Jackson Holliday making early Orioles spring training debut
SARASOTA, Fla. (BVM) 鈥� Since being drafted as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles last year, Jackson Holliday has been showing everyone why he went first in the draft. Most recently, he was invited to join the Orioles at spring training as a non-roster invitee.听
鈥淲e thought he could handle it, it鈥檇 be a good experience for him,鈥� Orioles general manager Mike Elias said while on 鈥�.听
Holliday does have experience around professional locker rooms. His dad, Matt, was a seven-time MLB All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011. Jackson was there for all of it and Elias credits that time spent around the pros in helping Jackson adjust so quickly to the professional level right out of high school.听
鈥淗e is very mature,鈥� .
However, the invite is still not a common thing for a first overall pick. Jackson has earned it and he did it in just 20 professional games. He played eight games in the Florida Complex League and another 12 with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. In those 20 games, Jackson had five doubles, one home run and nine RBIs while going .297/.489/.422.听
The first hit of Jackson Holliday鈥檚 minor league career is a run-scoring, ground-rule double to deep center field
— Andy Kostka (@afkostka)
The short but solid showing of success right after the draft has so far confirmed what the Orioles thought when they drafted the son of a former MLB All-Star right out of high school: this kid is special.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 that tough because we loved Jackson, to me in terms of the hit tool that we think he has combined with the physical tools that he has,鈥� . 鈥淚 mean he throws, he runs, he鈥檚 going to play shortstop, not something that鈥檚 very common in the last 10 years from a high school shortstop.鈥澛�
Jackson is only 19 years old but is mature for his age and he鈥檒l continue to mature while playing in the Grapefruit League. Especially since he can learn from the other top prospects in the Orioles鈥� farm system.听
Jackson is considered the by MLB.com. Baltimore also has the No. 1 prospect in Gunnar Henderson who should be a Rookie of the Year candidate this season. Adley Rutschman, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, is also in Sarasota after an impressive rookie season with the Orioles last year.听
Henderson and Rutschman have developed quickly and successfully within the Orioles鈥� farm system. The invite to spring training shows that Baltimore believes Jackson could move up just as quickly, if not faster.听
Baltimore is a team on the rise. After losing 110 games in 2021, the Orioles went 83-79 and this year, they have a shot at making the playoffs. The Orioles鈥� strong farm system is a large part of their success and Jackson is now part of that system. The future’s looking bright for Jakson and Baltimore.
