The Baltimore Orioles were criticized heavily on Friday following a curious series of decisions.
Baltimore opted not to bring top prospect and former top pick Jackson Holliday to the big leagues for Opening Day. In contrast to Milwaukee and Texas, who will call their top prospects up for the 2024 season right away, Baltimore will keep the electric Holliday in the Minors.
In addition to Holliday, the Orioles will keep other notable prospects in the Minors. They also assigned outfielders Heston Kjerstad and Kyle Stowers to the Minors.
Jake Rill of MLB.com reported the news on Friday. “Orioles have reassigned Jackson Holliday to Minor League camp, optioned OFs Heston Kjerstad and Kyle Stowers to Minors camp,” Rill said.
#Orioles have reassigned Jackson Holliday to Minor League camp, optioned OFs Heston Kjerstad and Kyle Stowers to Minors camp
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) March 22, 2024
It’s a tough decision on its surface and beneath the surface as well. Last season, the Orioles surprised virtually everyone on their way to an American League East Division championship. In the offseason, they acquired former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes. They’ve seen their promise rise, but the choice not to add talented young players to their roster is off-putting at best. Financial implications make it a bit more insidious as well.
Additionally, the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers decided on Friday to call up top prospects Jackson Chourio and Wyatt Langford. Those two teams opted to bring elite prospects up for Opening Day; the Orioles did not. It’s a tough sight.
The MLB world had much to say about the Orioles’ peculiar decisions.
Orioles are not serious about winning 😂😂this is pathetic https://t.co/tP2XFoww2l
— austin koehn (@austin_koehn) March 22, 2024
This is criminal https://t.co/Cm3E2lppD0
— Alan (@ADobbs_Cards) March 22, 2024
Booooooooooo 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼 https://t.co/OPJZvzV3lw
— Orioles Statistics (@OriolesStatist1) March 22, 2024
https://t.co/3fGSOENW0s pic.twitter.com/mV4iTqqoMp
— Give That Fan A Contract! (@GiveEmAContract) March 22, 2024
This is gross https://t.co/Vq9gug4gKb
— Baltimore Beak (@TheBmoreBeak) March 22, 2024
