Orioles manager Brandon Hyde confident about Jackson Holliday’s progress..
Brandon Hyde had good things to say about Jackson Holliday this spring..
One of the biggest X factors for the Orioles in 2025 will be whether Jackson Holliday can take a step forward and have the breakout season most of us were expecting him to have last year. While things didn’t go so well in Holliday’s first taste of major league action, he did take some positive steps forward and ended the year on the right track.
Late in the season, it was reported that Holliday had changed his approach at the plate. Early in the season, the rookie was deploying a large kick in his swing. It’s something that had helped him add power in the minor leagues and the fact that he absolutely raked his way through the Orioles’ system was evidence that his approach was working.
However, the leg kick may have been holding him back at the highest level. Late in the year, Holliday switched to a more compact swing. He ditched the leg kick and started employing a quick toe tap toward the end of September and his results improved. In his final couple games of the year, Holliday went 4-5 with a double and three walks in the season’s final games and he took the toe tap into the offseason in stride.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde excited to see Jackson Holliday’s progression in 2025
Now that the O’s are back in Sarasota, it’s evident that Holliday’s change in approach is here to stay. When asked about Holliday’s progress, O’s manager Brandon Hyde told the guys on Foul Territory TV that “he did carry over what he was working on at the end of the season last year”. Hyde also mentioned that Holliday has looked more comfortable this spring than he did at certain points last year.
That last part is great news. It’s always tough for younger guys who come up to struggle like Holliday did and retain that level of confidence. There are huge expectations on Holliday, who was the consensus number one prospect in the sport prior to his debut. After working out some kinks and getting used to every day reps last year, everyone in Birdland expects the 21 year old to keep taking steps forward.
If all goes to plan, Holliday will be a major catalyst for the Orioles’ offense in 2025. He’s set to earn the lion’s share of playing time at second base and will work alongside All Star caliber guys in Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg in the infield. If Holliday can keep the progress from his swing change moving in the right direction, the Orioles’ offense will be a force to be reckoned with this year.
