On April 10, 2024 baseball fans around the world tuned in to watch 20-year-old Jackson Holliday‘s Major League debut. Holliday notched his first RBI as an Oriole and took his first step toward the Hall of Fame. Nine games and an astounding 18 strikeouts later Jackson, was headed back to Triple-A Norfolk.
“We decided to call him up and see how the translation to the major leagues would go on a short-term basis,” general manager Mike Elias said. “What we have seen here led me to the evaluation and opinion that he would benefit from going back and adjusting there rather than doing it here in real-time.”
“He got very intense, very specific feedback from major league pitching,” Elias said. “He’s a brilliant talent and a very sharp kid, and I expect he’s going to go implement those adjustments really quickly. But we felt that Triple-A and steady playing time in Triple-A was the place for that, for a number of different reasons.”
The decision to move Holliday back to the minors has been debated and there are valid points. Will sending him back down hurt his confidence? Did Baltimore give Holliday enough time to adjust? Is Holliday overrated? The list goes on. Without a crystal ball, no one knows the answer. What we can do, though, is asses how he has readjusted to the minor league.
Major League RBI No. 1 for Jackson Holliday. pic.twitter.com/5Xj2so5dll
— MLB (@MLB) April 11, 2024
Jackson Holliday Is Doing Jackson Holliday Things
When Holliday was called up he was slashing .333/.482/.595 with two home runs and five doubles through ten games. Holliday has played in 14 games since returning to Norfolk. During those fourteen games, his slash has dipped to .295/.456/.484. The good news is Holliday has hit a home run since his return. The top prospect has also hit safely in seven out of the last eight games.
The differences are subtle, but Jackson Holliday has adopted a lower stance in Triple-A to make it easier to adjust mid-pitch and catch up to higher velocity even if his timing is a bit off.
On the tweaks he’s made since being sent back to the minors: https://t.co/2e5iw4kDDR pic.twitter.com/lf6rhLPOd8
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) May 15, 2024
Now that Baltimore fans have had a taste of what Holliday brings to the table they shouldn’t be as restless as they were during spring training. That will take the pressure off of Oriole’s management. Besides a dip in average, his slash line is closer to his minor league average at this point in the season. Holliday also has more walks so far this season in Triple-A than he does strikeouts. This should be the stat that stands out for Holliday fans.
Where to Now
At this point in the season, barring injuries, Jackson should stay put where he is. There is no reason to rush him back to the big leagues just to have him fail again. Holliday has been given feedback and instructions. It is time to lean on his dad and coaches and go to work.
“He needs repetitions … We felt Triple-A and steady playing time in Triple-A was the place for that,” said Elias.
Now Jackson Holliday can go back to doing what he has been doing his entire life; playing exceptional baseball.
Main Photo: © Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports
