BREAKING : Jackson Holliday announced resignation leaving team Baltimore Orioles
The day Jackson Holliday signed with the Baltimore Orioles, the 2022 No. 1 pick sat between general manager Mike Elias and super-agent Scott Boras at Camden Yards and said he hoped to be in the majors in “two years or less.” It was the sort of preposterous prediction an 18-year-old might make after signing for $8.19 million. But it’s not how the road to the show goes for high schoolers.
Two years or less.
It was audacious. It was also accurate.
Holliday, now 20, sat in the visiting dugout Wednesday at Fenway Park ahead of his debut, with reporters encircling him and autograph seekers occasionally calling out his name. When “Jackson” didn’t get his attention, they’d try “Mr. Holliday.” This did not work, in part because two other Mr. Hollidays were within earshot — Jackson’s grandfather Tom, a longtime college coach, and Jackson’s dad, Matt, a 15-year major leaguer. Jackson remembered signing his name inside the Green Monster as a kid.
“I know my dad lost a few World Series (games) here,” he said, to the amusement of the assembled Boston media.
Holliday reached the majors 20 months and 20 days after signing.
“If you give yourself goals,” he said, “you’ll reach them every now and again.”
Holliday started at second base and batted ninth against the Red Sox. He went 0-for-4 while driving in a run with a groundout. He turned a smooth double play in the second inning but later missed a basket catch with his back to the infield. It was, all in all, not the debut of his dreams. But it ended with a 7-5 road win and celebratory high-fives as the Orioles left the field.
“It’s all I could have asked for,” he said. “Playing in the big leagues. A stadium full of fans. Two really good teams. I can’t ask for more — except for maybe like four hits.”
Jackson grew up in major-league clubhouses, but for the first time, this one was his. His stall in the clubhouse was between Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, and in the same row as Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg, whose three-run homer was the difference in Wednesday’s game.
