Orioles Elite Prospect Major Contender for AL Rookie of the Year
The Baltimore Orioles have one of the best minor-league systems in baseball and it’s stocked with talent, some of which could be ready to help the Orioles in 2024.
One of them is not only the organization’s top prospect, but the player most consider to be the best prospect in all of baseball, Jackson Holliday.
The shortstop’s father is former Major League star Matt Holliday. His uncle is Oklahoma State baseball coach Josh Holliday. And, come 2024, Holliday could be in the Majors at age 20.
It’s not far-fetched. In fact, MLB Pipeline prospect expert Jonathan Mayo was willing to go one step further. He predicted that Holliday will win the AL Rookie of the Year award next November.
Why? Mayo provided his logic:
"[Holliday] is so good that he is going to play his way -- even if it is not on Opening Day -- into the lineup quickly. I think there is a non-zero chance that he ends up making the big league team. If they think he can help them win, then I could see it."
Baltimore's Gunnar Henderson won the AL Rookie of the Year award for 2023.
Holliday isn’t on the Orioles’ 40-man roster yet. But he put together an incredible 2023, which was his first full season of professional baseball.
Holliday played for all four full-season Orioles affiliates in 2023, as he slashed .323/.442/.499/.941 with 30 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs, 75 RBI and 24 stolen bases. He drew nearly as any walks (101) as strikeouts (118).
Along with a selection to the MLB Futures Game, Holliday was a Player of the Week in two different leagues — Carolina League and South Atlantic League. He was also the SAL Player of the Month in May and an SAL Postseason All-Star.
Holliday is likely headed for MLB Spring Training in February, which will give him a chance to make the Major League roster coming out of camp.
