Jackson Holliday

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #1 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 70/Medium
  
  Track Record: The son of seven-time all-star Matt Holliday was a rapid riser from probable first-round pick to High School Player of the Year and No. 1 overall pick in 2022 thanks to some physical and swing gains. Since then, Holliday’s trajectory hasn’t flattened. He returned to Low-A Delmarva to begin 2023 and finished the season with Triple-A-champion Norfolk, excelling across all four full-season levels and earning Minor League Player of the Year honors. Holliday wasn’t at a level long enough to qualify for any league awards, but his .323 average was only one point off the highest of any minor leaguer with at least 500 plate appearances, and no one at that threshold topped his .442 on-base percentage.
  
  Scouting Report: Holliday’s elite offensive skill set showed as he climbed to Triple-A as a 19-year-old, with a plus-plus hit tool and at least plus plate discipline. Those qualities allow him to control the strike zone and make consistent, high-quality contact. After a fair share of weak fly outs in his 2022 pro debut, Holliday sharpened his ball flight to more consistently hit crisp line drives to all fields in 2023. Holliday had a 45.5% hard-hit rate, up from 34.6% in his pro debut, while increasing his 90th percentile exit velocity from 99.4 mph to 102.5. His continued physical maturation could help him develop above-average power, but if not he will be a doubles machine because of the quality of his contact. He has demonstrated an ability to backspin the ball and give it extra carry. The Orioles were impressed with the way he tapped into his pull-side power as the season went on, and Holliday didn’t sacrifice his all-fields approach to get to that. A gifted athlete who demonstrates the instincts of a baseball lifer both on and off the field, Holliday is loose and fluid at shortstop with the potential to be at least a plus shortstop and potentially a plus-plus second baseman, should the Orioles’ infield situation call for such a move. He’s a quick study defensively, can play one-handed, and has an advanced clock that means he doesn’t rush throws and often delivers them on time and on target. Holliday is a plus runner who was successful on 24 of 33 stolen base attempts in 2023 and shows good instincts on the basepaths. He also has elite makeup, handling the pressures of his prospect status and expectations as well as anyone the Orioles have had in that position.
  
  The Future: Holliday’s month at Triple-A to end the season solidified the fact that he’ll be in the majors in 2024. The Orioles expect he will more than hold his own when he arrives in Baltimore at age 20. Beyond that, the Orioles believe Holliday can be an all-star-caliber middle infielder who provides elite on-base presence at the top of the lineup. Holliday will be back in major league camp with a chance to break with the MLB club in spring training, and if he’s not on the Orioles’ Opening Day roster, he won’t be with Norfolk for long. N
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 70 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #3 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 65/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The son of MLB all-star Matt Holliday was set to play for his uncle Josh at Oklahoma State until he was drafted first overall by the Orioles in 2022. Holliday took classes from home this winter to work on adding strength and further refining his picturesque lefthanded swing, and he elevated himself to the top of the draft by doing so. He broke JT Realmuto's national high school hits record in the process and was recognized as BA High School Player of the Year. Holliday signed for $8.19 million--a record for a high school player--and had an impressive introduction to pro ball at the end of the summer. He walked 25 times against just 12 strikeouts, primarily against full-season competition.
  
  Scouting Report: Holliday's draft-year improvement only made what could be an elite offensive future even clearer. He has a smooth, fluid swing that doesn't require maximum effort to create maximum bat speed, with good body awareness to make him adjustable and keep the barrel through the zone well. Holliday already boasts advanced strike-zone discipline, and the continued physical development his frame suggests is imminent could give him above-average power to go along with his plus hit tool. He handled velocity well in his pro debut, but the Orioles want him to continue overcoming expected challenges with velocity and advanced pitch shapes as he climbs the minors. Defensively, he's a true shortstop with all the skills and instincts to play the position at a plus level, with a plus arm and plus speed as well.
  
  The Future: If Holliday ends up being the Orioles' last high first-round pick in a while, they'll be glad to have his all-star potential in the organization. He has the talent, mindset and work ethic to get there, and could be back in Low-A Delmarva to begin the 2023 season.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Speed: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #3 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Stillwater (Okla.) HS Committed/Drafted: Oklahoma State
  Age At Draft: 18.6
  BA Grade: 65/Extreme
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60
  The son of seven-time all-star and four-time Silver Slugger Matt Holliday, Jackson is a lefthanded-hitting, toolsy shortstop who significantly boosted his draft stock by getting bigger and stronger this spring. Holliday had an inconsistent performance on the showcase circuit last summer, where scouts saw him get big and aggressive with his swing and show more whiff tendencies than he did as an underclassman. Scouts with history watching Holliday believed he was simply looking to hit for power, rather than letting his developing power come naturally and he looked like his instinctual and natural hitting self this spring in Oklahoma, where he broke JT Realmuto’s national hits record. Holliday worked hard over the offseason and added plenty of strength—as well as a few inches of height—to his frame, while showing an impressive ability to drive the ball to the opposite field. He looks like a plus hitter when he is focused on the opposite field gap and willing to go the other way, instead of ripping out on his front side and trying to hunt homers like he did over the summer. Holliday still has room to add more strength to a 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame and he could grow into above-average power in the future. His tools improved across the board after his offseason in the weight room and he now shows plus running ability, above-average power and plus arm strength. In a class light on true shortstops, Holliday is the best bet of the top tier hitters in the class to stick at the position. He has solid hands and instincts, impressive athleticism and great carry and accuracy on his throws, which at times look like they are climbing into a second gear on the way to first base. He also shows a good understanding of where to position himself. Holliday is committed to Oklahoma State but has put himself in position to be one of the first players selected in the draft and has a special combination of tools, lefthanded-hitting ability, premium defensive positional value and professional bloodlines.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #1 prospect in 2023
• Ranked Baseball America's #15 prospect in 2023

