Jackson Holliday making Orioles’ opening day roster a ‘very strong possibility,’ Mike Elias says

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jackson Holliday is no longer a teenager. He might not be a minor leaguer for too long, either.

Holliday, the consensus top prospect in baseball who turned 20 on Monday, has a “very strong possibility” to make the Orioles’ opening day roster, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said Tuesday at the MLB winter meetings.

“He’s going to be treated in this major league camp not like a prospect, where we’re kind of having fun and having him in camp for the experience of it, but like a guy trying to make the team,” Elias said.

Elias went further Tuesday when discussing Holliday’s future than he had in the past. During his end-of-season news conference, Elias said the shortstop would have a “chance” to break camp with the Orioles.

But Elias raved about the prospect’s nearly unprecedented 2023 season that began in Low-A and ended in Triple-A.

“I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but he had a historic first full season in the minors,” Elias said. “You’d probably have to go back to the 80s or 90s to find something similar to that in my opinion for an American kid out of high school. Got to Triple-A, wasn’t there a huge amount of time, didn’t tear the cover off the ball but he more than held his own and did well.”

In his age-19 season, Holliday dominated each level on his way to Norfolk. He hit .396 in 14 games with Delmarva before posting a .940 OPS with Aberdeen — a stop many Orioles prospects have struggled in the past. The 2022 No. 1 pick then hit .338 with Bowie to earn a late-season promotion to Norfolk, where he posted a modest — for his standards — .796 OPS.

“I’ve never seen a kid that young go that fast, have that much success this fast, especially at a high level like Triple-A at 19,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “The numbers he’s put up through his short minor league career, especially for his age, are really incredible. I think we’re going to give him every look — as much looks as possible — at spring training, give him every opportunity.

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“We obviously really believe in his talent. He’s going to have a huge future and a great career. Whether it’s going to be breaking with us, I can’t answer that right now. But we’re going to give him an opportunity.”

By taking a week’s worth of plate appearances at Triple-A at just 19 years old, Holliday joined a club of some of MLB’s biggest names. Others on the shortlist since 2006 include Bryce Harper, Ronald Acuña Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ozzie Albies, according to FanGraphs. The only player in the group to be drafted in the first 10 rounds was Harper, whom the Washington Nationals selected No. 1 overall in the 2010 draft. Harper was drafted at 17 years old and reached Triple-A in his second full professional season in 2012. Meanwhile, Holliday, who was 18 when the Orioles selected him last July, did so in his first full professional campaign.

Elias said the Orioles are eager to see how Holliday matures this offseason given the physical and mental growth that can occur for a player of his age. Hyde said there’s no way to know if a decision to call a player up is “100%” the right one, but he’s confident Holliday’s upbringing has prepared him.

“In Jackson’s case, growing up in a major league clubhouse has obviously been a huge help for him,” Hyde said. “He’s not going to be overwhelmed from what playing in the big leagues is like because he’s been in that environment before and that’s a big deal. But the major leagues is a lot different than the minor leagues … and a lot different than Triple-A. Whether we feel like he’s ready to handle that or not we’ll see.”

Although, last offseason, the Orioles provided similar sentiments about Grayson Rodriguez making the opening day roster. The right-hander struggled in spring training and began the season in Triple-A, although he was quickly called up and spent most of the first two months in the majors.

In September, after Holliday was named the Orioles’ Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year — one of many accolades for his stellar season — he said he was hoping to break camp in the show.

“That’s the goal,” Holliday said. “If that doesn’t happen, then whatever is the plan, I’ll be ready for it. Hopefully that’s the goal. We’ll see, though.”

With the Orioles signing shortstop Jorge Mateo to a one-year deal to avoid arbitration and tendering a contract to Ramón Urías, it’s unclear how Baltimore’s infield will break down in 2024 if Holliday makes the opening day roster. Elias said Holliday will again play shortstop and second base in 2024 to help him grow at both spots and provide the Orioles flexibility.

The Orioles are focused on pitching at the winter meetings, with an acquisition for a position player on the “back burner.” It’s possible a move for a pitching upgrade comes in the form of a trade in which Baltimore gives up prospects from its top-ranked farm system. Although, not every prospect is available for a trade.

“I can think of at least one,” Elias said with a laugh.