"Let’s send him down the game after he gets a hit, that’ll boost his confidence" - Orioles fans react as team options Jackson Holliday to AAA
Jackson Holliday's initial spell in the major leagues has ended rather prematurely. The Baltimore Orioles announced they would option their no.1 prospect back to the Tripe As. This comes after a horrid debut run for the infielder, who managed just two hits in his ten games.
Holliday made his way quickly up the Orioles farm system after he was picked in 2022. Last year, he made up four levels of minor league baseball, batting over .300 from the Single-A to the Triple-A. Even at spring training this season, he shone with an impressive stat line of .311/.354/.600. Many expected him to be picked for the Opening Day roster.
However, the Orioles' management chose otherwise. They sent him back to Norfolk to gain more experience in the AAA. When called to make his debut, Holliday made some big headlines. However, in the ten games he played in that run, he averaged .059/.111/.059, striking out 18 times in those games.
Even though it was a likely decision, some Orioles fans took offense as they wanted Holliday to find his feet in the MLB. The confidence boost from that would have done him a world of good. Specifically, after the Orioles shortstop got a hit and scored a run against the Angels on Thursday.
"Yeah let’s send him down the game after he gets a hit, I’m sure that’ll boost his confidence," one fan tweeted on X.
"Giving up on Jackson already? He'd fit right in with a certain Chicago team," another fan tweeted.
"Wow they moved him back down, huh? Just don’t see that that often with a number 1 overall prospect," another fan tweeted.
"BUT HE GOT A HIT!!!" one fan tweeted.
Although most fans were shocked by the news, some fans sided with the team management. They felt a few ABs against Triple-A pitchers would help Holliday.
"Ask opposing aaa righties to give him fastballs away and sliders high and tight. Bring him back up when he can hit that combo," one fan tweeted.
"One small step backwards before taking bigger strides forward., all good," another fan tweeted.
Orioles make other changes beside Jackson Holliday
Holliday's demotion has prompted the Os to continue with a strong infield combination of Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg. Ramon Urias has been a solid backup at third base. Baltimore brought back up OF Ryan McKenna, who has been an on-and-off figure in the MLB for the last two or three years. They also DFA'd David Banuleos.