04/26/24 04:36:00
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04/26 13:48 CDT Orioles send former No. 1 pick Holliday back to minors after he
hit .059 in 10 MLB games
Orioles send former No. 1 pick Holliday back to minors after he hit .059 in 10
MLB games
By DAVID GINSBURG
Associated Press
BALTIMORE (AP) --- Highly touted prospect Jackson Holliday has been optioned to
the minor leagues by the Baltimore Orioles after starting his big league career
with a disappointing thud.
Holliday was promoted from Triple-A Norfolk on April 10 amid plenty of fanfare,
but the 20-year-old second baseman managed only two hits --- both singles ---
and two walks in 36 plate appearances. He struck out 18 times and was batting
just .059 with one RBI and a .111 on-base percentage.
The Orioles tried to rest him periodically, but Holliday, the top pick in the
2022 MLB draft, never busted out of his funk at the plate. So, Baltimore sent
him back to Norfolk on Friday before opening a three-game series at home
against the Oakland Athletics.
Holliday will seek to regain his form at the plate with Norfolk, where he
batted .333 with five doubles, two homers and nine RBIs in 10 games this season
before being summoned by the Orioles.
Holliday excelled in the minors last season and was dominating Triple-A
pitching at Norfolk, but that didn't translate to success at the major league
level during his time with the Orioles this month.
"You're talking about somebody who's never failed before," Baltimore manager
Brandon Hyde said recently. "I don't think anybody, except for the people that
are down here in (uniform) understand how hard this is."
The son of former All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday was thought to have a
chance to make the big league club out of spring training, but instead started
with Norfolk. Now he's back down again, looking to right himself and get a
second chance with Baltimore.
His demotion could cost the Orioles a prospect promotion draft pick. The
stipulation is that players with little or no MLB service time need to break
camp with the team or be called up within two weeks of Opening Day. Then they
must spend all or most of the year in the big leagues. In addition, they must
either win their league's Rookie of the Year award, or place in the top three
for MVP or Cy Young.
As part of the roster shuffle on Friday, the Orioles selected the contract of
outfielder Ryan McKenna from Norfolk and designated catcher David Bauelos for
assignment.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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