:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/baltimorebanner/FUZBEH5FGNGJ5PDD4RN6G2QP7Y.jpg)
The Orioles are calling up No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday, a source confirmed to the Baltimore Banner. He will join the team in Boston.
Holliday, 20, didn’t make the opening day roster despite a strong spring training during which he hit .311 with a .954 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. He was sent to Triple-A Norfolk to face more high-level left-handed pitching and to continue refining his defense at second base.
“This is a 20-year-old who has played 18 games in Triple-A and is also in a position change and has not faced or produced — or had the opportunity to produce — a ton against upper-level minor league left-handed pitching in particular,” general manager Mike Elias said at the end of spring training. “This is where we’ve landed for now.”
His first at-bat of the year wound up as a home run off a left-handed pitcher, and he’s continued to rake. To begin the season with the Tides, Holliday is hitting .333 with a 1.077 OPS.
By being promoted now, Holliday would be eligible for a full season of major league service time, so long as he doesn’t return to the minors. And the Orioles, after facing five southpaws in their first 10 games, are in a stretch of facing right-handed starters.
Holliday was Baltimore’s first overall selection in the 2022 draft less than two years ago. He played at four levels in the minors in 2023 and pushed for a place on the Orioles out of spring training.
Holliday is expected to play primarily second base with the Orioles.
Since spring training, Holliday has thrived in Norfolk. Against southpaws, he’s 4-for-10 with a homer and three RBIs. He didn’t strike out in any of those appearances, either. And, while Baltimore won Tuesday against the Red Sox, several infielders (as well as the offense at large) have struggled to open the year. Ramón Urías is 2-for-22, and Tony Kemp is hitless in nine at-bats.
Holliday will become the third recent top-ranked prospect to debut for the Orioles, following in the footsteps of catcher Adley Rutschman and infielder Gunnar Henderson.
Holliday is as hyped as either of them, even though his time in the minors is comparatively shorter. Henderson played 65 games in Triple-A before receiving the call. Rutschman played 55. Holliday has played 28 at that level.
“It feels like there’s a target on you, but at the same time you’ve just got to embrace it and accept it and go out there and play your game,” Henderson said during spring training of the pressures that come with a high prospect ranking. “Sometimes it can get weighted on your shoulders. ... Rutsch and I have been through that situation, so I feel like he [Holliday] will have some good advice, and any help that he needs, we’ll give it to him.”
Baseball has long been central in Holliday’s life. His father, Matt, is a seven-time All-Star. His uncle coaches Oklahoma State, and his grandfather coached college baseball for years.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/baltimorebanner/003dda4b-662b-46e5-9dbc-a0546d92cac5.png)
Andy Kostka is an Orioles beat writer for The Baltimore Banner. He previously covered the Orioles for The Baltimore Sun. Kostka graduated from the University of Maryland and grew up in Rockville.
:format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/baltimorebanner/TBZL5637TBERBJ7OFK4HA554UI.png)
:format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/baltimorebanner/GTCCVJZJVNETVJQAABDIYOSCW4.JPG)
:format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/baltimorebanner/C5RNK4UYEZHJ5KRAE5TAXBVZEM.jpg)
:format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/baltimorebanner/SAIF3W6YERGZFPARMH64PQNMEM.jpg)