The Baltimore Orioles made a major decision on Friday. The team decided to return their top prospect to the Minor Leagues.
After a short stint with the big league club, top prospect Jackson Holliday will go back to Norfolk. The heralded Holliday, son of former All-Star Matt Holliday, could not adjust quickly to MLB pitching.
“The Orioles have optioned Jackson Holliday back to Triple-A,” Yahoo Sports said Friday afternoon. Yahoo then included his stats over ten games in the bigs. Holliday hit just .059 with only two hits and 18 strikeouts.
The Orioles have optioned Jackson Holliday back to Triple-A.
10 Games
.059 AVG
2 Hits
18 Strikeouts pic.twitter.com/G3Chu8UlzY— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 26, 2024
As Yahoo’s post indicated, Holliday had a rough time at the Major League level. The touted prospect hit just .059 in ten games in the Majors, recording only two hits and a whopping 18 strikeouts.
Hitting at the big league level is very difficult. You don’t need many people to tell you that. So Holliday’s struggles aren’t too surprising. Sometimes, that’s just the way it goes. It doesn’t mean it’s the end for him by any means. It just means that, right now, he’s not ready for big-league pitching. He might be down the line, but it’s going to take some time.
Orioles fans will have to temper their expectations now. Fortunately for them, they root for a very good baseball team.
Holliday will rejoin the Norfolk Tides, arguably the top minor league team in baseball.
The MLB world had much to say about the Orioles and their decision to send Holliday down to Norfolk.
All will be alright for Jackson Holliday.
I feel for him the most with dealing with all the expectations and pressures. I know what that feels like.
But difference is, Jackson has all the talent in the world to be successful. This setback only is going to make him better.
— Ryan Ripken (@ryanripken) April 26, 2024
Jackson Holliday was 2-for-34 with 18 strikeouts and two walks.
But it’s important to remember that he’s 20, and while this isn’t the way anyone would have wanted to begin, Grayson Rodriguez and Colton Cowser (to name a few) also went back down before blossoming https://t.co/sxb4OM06P8
— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) April 26, 2024
"It doesn't always come immediately for every player"@Ken_Rosenthal reacts live to the news that Jackson Holliday has been optioned to AAA by the @Orioles
▶️ https://t.co/8OBDEaTGwx pic.twitter.com/twqqgXlBKf
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 26, 2024
Jackson Holliday, the #1 prospect in the sport, hitting .059/.111/.059 in his first 10 games and getting optioned really puts into perspective just how incredible what Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and Noelvi Marte did.
— Nick Kirby (@Nicholaspkirby) April 26, 2024
Jackson Holliday, Jordan Walker, and Nolan Schanuel are hitting a combined .155/.240/.211, which is a good reminder that Major League Baseball is HARD.
(I don't actually think these three are equivalent prospects, but still.)
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) April 26, 2024