Baltimore Orioles Top Prospect Struggles in Debut but Gets First MLB Accolade

The Jackson Holliday era began at Fenway Park on Wednesday night as baseball's No. 1 prospect took the field.

Apr 10, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Baltimore Orioles second base Jackson Holliday (7) gets / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday made his Major League debut on Wednesday at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox.

The Orioles made the decision to call Holliday up on Tuesday night. He started at second base and batted ninth in the order. To make room for him on the 40-man and 26-man roster, they designated veteran utilityman Tony Kemp for assignment.

Holliday didn’t get his first official at-bat until the third inning of a scoreless game, as he faced Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford. He struck out on five pitches.

In the fifth, Holliday reached first on a fielder’s choice ground ball to second base, which led to a force out of Jordan Westburg at second base. Holliday advanced to second on a walk by Gunnar Henderson, and advanced to third on a single by Anthony Santander. But he was stranded at third on a ground out by Ryan O’Hearn.

Holliday drove in his first MLB run in the sixth, as he grounded out to second base, but the play scored Colton Cowser. In the seventh, Holliday struck out for the second time.

Holliday finished 0-for-4 with an RBI and two strikeouts. The Orioles won, 7-5.

He did flash the leather early in the game as he triggered a double play on a ground ball.

This double-play combo is gonna be fun to watch. pic.twitter.com/u8VDg0vLI6

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 10, 2024

Baltimore sent Holliday back to Triple-A Norfolk after spring training to work on batting against left-handed pitching. In 10 games and 42 at-bats he slashed .333/.482/.499/.941 with two home runs and nine RBI.

Holliday was the Orioles’ first-round and the No. 1 overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft. He rocketed through their minor league system last year, as he batted .323/.442/.499/.941 with 30 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs, 75 RBI and 24 stolen bases. He reached Triple-A Norfolk at the end of last season.