Orioles Skipper Doesn't Want to Put High Expectations on Top Prospect
The Baltimore Orioles enter the season with a chance to do something that no team in the American League East has ever done. It has nothing to do with winning 100-plus games, a World Series, or anything as a team.
They have a chance to be the first team in AL East history to have back-to-back Rookie of the Year award winners.
Gunnar Henderson took home the honor in 2023 after slashing .255/.325/.489 with 28 home runs, a ridiculous showing for the 22-year-old.
With Jackson Holliday expected to make his debut as early as Opening Day, no one in the world would be surprised about him winning Rookie of the Year.
In fact, many would be surprised if he didn't.
The expectations for Holliday will be as high as any other top prospect the game has ever seen. He's being labeled as a generational player, and if things go the way they're expected to, winning Rookie of the Year would just be the beginning of a long, potential Hall of Fame big league career.
Despite the potential of Holliday, manager Brandon Hyde told Jayson Stark of The Athletic, "I don't want to put that expectation on Jackson."
Hyde then added that he wouldn't be surprised by anything the former No. 1 pick does. He said it shocked him that he was called up so quickly and that he has the right mental makeup to have a successful career.
The 20-year-old has played well in Spring Training, slashing .333/.364/.983. All he's shown throughout his young career is that he deserves a chance to play in the big leagues.
That could happen this month.
