Jackson Holliday with three hits and O's youngsters shine in win over Philly

CLEARWATER, Fla. – For the Orioles it was another win today under the Florida sun. But this one might have more importance than some others. They saw their 20-year-old top prospect produce his best spring game while a 34-year-old pitcher fighting for a return to the majors fanned seven over three dominant, scoreless innings.

It was quite the day for the Orioles, who beat the Phillies 3-2 and improved to 10-2 atop the Grapefruit League.

The Orioles top farm system was on display big time at BayCare Ballpark.

Baseball’s No. 1 prospect, Jackson Holliday, had a breakout performance, going 3-for-4 which included a 104.4 mph double in the first inning off right-hander Zack Wheeler. Wheeler just yesterday signed a $126 million contract extension and since 2020 leads all MLB pitchers in fWAR at 19.3.

Leading off the game, Holliday drilled one deep to right-center off Wheeler for the two-bagger on a 2-2 cutter.

“Pretty fun,” Holliday said of facing such an accomplished hurler. “We were talking about it at the house last night. We were all pretty excited to go against a guy that has such an unbelievable career in the big leagues. A big time pitcher. A big game pitcher. Was really cool to face him.”

Holliday’s big day would continue with a third-inning triple he hit 102.3 mph off the bat and a single in the eighth, also at 102.3.

"He swung the bat really well today,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “I think all three were on offspeed pitches, the split to center. It was like he was just more relaxed at the plate today and took a bunch of really good swings.

“It's good to see him swing the bat aggressively like that. The more at-bats he gets, the more comfortable he's going to get."

Holliday was 4-for-17 this spring at game time and looking to have a day like this. He could feel it coming, he said, after a strong day of mixed BP (where pitchers throw all their pitches) Monday in camp.

“Yeah, yeah. I just continue to get more comfortable, taking good at-bats. Trying to just relax,” he said. “After the last game I played I felt sped up and a little beaten (by some pitches). And I knew to just come out here and relax. Had a good day taking BP yesterday. Just going into that first at-bat was just feeling relaxed and ready for a fastball and it translated into results which is good and now look forward to the next game.

“I was ready for a heater (in the first inning). I was ready to hit the first pitch and was able to take it and put a good swing on his fastball. Didn’t feel I was beaten on it. So felt comfortable against his fastball and to put a good swing on a good pitch. Pretty happy with how my body was moving and how my approach was.”

Holliday is now 7-for-21 this spring with two doubles and two triples, batting .333 with an OPS of .983.

Facing Wheeler and some Phillies frontline players provided a challenge that the kid was obviously up for.

"Obviously you want to compete against the best. To be the best you have to beat the best, right? To be able to put together a good at-bat against him and (Max) Fried and some of these other guys that I’ve been able to compete against, it’s encouraging, especially to hit a double off him. That’s even more encouraging, so it’s really cool to be on the field with him, J.T. (Realmuto) and Trea Turner, some guys I really enjoy watching. Try to model my game after Turner a little bit so really cool to be out there," he said. 

The six 100 mph plus exit velocities today for the Orioles came from youngsters. Jordan Westburg drilled a flyout 106.2 and Coby Mayo hit two balls at 102 mph. Colton Cowser had two more hits and drove in a run and is batting .400. Chayce McDermott threw two scoreless.

The O’s farm was living up to the hype.

“We were joking around, saying it’s the Tides playing the Phillies today,” said Holliday. “It was pretty fun to be out there with all those guys and all be on the same field at the same time together. We’ve got a good group of guys that came up in the minor leagues together. Really fun group.”

Of hitting the ball so hard today, he said: “That was my main focus in the offseason to get stronger and be able to hit the ball harder. Because big league stadiums are big. So, it’s important to be able to drive the ball all over the field. I mean anytime you can hit the barrel is a win, no matter how hard it is.”

Early in the game, right-hander Albert Suarez, the right-hander from Venezuela who has not been in the big league since 2017, dazzled. He fanned seven over three scoreless innings. He fanned Kyle Schwarber twice and Trea Turner once. He got 12 whiffs on 23 swings including 10 of 17 on a four-seam fastball that averaged 96.3 and topped at 97.5.

"You never know until you really see somebody,” said Hyde of the pitcher who spent time since 2019 pitching in Japan and Korea. “He's come in here and opened up a lot of eyes. If he keeps doing what he's doing, it's fun to watch, but just the way he throws strikes, the veteran kind of experience moxie on the mound, nothing really fazes him. He can hold runners. He fields his position. He understands pitching, and he's pitched the last couple of times he's been out there."

Suarez told reporters that after signing with the Orioles last September, he spent two weeks in Sarasota with coaches who suggested some adjustments he could make to add some velocity. It worked. When he pitched in 2016-2017 with the Giants he was throwing 92, 93. 

“I started (making these adjustments) when I signed with the Orioles last year. I came to Sarasota for two weeks and they sat down with me and talked about small adjustments and I’ve been working since then. I went to Venezuela to pitch winter ball and I was working there too. That’s a big help."

He's now fanned nine with no walks in five scoreless spring innings, producing a 0.40 WHIP. 

The Orioles, who are 7-1 in their last eight games, host Pittsburgh at 6:05 p.m. Wednesday at Ed Smith Stadium.