Westburg solves back pain with mattress modification

SARASOTA, Fla. -- For the most part, Jordan Westburg’s Airbnb rental property this spring is perfect. He loves the house in sunny Sarasota. He enjoys his roommates, a collection of Orioles teammates including Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser, Ryan Mountcastle and Zach Eflin.

However, Westburg had one complaint: the mattress on his bed was uncomfortable to him. In fact, he believes that’s what caused his lower back soreness -- a “spasm,” as he put it -- which has kept him out of game action since Baltimore’s Grapefruit League opener on Feb. 22.

“Honestly, I think it’s a bad mattress,” Westburg said. “I’m used to sleeping on a rock back home, and I get into the Airbnb and it’s a little bit of a softer mattress. Something that I was trying to be stubborn through and it was stupid of me, but got a mattress topper and I feel much better.”

Wait, so Westburg actually prefers his mattress to be hard rather than soft?

“I’ve got to sleep on a harder mattress,” Westburg said. “Just talking with other guys, I think they feel the same. I don’t know whether it’s just being athletes and a softer mattress kind of putting you in bad posture. But that’s just what I’ve learned through my experience. ...

“A softer mattress is no good. I might sleep better on it the first few nights, but it’s no good for me.”

That may not be the only reason for Westburg’s back ailment, though.

“I’m getting old,” the 26-year-old infielder deadpanned. “Feeling older by the day.”

It should be any day now that Westburg gets back into the Orioles’ lineup. He resumed full baseball activities on Monday, and he could play in the Grapefruit League game against the Pirates on Thursday night at Ed Smith Stadium.

Westburg appears poised for a big 2025 season after impressing during his breakout ‘24 sophomore campaign. The first-time All-Star hit .264 with 26 doubles, five triples, 18 home runs, 63 RBIs and a .793 OPS over 107 games, numbers that likely would have been even better had he not missed close to two months with a right hand fracture in the second half.

Although Westburg hasn’t gotten many live at-bats this spring, he believes he has plenty of time to be ready for Opening Day, which is nearly three weeks away on March 27 in Toronto.

“It would have done the team no good to try and push through it,” Westburg said. “Thankfully, it happened here and we have a few extra days to kind of work through it. But I’m glad it’s a short thing.”

As for the owners of the Airbnb property, don’t worry, Westburg isn’t planning on leaving a 1-star review. The vibes at the house have still been positive, and those have carried over to the fields at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, where Westburg has been pleased with what he’s seen.

“The clubhouse chemistry is great,” Westburg said. “The pool table is always full. I know this row of lockers is always chatting. I think it’s good so far. I think the new guys and the guys who have been here are jelling and coming together. I think guys are playing well, I think guys are looking good. I’m excited to see where this thing goes.”

It could go far -- as long as Westburg and the others can get plenty of good night’s sleep.