Jackson Holliday has been called back up to the Baltimore Orioles and appeared in their lineup on Wednesday. It marked the first time the top-ranked prospect was with the big-league club since he was demoted in April following a rough start to his MLB career.
Holliday started at second base for the Orioles’ game against the Toronto Blue Jays and batted eighth.
After grounding out in his first two at-bats, he made his presence known with a grand slam in the fifth inning.
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The 20-year-old Holliday played 10 games with the Orioles in April and struggled at the plate. In 34 at-bats, he batted .059 with two hits, one RBI and 18 strikeouts. He was sent back to Triple-A and slashed .271/.431/.477 with 10 home runs, 38 RBI and 75 walks in 73 games.
Holliday, the son of former MLB All-Star Matt Holliday, rejoins the Orioles as they finish a three-game series against the Blue Jays before heading out on a 10-game road trip to Cleveland, Toronto and Tampa.
Holliday’s call-up comes after the Orioles made a slew of moves ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline. Connor Norby, who had been their starting second baseman after taking over for an injured Jorge Mateo, was sent to the Miami Marlins in a deal. With All-Star Gunnar Henderson locked in at shortstop (Holliday’s natural position), Holliday has moved to second base.
Holliday has been accompanied by high expectations even before he was the No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft. He played with all four full-season minor-league affiliates of the Orioles in 2023 and was off to a roaring start with Triple-A Norfolk earlier this season. In 10 games at Triple-A before his April call-up, he slashed .333/.482/.595 with two home runs and nine RBI.
The Orioles are currently a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East, with a 64-44 record.
