Orioles Boss Reveals Spring Training Plan For Top Prospect
Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias revealed the plan for baseball’s No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday when it comes to Spring Training.
The Orioles revealed their list of non-roster invitees to Major League spring training on Tuesday, and to no one’s surprise the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft was on the list.
Elias made an appearance on 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore and he talked about what the Orioles intend to do with a player that could make their opening-day roster.
Elias said that Holliday would see “a lot” of action at second base during spring training.
He also said that "I see some additional playing time for a left-handed hitter at second base.” That would mean the left-handed hitting Holliday, who in four minor-league stops last season batted .323/.442/.499/.941 with 30 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs, 75 RBI and 24 stolen bases. He finished up the 2023 season at Triple-A Norfolk.
But that doesn’t mean that the Orioles won’t keep playing Holliday at shortstop, either, as Elias said he wanted to keep him “warm” at that position.
The Orioles have a logjam of young infielders, but the Orioles may be working to alleviate that in another way, Elias revealed.
He said that Jorge Mateo will see “quite a bit more” time at center field in spring training.
Jorge Mateo will see "quite a bit more" time at CF this spring than he did last spring. Holliday could be part of the reason. Mateo has been the Orioles’ everyday shortstop each of the last two seasons.
Elias talked about moving Mateo into a “super-utility role,” one that would allow him to bounce around the diamond. Doing that would allow Holliday to play shortstop, his natural position.
Plus, Holliday could back up Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías at second base.
It’s clear the Orioles are moving the pieces around to find a way for Holliday to help them at the Major League level, should he be ready to do so when the Orioles break camp.
