Holliday learned from ups and downs of rookie season

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill's Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BALTIMORE -- Less than an hour after the Orioles’ season-ending loss to the Royals in the American League Wild Card Series on Oct. 2, Jackson Holliday stood at his corner locker inside the home clubhouse at Camden Yards and sorted his belongings. He never played during Baltimore’s brief two-game postseason appearance, but he still felt the disappointment.

Only 20, Holliday showed a maturity beyond his years during an up-and-down rookie season. He did so again while reflecting in the wake of a tough early exit for the O’s.

There were encouraging moments during Holliday’s 60-game debut campaign -- his first hit on April 14, a Eutaw Street grand slam for his first homer on July 31, a strong showing in Cleveland at the start of August and a home run frenzy that shortly followed.

The numbers mostly showcase the struggles, though. Holliday, who entered the 2024 season as baseball’s top prospect, hit .189 (36-for-190) with a .565 OPS. He struck out 69 times over 208 plate appearances.

“I’ve gone through stints where I’m like, ‘OK, this is how I thought I would be as a player.’ But I mean, I got beat up a little bit,” Holliday said on the final night of the O’s season. “I think I’ll be better for it and have a better idea of how I want to attack this offseason and leading up into Spring Training.”

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Holliday was already looking forward to the spring. Baseball has always been his entire life, having grown up as the son of former All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday.

The young Holliday is eager to report to a 2025 camp in which he’ll now have MLB experience to draw upon while trying to solidify a spot as the Orioles’ starting second baseman.

“I think I’m most excited to have a real number. No, I’m just kidding,” joked Holliday, who will wear his No. 7 in Sarasota, Fla., rather than the No. 87 he donned the past two springs. “It’s nice to have this experience and go into a Spring Training with being around the big league group and being able to play in big league games and to go into Spring Training with a different mindset than I had last year and the year before.”

Holliday didn’t play much during the final week of the regular season, as both All-Star second baseman Jordan Westburg and veteran third baseman Ramón Urías returned from the injured list on Sept. 22 and reclaimed starting roles. Still, an important development occurred for the youngster at that time.

Over his final four games, the left-handed-hitting Holliday modified his swing mechanics. Rather than using a big kick of his right leg, he simplified his approach by instead tapping his right toe ahead of making contact. He closed out the season by going 5-for-7 (.714) with a double and three walks in 10 plate appearances.

“I really liked his swing a lot. He was getting his foot down early. He was able to be on time with the fastball a little bit more, especially the elevated fastball,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “The swing was a lot shorter. His eyes were wide open. He loved how it felt.”

Holliday’s willingness to adjust is another reason why the Orioles are excited about his future. And make no mistake about it, the organization still believes that future will be bright.

General manager Mike Elias said at the end of the season that he remains “incredibly bullish” on Holliday, who showed “some really good splashes.” Third-base coach Tony Mansolino, who serves as Baltimore’s infield instructor, believes Holliday could eventually win a Gold Glove at second, a position he learned on the fly last spring after mostly playing shortstop all his life.

Despite immediate postseason departures each of the past two years, the O’s are set up well for long-term success, especially if Holliday reaches his full potential. He plans to do so, and he expects big things from his club down the line.

“The guys that are in this clubhouse are going to take away from getting eliminated in the Wild Card, and guys that are in the Minor Leagues that are coming up -- I think we have a lot to look forward to as an organization and as a team,” Holliday said. “I think it’s all positives, besides losing.”