Called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday morning, Baltimore Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday began his second stint in the majors in grand fashion later in the day.
Holliday, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft, hit his first career home run — a grand slam — in the fifth inning of the Orioles’ 10-4 home victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon. He batted eighth and played second base.
His first stint in the majors didn’t go as well for the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, as the rookie was 2-for-34 with 18 strikeouts in 10 games in April.
“I’m definitely more prepared than I was last time,” Jackson Holliday said before the game. “Getting that debut out of the way … it’s definitely a little bit easier coming up here the second time and being relaxed.”
Holliday, 20, batted .271 with 10 homers and 38 RBIs in 73 games this season at Norfolk.
“I think this is a big chance for him, and we’re going to give him some time,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said before the game. “… This is a time period where he’s got some runway in front of him because of the vacancy that we have at second base right now.”
Holliday was called up to replace fellow infielder Connor Norby, who was shipped to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday along with outfielder Kyle Stowers in exchange for left-handed starter Trevor Rogers.
Also on Wednesday, the Orioles activated left-hander Gregory Soto — who was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday — and optioned catcher Blake Hunt and utilityman Terrin Vavra to Norfolk.
Soto, 29, went 2-4 with a 4.08 ERA in 43 relief appearances for the Phillies this season. The two-time All-Star is 13-28 all-time with a 4.23 ERA and 55 saves in six seasons for the Detroit Tigers (2019-22) and Phillies (2023-24).
–Field Level Media
