The Baltimore Orioles added infielder Jeremiah Jackson to the major league taxi squad Tuesday, bolstering their position player depth as they deal with injury concerns involving shortstop Gunnar Henderson and utility man Blaze Alexander.
Henderson is dealing with a sore left knee after fouling a pitch off it during Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, while Alexander has been managing back spasms.
The combination of both players being compromised left the Orioles thin across the infield, making the addition of Jackson a necessary precaution heading into the final stretch of the season.
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Jackson provides coverage at second base, third base and in the outfield, giving manager Craig Albernaz options if either player is unable to go on a given day. The 26-year-old spent time in the Angels and Mets organizations before Baltimore signed him to a minor league deal in November 2024.
He has not appeared at the big-league level with the Orioles but is a familiar face within the organization and gives Albernaz a trustworthy depth option in a pinch.
Henderson has posted a .222 batting average, .305 on-base percentage and .398 slugging percentage with 20 home runs and 51 RBIs across 129 games this season. Alexander has been one of the more pleasant surprises on this roster, hitting .303 across 261 at-bats while providing multi-positional versatility throughout the year.
The Orioles enter Wednesday at 70-76, sitting four games back of the final American League wild card spot. With limited time remaining and the playoff picture tightening, keeping Henderson and Alexander available and healthy is critical, and having Jackson on the taxi squad ensures Baltimore is not caught shorthanded if either player cannot go.