SARASOTA, Fla. — Jackson Holliday might look like a 20-year-old, but he doesn’t play — or act — like one.
“He’s a pro,” said catcher James McCann, the oldest position player on the Orioles’ 40-man roster and a 10-year professional. “It’s crazy to say that. He’s 20 years old. But he’s a pro. He operates as if he’s a 10-year major league vet.”
Holliday’s second big league spring training will be much different than his first. Last year, then a teenager, he entered Sarasota with no chance of making the Orioles’ opening day roster, instead there to gain valuable experience after he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2022.
This spring, Holliday is no longer on the outside looking in. He’s no longer a teenager. He’s no longer just a prospect.
“It’s a little bit more exciting, right? You get a chance to make the team,” Holliday said Saturday in the clubhouse. “Just trying to take it day by day and enjoy these guys and enjoy getting better.”
The 20-year-old is competing for a spot on Baltimore’s 26-man roster when the club takes the field opening day March 28 at Camden Yards. Despite his age and minimal Triple-A experience, Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said during the winter meetings that Holliday has a “very strong possibility” to break camp with the big club.
“It’s pretty neat,” Holliday said when asked about Elias’ comment. “I’m excited to be in this position. To make the big leagues out of camp would be pretty awesome.”
Whether he’s ready for the show remains to be seen, but he’ll be given the opportunity to compete with Jorge Mateo, Ramón Urías and others for an infield spot.
“I’m as ready as I can be, I think,” Holliday said.
Holliday is coming off a historic 2023 season in the minor leagues, during which he zoomed from Low-A to Triple-A and dominated each level at just 19 years old. Holliday hit .396 in 14 games with Delmarva before posting a .940 OPS with Aberdeen — a stop many Orioles prospects have struggled in the past. The infielder then hit .338 with Bowie to earn a late-season promotion to Norfolk, where he posted a .796 OPS.
“A little bit,” Holliday said when asked if he was surprised about his torrid 2023 campaign. “I was just trying to go out there and enjoy it, take it day by day. That’s just part of the plan. I was excited with how the season went and looking forward to this one.”
By reaching Triple-A, Holliday joined a select group of stars to take about a week’s worth of plate appearances at the minors’ highest level during their age-19 season. In total, just eight players have achieved the feat since 2006, including Bryce Harper, Ronald Acuña Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ozzie Albies. The only players to do so after being drafted in the first 10 rounds are Holliday and Harper, who was selected No. 1 overall in 2010. But even how Holliday did it was more impressive, as he was in his first full professional season while Harper, who was drafted at 17 years old, did so in his second.
Holliday, the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, barely struggled last year, but his performance in Triple-A wasn’t as dominant as the lower levels. He said the experience of playing 18 games with the Norfolk Tides better prepared him for what’s ahead.
“It’s a lot different. You’re playing against guys that have been in the big leagues, and some of them that have been in the big leagues for a long time,” Holliday said. “Once I got to Triple-A, I noticed that I needed to be a little bit more particular with the pitches I swing at, because they like to nibble.”
He became the sport’s No. 1 prospect during the season and maintained that honor heading into his second full professional season. He is the sport’s consensus top prospect on every major list, including Baseball America, which has now featured an Oriole in the top spot for three straight seasons — Adley Rutschman in 2022, Gunnar Henderson in 2023 and now Holliday.
Manager Brandon Hyde said Holliday’s calming demeanor has impressed him so far in camp.
“He doesn’t seem nervous when he’s playing, he seems really comfortable,” Hyde said. “He seems comfortable working out with the guys, taking ground balls with them. I think the batting practice he falls right in line, I don’t think he was overmatched at the plate last year in major league spring training. All that’s unbelievably impressive at his age.”
McCann said Holliday’s maturity is partially a credit to his family and growing up in the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals’ clubhouse while his dad was playing.
“His dad, I don’t think there’s anyone in this clubhouse that wouldn’t want to hear what his dad has to say,” McCann said. “As a person, the biggest thing for Jackson is — he is where he is for a reason. He has an opportunity to make a club as a 20-year-old for a reason. He’s the No. 1 prospect in baseball for a reason. Just keep doing those things, don’t change who you are.
“Now it’s just a matter of letting the chips fall where they may.”
Hyde said Holliday will get time at both shortstop, his natural position, and second base this spring. If Holliday makes the roster, it’s likely he will play more second base than shortstop given that’s American League Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson and Mateo’s primary position.
Despite the pressure and expectations of being the game’s No. 1 prospect, Hyde hasn’t noticed any immaturity with Holliday. Hyde, who has two teenage children, said Holliday is “very mature for his age.”
“He’s young. He looks young,” Hyde said. “But he doesn’t play the game that way.”