The Baltimore Orioles announced Friday that they are returning top MLB prospect Jackson Holiday to the minor leagues, just weeks after he was called up to the majors. This infielder struggled mightily in his short tenure.
Holiday has two hits and two walks in 36 at-bats since being called up on April 10. The infielder is the son of a former All-Star outfielder. matt hollidayHe had a batting average of .059, no extra-base hits, and 18 strikeouts.
April 16, 2024. Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) hits an RBI single by second baseman Jackson Holiday (not pictured) in the bottom of the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. I hit.Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
April 16, 2024. Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holiday, 7, was hit by shortstop Gunnar Henderson (not pictured) in the bottom of the third inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. He rounded third base on a base hit and scored.Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
April 19, 2024. Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holiday, 7, warms up during batting practice before a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
He will now head back to the team’s Triple-A affiliate to make things right.
We have made the following roster changes: pic.twitter.com/gatOuLknN9
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 26, 2024
Some may think the club gave young Jackie an easy hook here, but I love it. Meritocracy, baby. Bring the cream to the top. They gave him a chance but he didn’t perform. Was the sample size small? absolutely. And maybe they could have given him a little more time to figure things out. But this is the big leagues, dude. We aim to win ball games. Baltimore doesn’t have time to teach the basics. Put up with it or shut up.
April 16, 2024. Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Jackson Holiday, 7, a second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, throws the ball to first base on a double play in the third inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
April 16, 2024. Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holiday, 7, warms up during the bottom of the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
As for Holiday, he’ll be fine. He’s coming off a great spring training and is the No. 1 prospect in baseball for a reason. Additionally, he has a very good attitude. In the face of his own struggles, he did not tortoiseshell, whine, or complain. As my colleague so eloquently put it, he treated me like his boss.
“I knew what I was getting into. There’s a reason why it’s the best of the best. I don’t think I’ve tried it yet, but this is my first try… It’s definitely a challenge, but I feel like we’re handling it the best we can.”Holliday told The Athletic on tuesday. (Related: Rookie pitcher forced into a bad swing and missed with a really bad strikeout)
That’s what we want to hear, kid! Don’t run away from challenges; face them head-on. As the great Billie Jean King once said, “Pressure is a privilege.” I think the future is still bright for this young man.