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 65/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The son of MLB all-star Matt Holliday was set to play for his uncle Josh at Oklahoma State until he was drafted first overall by the Orioles in 2022. Holliday took classes from home this winter to work on adding strength and further refining his picturesque lefthanded swing, and he elevated himself to the top of the draft by doing so. He broke JT Realmuto's national high school hits record in the process and was recognized as BA High School Player of the Year. Holliday signed for $8.19 million--a record for a high school player--and had an impressive introduction to pro ball at the end of the summer. He walked 25 times against just 12 strikeouts, primarily against full-season competition.
  
  Scouting Report: Holliday's draft-year improvement only made what could be an elite offensive future even clearer. He has a smooth, fluid swing that doesn't require maximum effort to create maximum bat speed, with good body awareness to make him adjustable and keep the barrel through the zone well. Holliday already boasts advanced strike-zone discipline, and the continued physical development his frame suggests is imminent could give him above-average power to go along with his plus hit tool. He handled velocity well in his pro debut, but the Orioles want him to continue overcoming expected challenges with velocity and advanced pitch shapes as he climbs the minors. Defensively, he's a true shortstop with all the skills and instincts to play the position at a plus level, with a plus arm and plus speed as well.
  
  The Future: If Holliday ends up being the Orioles' last high first-round pick in a while, they'll be glad to have his all-star potential in the organization. He has the talent, mindset and work ethic to get there, and could be back in Low-A Delmarva to begin the 2023 season.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Speed: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 65/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The son of MLB all-star Matt Holliday was set to play for his uncle Josh at Oklahoma State until he was drafted first overall by the Orioles in 2022. Holliday took classes from home this winter to work on adding strength and further refining his picturesque lefthanded swing, and he elevated himself to the top of the draft by doing so. He broke JT Realmuto's national high school hits record in the process and was recognized as BA High School Player of the Year. Holliday signed for $8.19 million--a record for a high school player--and had an impressive introduction to pro ball at the end of the summer. He walked 25 times against just 12 strikeouts, primarily against full-season competition.
  
  Scouting Report: Holliday's draft-year improvement only made what could be an elite offensive future even clearer. He has a smooth, fluid swing that doesn't require maximum effort to create maximum bat speed, with good body awareness to make him adjustable and keep the barrel through the zone well. Holliday already boasts advanced strike-zone discipline, and the continued physical development his frame suggests is imminent could give him above-average power to go along with his plus hit tool. He handled velocity well in his pro debut, but the Orioles want him to continue overcoming expected challenges with velocity and advanced pitch shapes as he climbs the minors. Defensively, he's a true shortstop with all the skills and instincts to play the position at a plus level, with a plus arm and plus speed as well.
  
  The Future: If Holliday ends up being the Orioles' last high first-round pick in a while, they'll be glad to have his all-star potential in the organization. He has the talent, mindset and work ethic to get there, and could be back in Low-A Delmarva to begin the 2023 season.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Speed: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 65/Extreme
  
  August Update: The son of seven-time all-star and four-time Silver Slugger Matt Holliday, Jackson is a lefthanded-hitting, toolsy shortstop who significantly boosted his draft stock by getting bigger and stronger this spring. Holliday had an inconsistent performance on the showcase circuit last summer, where scouts saw him get big and aggressive with his swing and show more whiff tendencies than he did as an underclassman. Scouts with history watching Holliday believed he was simply looking to hit for power, rather than letting his developing power come naturally and he looked like his instinctual and natural hitting self this spring in Oklahoma, where he broke JT Realmuto&#39s national hits record. Holliday worked hard over the offseason and added plenty of strength—as well as a few inches of height—to his frame, while showing an impressive ability to drive the ball to the opposite field. He looks like a plus hitter when he is focused on the opposite field gap and willing to go the other way, instead of ripping out on his front side and trying to hunt homers like he did over the summer. Holliday still has room to add more strength to a 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame and he could grow into above-average power in the future. His tools improved across the board after his offseason in the weight room and he now shows plus running ability, above-average power and plus arm strength. In a class light on true shortstops, Holliday is the best bet of the top tier hitters in the class to stick at the position. He has solid hands and instincts, impressive athleticism and great carry and accuracy on his throws, which at times look like they are climbing into a second gear on the way to first base. He also shows a good understanding of where to position himself. Holliday was selected with the first overall pick and signed for $8,190,000. He has a special combination of tools, lefthanded-hitting ability, premium defensive positional value and professional bloodlines.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 55. Run: 60. Field: 55. Arm: 60.