LAKELAND, Fla. -- There’s been a lot of talk about Jackson Holliday's improved defense at second base and his ability to fill in at shortstop, if needed. His increased aggressiveness on the basepaths has drawn attention, as well as his desire to add bunting for hits to his skill set.
Yet, somewhat quietly, another aspect of Holliday’s game has almost gone under the radar for nearly all of Spring Training at Orioles camp.
The kid is raking.
Holliday went 2-for-3 and reached base three times in Baltimore’s 7-1 split-squad win vs. Detroit on Sunday afternoon at Joker Marchant Stadium. Through 12 Grapefruit League games, the 21-year-old is hitting .314 (11-for-35) with three extra-base hits and an .871 OPS.
“It feels great, honestly. I feel like I’m swinging in hitter’s counts for offspeed pitches, and usually, that’s a good sign to be able to pull the trigger on sliders and changeups, and curveballs,” Holliday said. “I mean, I don’t even think I really swung at a heater today, but I was able to put together a pretty good day. I feel great. I’m happy with some of the adjustments I’ve made.”
Holliday was almost right -- he swung at one fastball from Tigers starter Jack Flaherty. But most of the former top prospect’s success came against offspeed offerings. Holliday belted a triple to straightaway center field on an 0-1 slider from Flaherty to open the contest, then he dropped an opposite-field single into left off a 2-1 changeup from the right-hander in the third.
The improved offensive results from Holliday have been a continuation from the final week of the 2024 regular season, when he went 5-for-7 (.714) over his final four games by tweaking his mechanics and incorporating a toe tap into his swing. It was a strong finish to a 60-game rookie campaign in which the No. 1 overall Draft pick in 2022 hit only .189 with a .565 OPS.
Holliday reported to camp in mid-February with added muscle, renewed confidence and more comfortability, which has led to an encouraging five-week stretch.
“As far as going into a season, how I feel, this is definitely the best one that I’ve had,” Holliday said of his Spring Training.
The Orioles are optimistic about Holliday’s hot spring being a sign of what’s to come.
“I’ve seen his work on those backfields. I know the adjustments he’s making at the plate,” bench coach Robinson Chirinos said. “You guys are seeing a different Holliday to what we saw last year, to what you guys saw last year. He’s growing. He’s a talented player. And hopefully, he continues to do what he’s doing right now and be a guy who can help us a lot this year, and going forward.”
It’s not yet been made official, but Holliday should be heading to Toronto to experience his first MLB Opening Day on March 27. He’ll likely start at either second or shortstop, depending on the status of Gunnar Henderson (mild right intercostal strain).
But Holliday isn’t one to start looking ahead.
“I’m still just enjoying the nice weather in Florida,” Holliday said with a smile. “Coming out here and just focusing on what I can control.”
Mateo returns to game action
Jorge Mateo started at shortstop and batted sixth in the Orioles’ 12-1 split-squad loss to the Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium, going 0-for-2 with a groundout and a strikeout. It marked the first game action for the 29-year-old utility man since last July 23, when he sustained a left elbow subluxation. He underwent UCL reconstruction surgery last August.
“It was amazing. I was so excited,” Mateo said. “Just to be there on the field with my teammates, that was unbelievable to me.”
Manager Brandon Hyde said earlier this week it remains “pretty doubtful” that Mateo could be ready by Opening Day. The Dominican speedster will be out of the lineup on Monday, but he is expected to get more game reps over the final week of Spring Training.
First win as 'manager' for Chirinos
In his first spring as Baltimore’s bench coach, Chirinos got two opportunities to serve as the fill-in manager at a split-squad road game, with Hyde staying back at the home exhibitions.
Last Sunday, the O’s lost 12-2 to the Phillies in Clearwater. This Sunday, they recorded a victory that featured a home run by Colton Cowser, three RBIs from Dylan Carlson and five innings of one-run ball from Albert Suárez.
"I told Hyder this morning, 'I'm going to try and get you a win,'” Chirinos said. “And we did.”