Top Baltimore Orioles Prospect Set For Epic Spring Training Showdown
One of the best parts of baseball is the one-on-one showdowns between batter and pitcher, especially when both are among the best in the sport.
Look no further than when Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani squared off in the World Baseball Classic last year.
Thursday's Spring Training game between the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates will feature a similarly intriguing matchup. But rather than pitting two former MVPs against each other, this could be a battle between a future MVP and a future Cy Young winner.
Not too many Spring Training games qualify as "must-watch," but fans of any team should consider tuning in to see the sport's two most recent No. 1 draft picks face off.
Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday -- the first overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft and the sport's current No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline -- will bat leadoff on Thursday against the Pirates. The 20-year-old is currently 1-for-7 with five strikeouts as he vies for a spot on Baltimore's Opening Day roster.
Holliday is set to face Pittsburgh pitching prospect Paul Skenes, the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Skenes will make his Spring Training debut against the Orioles.
Skenes, 21, is MLB Pipeline's No. 3 prospect -- only two spots behind Holliday. Both are expected to make their MLB debuts at some point this season, even if they don't make their respective clubs out of Spring Training.
Holliday and Skenes aren't the only former top draft picks in this game, either. The first draft picks in 2019 and 2021 -- catchers Adley Rutschman and Henry Davis -- will also be on the field, as will 2020 No. 2 pick Heston Kjerstad.
This is the first time that Holliday will face Skenes, but it probably won't be the last. The game starts at 1:05 p.m. ET at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, FL for fans who want to catch a glimpse of this special duel and see who comes out on top.
If you love prospects, this is a game you don't want to miss.
