It’s a great time to be a Baltimore Orioles fan! Actually, all fans of Major League Baseball should be amped this morning as the number #1 prospect in all of baseball, Jackson Holliday, got the call to the big leagues last night! The plan is for him to join the team in Boston and help the Orioles take on a divisional foe later today.
The 20-year-old was drafted #1 overall in the 2022 MLB Draft and the entire baseball community has been waiting on pins and needles ever since to see the prodigy get into big-league action. There comes unrealistic expectations and extraordinary amounts of hype with being selected No. 1 overall but Jackson has passed every test and then some at every stop he has made in his baseball career.
On top of that, he is the son of former big leaguer and 7x All-Star, Matt Holliday. One would think there has to be added pressure. You know what? It doesn’t matter as Holliday has dreamt of this moment for years and is more than ready to crush some baseballs in the major leagues! Looking at the current lineup it looks as if Holliday will slot into the second base role instead of shortstop. This is somewhat expected as Henderson is locking down shortstop and Holliday played second at Triple AAA for 8 of his 10 starts this season.
Baltimore Orioles Projected Lineup w/ Holliday
Gunnar Henderson {L} SS
Adley Rutschman {S} C
Anthony Santander {S} RF
Ryan Mountcastle {R} 1B
Jordan Westburg {R} 3B
Cedric Mullins {L} CF
Austin Hays {R} LF
Jackson Holliday {L} 2B
Ryan O’Hearn {L} | Colton Cowser {L} | Heston Kjerstad {L}*** ←- (inevitable call up)
This lineup is gross and adding Holliday to the mix makes total sense right now. Go and get him big league reps and extend him as fast as possible. He is ready for this moment and I think the Orioles are about to go on a tear by flexing their farm system muscles…again!
Good luck Mr. Jackson Holliday! I wish you good fortune in the plate appearances to come.
2024 Norfolk Tides Stats:
.333 BA | .482 OBP | .595 SLG | 1.077 OPS | 2 HR | 5 2B | 18 R | 12/8 BB/SO | 1 SB | 10 G | 56 PA
Career Minor League Stats:
.321 BA | .451 OBP | .497 SLG | .949 OPS | 15 HR | 40 2B | 145 R | 138/138 BB/SO | 29 SB | 155 G | 727 PA