HOLLIDAY TAKES FLIGHT
Baseball America|September 2023
Jackson Holliday began the season at Low-A Delmarva. He began the second half of the season at Double-A Bowie.
Geoff Pontes, Kyle Glaser & Josh Norris
HOLLIDAY TAKES FLIGHT

HIGH-A

In the process, the 19-year-old Orioles shortstop became one of the major storylines of the 2023 minor league season.

Holliday won Best Tools categories in the High-A South Atlantic and Double-A Eastern leagues, including Best Batting Prospect and Most Exciting Player in both.

What makes Holliday stand out is his ability to hit for a high batting average and reach base at a high clip. His plate skills are plus-plus, and he shows innate bat-to-ball skills and the ability to hit a variety of pitches.

Holliday's contact skills proved too much for pitchers in the lower minors. He hit .331/.466/.523 in 71 games at two Class A stops. He then handled Double-A pitchers with similar mastery.

The Orioles chose Holliday, the 2022 High School Player of the Year, with the first overall pick last year. His ability to adjust his barrel to take a variety of swings on the ball gives him the look of a contact-only hitter, but his power swing is capable of unleashing the occasional towering shot.

Holliday's plate discipline is exceptional and likely the best of his many above-average to plus tools. He discerns balls and strikes as well as any player in the minors despite being a teenager.

His ability to get on base in a variety of ways and then steal bases earned him Most Exciting Player votes across multiple leagues.

This story is from the September 2023 edition of Baseball America.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2023 edition of Baseball America.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BASEBALL AMERICAView All
INDEPENDENT/PARTNER LEAGUES PLAYER OF THE YEAR ADAM FOGEL, MISSOULA PADDLEHEADS
Baseball America

INDEPENDENT/PARTNER LEAGUES PLAYER OF THE YEAR ADAM FOGEL, MISSOULA PADDLEHEADS

Adam Fogel sets the Pioneer League home run record in a season to remember

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024/January 2025
MINOR LEAGUE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR MIKE ABRAMSON, HARTFORD YARD GOATS
Baseball America

MINOR LEAGUE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR MIKE ABRAMSON, HARTFORD YARD GOATS

Hartford GM Mike Abramson’s tireless dedication has made the Yard Goats one of the best tickets in the minor leagues

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024/January 2025
FREITAS AWARD: CLASS A COLUMBIA FIREFLIES
Baseball America

FREITAS AWARD: CLASS A COLUMBIA FIREFLIES

The Columbia Fireflies light the way for a community redevelopment project that benefits an entire city

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024/January 2025
FREITAS AWARD: DOUBLE-A SOMERSET PATRIOTS
Baseball America

FREITAS AWARD: DOUBLE-A SOMERSET PATRIOTS

From indy ball to affiliated, Somerset continues its tradition of excellence in fruitful partnership with the Yankees

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024/January 2025
FREITAS AWARD: TRIPLE-A SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS
Baseball America

FREITAS AWARD: TRIPLE-A SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS

Key initiatives and facility upgrades make Sacramento a top minor league attraction and also a natural fit as the Athletics’ home in 2025

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024/January 2025
MINOR LEAGUE MANAGER OFTHEYEAR ZACH VINCEJ, MODESTO
Baseball America

MINOR LEAGUE MANAGER OFTHEYEAR ZACH VINCEJ, MODESTO

Zach Vincej led Modesto to back-to-back California League championships with teams brimming with top Mariners talent

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024/January 2025
MINOR LEAGUE TEAM OF THE YEAR LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS
Baseball America

MINOR LEAGUE TEAM OF THE YEAR LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS

The low-payroll Guardians rely on homegrown talent to fuel MLB success. Midwest League-champion Lake County provides optimism for the future.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024/January 2025
MLB COACH OF THE YEAR CHRIS FETTER, TIGERS
Baseball America

MLB COACH OF THE YEAR CHRIS FETTER, TIGERS

Chris Fetter applies all the right touches to a Tigers pitching staff that clawed its way toward the top

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024/January 2025
MLB EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR MATT ARNOLD, BREWERS
Baseball America

MLB EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR MATT ARNOLD, BREWERS

Continuity is the Brewers’ secret weapon. Matt Arnold made sure the 2024 club met expectations

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024/January 2025
MLB MANAGER OF THE YEAR DAVE ROBERTS, DODGERS
Baseball America

MLB MANAGER OF THE YEAR DAVE ROBERTS, DODGERS

The Dodgers’ Dave Roberts has done things few managers have ever done. Now, he’s finally getting his due.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024/January 2025