Jackson Holliday becomes youngest player in AL history to homer three straight games

TORONTO – It didn't happen in April when he went 2-for-34 with 18 strikeouts. But it's happening now. Jackson Holliday, who will not turn 21 until Dec. 4, is now doing special things for the Orioles.

So special that last night, Holliday's go-ahead homer in the seventh led the Orioles to a win but he also became the youngest player in American League history to homer in three straight games.

Looking overmatched and not ready in April, now he looks every bit like the best prospect in baseball. Those that called him overhyped and overrated then are eating their words faster than a buffet lunch. 

The fun started last Wednesday in Baltimore, in his first game back in the bigs since April. 

He drilled a ball 439 feet in the sixth inning against Toronto for a grand slam. A 4-3 lead became 8-3 and Jackson got all of that one. He hit an 0-2 slider with 109.2 mph exit velocity.

“I mean 109 mph is by far the hardest ball I’ve ever hit,” Holliday recalled pregame yesterday. “I mean, I live kind of around the 100 to 105 range. It gets the job done, just hitting the ball on the barrel and wherever it goes, you seem to have a better outcome whenever you’re hitting the ball on the barrel. Maybe it’s the big league balls or adrenaline, but it’s been pretty fun so far.”

He drilled a homer at Rogers Centre Tuesday night, his third in six games since he returned, with a 101.5 mph exit velocity. More like his norm. But the velocity of the slam caught him off guard a bit.

“The one I hit in Baltimore I definitely did surprise myself. The one (Tuesday) was kind of up to par of how I can hit the ball.”

Well, he may have to change his par grades. The two-run shot in the seventh last night, the homer that gave the O's a 4-3 lead in a game they won 7-3, was 107.2 mph and went 424 feet.

This year at Triple-A Norfolk, Holliday homered 10 times in 266 at-bats, one every 26.6 at-bats. In his seven games since his return to the roster, he is 9-for-24 with four homers and 10 RBIs. He is batting .375, slugging .917 with an OPS of 1.361 this time in the bigs. His season OPS for 17 games, is now up to .668.

Holliday is 3-for-11 in three games versus Toronto, but all three hits are homers with seven RBIs. 

Holliday said the homers have come about because he is having a good approach and hitting strikes.

“I mean, I love hitting home runs, so that’s pretty great,” he said. “But it’s not what I am trying to do. Trying to just hit line drives. And I keep catching the ball at good angles. And it’s been fun to hit the ball all over the field and that is what I am trying to do. Glad that they are going over the fence right now.”

Manager Brandon Hyde pinch hit for Holliday with a lefty reliever on the mound in the eighth on Tuesday night. But Holliday said he welcomes some late game left-on-left chances.

“Yeah I think that’s the goal,” he said. “To be more comfortable in those at-bats. Been talking to Gunnar (Henderson) and he kind of had similar situations early in his career. (Austin) Slater had an awesome at-bat, drew a walk and scored a run. You want to be the player that can come up in any at-bat and produce. But I understand that decision.”

Armed with a strong mental outlook, not to mention some mechanical tweaks batting he made in Norfolk, Holliday seems like a very different player this time around.

Is the positive outlook or the mechanical adjustments helping him more now?

“I think it’s a little bit of both. Obviously being able to control my nerves and the situation a little bit better this time around. Not overswinging and staying in my zone. Having a swing and approach kind of back to where I trust and am able to get my swing off. Think it is a little bit of both,” he said.

Hyde was asked before last night's game what has most impressed him this time about Holliday?

“Everything,” said the skipper. “You know the defense is improved. Just the calmness in the batter’s box. I just felt like he was really trying to do way too much in every swing that first couple of weeks. Plus he had cameras in his face. I felt like at the time it was really unfair to try and do this job at 20 years old with that many eyes on him.

“So hard to do early in the year. We saw Gunnar go through it the year before, when there is that much hype for a young player. How you respond, react, think it’s really challenging. He just seems much more relaxed playing the game now.”

Holliday has said a couple of times that he gained a lot during his April struggles with the Orioles.

“You learn a lot about yourself and certain things you can handle. It was a lot. But it made me a better person and a better player for it. Not saying I’m glad I went through that, but it is definitely going to be more beneficial for me.

“Best advice? Oh man, just being able to rely on my family. Talk to them and my wife, just keep going. It’s been really encouraging talking to guys I play against that tell me I belong here and that I’m a good player. Been encouraging to talk to other guys.”

Baseball’s No. 1 prospect now looks very much like exactly that. His O’s future is pretty bright. He might have batted .059 his first time in the majors, but he never doubted better days would come.

“Nope. Nope. Just needed some time I guess,” said Holliday.

Tied for first: With the Yankees splitting a doubleheader and the O's winning their game, the teams are once again tied for first in the AL East at 68-47. The clubs are tied with the best record in the AL and second best in the majors behind Philadelphia (67-46).

The Orioles are now 3-3 on their 10-game road trip. They are 24-11 in AL East games, 34-22 on the road and now 7-5 against Toronto. 

With last night's win, the Orioles have clinched a second straight season series win over Toronto. This is the first time they’ve accomplished that since winning the season series in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

From 2020-2022, they went 16-32 against Toronto. But since 2023, they are 17-8 versus the Blue Jays. 

Anthony Santander homered twice last night and made a great catch in right to rob Vlad Guerrero for good measure. He now has a new career-high with 34 homers. 

Santander has hit 11 homers his last 20 games and 25 in 59 games since June 1. This year versus American League East opponents, he has homered 13 times in 34 games and six times in 12 games against Toronto.

Here is a look at last night's game story here and some optimism about Grayson Rodriguez here from yesterday's stories from Rogers Centre.