strike zone fully, which allows him to spray the ball all over the field. There are not multiple other third baseman in the AL that are able to hit the ball this way.
Westburg has 11 home runs this season, with all 11 being hit in a range from left-center all the way to dead right field. Keep in mind, Westburg is a right-handed hitter. That is proof of some incredible straight away and opposite field power for a guy who is only 6’2” and 210 pounds.
The way Westburg stacks up against the rest of AL third basemen further proves his All-Star worth. His 11 long balls are good for third in the AL. He is also fourth in OPS (.836), fourth in average (.278), second in RBIs with 42 (he has led-off multiple times) and third in slugging (.504).
Along with these numbers, the only players who are consistently near the tops are José Ramírez and Rafael Devers. That’s not bad company to be mentioned in when your goal is to be a top AL third baseman.
So let’s compare the defense. This is where the Westburg effect really takes place.
Westburg’s 2024 four outs above average measures far better than Devers’ -2 and Ramirez’s -2. In terms of arm strength, Westburg has them both beat soundly as well, and that is something we can use the eye test to determine.
With his four outs above average and three defensive runs saved, Westy’s defense not only gives him a clear advantage over the other two candidates, but those numbers are on pace for a Gold Glove.
Westburg currently ranks second in All-Star voting for AL third basemen behind Ramírez, who has a sizeable lead. To vote for Westy, click this link.
How do you feel about Westburg’s season thus far? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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