Three MLB taems made decisions on their top prospects on Friday. Two of them were praised, one of them was panned. Both responses were exactly what you’d expect nowadays.
In the case of the Milwaukee Brewers and the Texas Rangers, they received widespread praise. The Brewers and Rangers decided to call top prospects Jackson Chourio and Wyatt Langford. Chourio, 20 years old, is MLB’s second-ranked prospect. He’s an extremely exciting player who will jolt the Brewer offense, which has been in need of life over the past few seasons.
Langford, meanwhile, is the top prospect for the reigning World Series champions. The Rangers boast an impressive lineup as it is, and adding a player of Langford’s caliber and promise only elevates them.
These are also very exciting decisions. Top prospects, for any team, are exciting because of their promise. Ranger and Brewer fans now can be excited for something additional along with the usual tremors Opening Day brings to the table.
Meanwhile, there are the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles won the American League East last year and have an impressive roster. They also have MLB’s top-ranked prospect: Jackson Holliday, a shortstop, and the son of former Major Leaguer Matt Holliday. But the O’s decided against bringing him up for Opening Day.
While the Orioles would have gained significant goodwill from their fans and otherwise, they opted to not do the easy thing. While Holliday remains the top prospect, and a player who’s gotten plenty of exposure over the last year or so, he’ll have to start in the Minors this year along with other top prospects.
There were two different tales on display here. The MLB world had much to say.
In the words of @itsJustinRitch
EXPLAIN TO ME LIKE I’M 5 why
JACKSON HOLLIDAY DID NOT MAKE THE MAJOR LEAGUE ROSTER
I think I know, but someone else explain why
— Brian H. Waters (@brianhwaters) March 22, 2024
Jackson Holliday failed to pass the most important test for a shortstop prospect to get promoted: randomly starting three AAA games at first base
— Rose Mountkatzle (@NaturallyKatz11) March 22, 2024
Reassigning Jackson Holliday, or any player who is clearly ready, should be the first thing they fix during the next lockout. No other sport treats their future stars so shabbily and it needs to end
— Razzball (@Razzball) March 22, 2024
Polling execs recently about who the best 23-under player is— and more than half have said Jackson Holliday. But he starts the year in the minors.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 22, 2024
The Texas Rangers, the team that swept the Orioles in the playoffs and won the World Series last year, are having their top prospect who has barely played in Triple-A open the season in the major leagues.
The Orioles aren’t with Jackson Holliday. https://t.co/2uXPCJBmk1
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) March 22, 2024
Three MLB teams of similar market size — San Diego, Milwaukee & Baltimore — have 20-year-old top prospects named Jackson.
Jackson Chourio made the Brewers’ roster.
Jackson Merrill is the Padres’ starting CF.
Jackson Holliday didn’t make the Orioles and will open in Triple-A.
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) March 22, 2024
Wyatt Langford, big leaguer.
MLB's No. 6 overall prospect becomes the first player to reach 20 RBIs during Cactus or Grapefruit League play.
Get to know the @Rangers standout: https://t.co/UqHNgImGrM pic.twitter.com/ZfxjYcQUN6
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 22, 2024
Me to Bochy on Wyatt Langford: "This was your intent all along, wasn't it? You hoped he would make the team."
Bochy: "I don't think we hoped. We knew."
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) March 22, 2024
if he starts, at 20 years & 17 days, Jackson Chourio would be the 5th-youngest player to start on Opening Day in the divisional era (1969), older than only:
1974 Robin Yount: 18 y, 201 d
1989 Ken Griffey Jr: 19 y, 133 d
1975 Yount: 19 y, 204 d
1999 Adrian Beltre: 19 y, 363 d https://t.co/xRrMpw68rD— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 22, 2024
Jackson Chourio will be bringing his elite power/speed combo to the big leagues as a member of the @Brewers #OpeningDay roster. 💪 pic.twitter.com/zQdMHM6I9m
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) March 22, 2024
