The Baltimore Orioles are giving top prospect Jackson Holliday every opportunity to make the Opening Day roster.
It was less than two years ago when the Orioles selected Jackson Holliday, the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, as the first overall pick in the MLB Draft. Now, the 20 year old shortstop has the opportunity to make the Orioles Opening Day Roster.
Jackson Holliday flew through the Orioles minor league system last season, beginning in Single-A before finishing the season in Triple-A. In 18 games with Triple-A Norfolk, Holliday batted .267 with two home runs and nine RBIs. He was also a key component in the Tides Triple-A National Championship win, the team’s first since 1983.
Jackson Holliday is joining the Orioles for Spring Training.
Holliday is in Sarasota with the Orioles for Spring Training and is excited for the opportunity to make the team out of camp. “It’s a little bit more exciting, right?” Holliday told reporters when asked about making the Opening Day roster. “You get a chance to make the team. But I’m just trying to take it day by day and enjoy these guys and enjoy getting better.”
Unlike last spring, Holliday has a good chance of making the big league roster out of camp.
“It’s encouraging and I’m just trying to get better everyday,” Holliday said. “I’m not trying to do anything crazy, just play my game. The advice I’ve gotten is to continue playing the game that I love and not change too much.”
Holliday has spent the majority of his career at shortstop, but will be getting extra work at second base during camp. He made 25 starts at the keystone compared to 110 at shortstop. With Gunnar Henderson at shortstop, Holliday would serve as his double play partner when they are both in the lineup.
“The plan is to be able to play second base and shortstop at a high level, so just making sure I’m ready at second base,” Holliday said. “Just learning bits and pieces and trying to put them together, trying to stay athletic with it. I think it’s a position that you just have to be athletic with and just play the game, and it will come naturally.”
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said that Jackson Holliday making the Opening Day roster is “definitely a very strong possibility.”
Is Jackson Holliday ready for the big leagues?
“Yeah, absolutely,” Holliday said. “I’m as ready as I can be, I think. I’m excited.”
The Orioles position players begin their spring workouts this week. Their first Spring Training game is on February 24th against the Red Sox.
Opening Day for the Orioles is March 28th.
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