The Baltimore Orioles recalled top prospect Jackson Holliday from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday morning.
Holliday, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft, will begin his second stint in the majors. The first one didn’t go so well for the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holiday, going 2-for-34 with 18 strikeouts in 10 games in April.
“I’m definitely more prepared than I was last time,” Holliday said. “Getting that debut out of the way … it’s definitely a little bit easier coming up here the second time and being relaxed.”
Holliday is manning second base and batting eighth in Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Holliday, 20, has batted .271 with 10 homers and 38 RBIs in 73 games this season at Norfolk.
“I think this is a big chance for him, and we’re going to give him some time,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said. “… This is a time period where he’s got some runway in front of him because of the vacancy that we have at second base right now.”
Holliday was called up to replace fellow infielder Connor Norby, who was shipped to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday along with outfielder Kyle Stowers in exchange for left-handed starter Trevor Rogers.
Also on Wednesday, the Orioles activated left-hander Gregory Soto — who was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday — and optioned catcher Blake Hunt and utilityman Terrin Vavra to Norfolk.
Soto, 29, went 2-4 with a 4.08 ERA in 43 relief appearances for the Phillies this season. The two-time All-Star is 13-28 all-time with a 4.23 ERA and 55 saves in six seasons for the Detroit Tigers (2019-22) and Phillies (2023-24).