Baltimore Orioles calling up Jackson Holliday, No. 1 prospect in baseball

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Baltimore Orioles are calling up Jackson Holliday from AAA Norfolk to make his Major League Debut. Holliday is the highest-regarded prospect in all of baseball, being ranked No. 1 by MLB Pipeline. A move people around the sport have been waiting for ever since he was drafted.

“BREAKING: The Baltimore Orioles are calling up infielder Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 prospect in baseball, a source tells ESPN,” Passan said via X.

Holliday is just 20 years old and was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft. From Stillwater, OK, Holliday decided against playing college baseball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and instead got his professional career started.

There was thought that Holliday would make Baltimore’s Opening Day roster after a strong Spring Training. Instead, the club sent him down to AAA and Holliday raked. He hit .333 in 42 at-bats with 14 hits, two home runs, nine RBIs, and an OPS of 1.077.

MLB implemented the Prospect Promotion Incentive when the CBA was renegotiated and if Holliday performs well, the Orioles could be rewarded. Him winning AL Rookie of the Year at the end of the season would result in a first-round pick being given to the organization, something that worked out with Gunnar Henderson last season.

Holliday will likely be battling Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford for the reward, both of the Texas Rangers. And after officially being called up, the race between the three is now on.

Now, the debate is exactly which position Holliday will play. Baltimore drafted him as a shortstop but due to having an abundance of infield talent, a decision will have to be made. Holliday played in eight games at second base in AAA and two at shortstop.

Henderson has played shortstop in every game for the Orioles thus far. The second-year player has two errors, recorded seven putouts, and turned three double plays.

Baltimore currently has a 6-4 record and is in third place in the AL East. Tuesday night resulted in a win against the Boston Red Sox, the first of a three-game set. Holliday is likely to make his debut in one of baseball’s most iconic ballparks, Fenway Park.

Everyone will be hoping Holliday’s call-up gives the squad a new level and propels them to the top in what should be a difficult division to win. Exciting times in Baltimore, indeed.