Jackson Holliday Bio
Jackson Matthew Holliday (born December 4, 2003) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball. He was selected first overall by the Orioles in the 2022 MLB draft, signed a record-setting bonus, and made his major league debut in 2024. He is the son of former seven-time MLB All-Star Matt Holliday and has been regarded as one of the top prospects in the sport since his high school years.
Early Life and Background
Jackson Matthew Holliday grew up in a baseball family and attended Stillwater High School in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he developed into one of the most celebrated amateur players in the country. After his freshman year, he committed to play college baseball at Oklahoma State University, a program coached by his uncle, Josh Holliday.
As a junior in 2021, Holliday posted a .501 batting average with six home runs and 50 runs batted in. He was also named the Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. That summer, he played in national events such as the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park and was selected to USA Baseball’s 18-and-under team.
During his senior year in 2022, Holliday hit three home runs in a single game against Union High School and two home runs in the same inning during another contest. He finished the season batting .685 with 17 home runs, 79 RBIs, 29 doubles, and 30 stolen bases across 40 games. He set a national amateur record with 89 hits in a season, surpassing the mark of 88 set by J. T. Realmuto in 2010, and was named the Oklahoma Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year. He also earned an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove.
Path to Professional Baseball
Coming out of high school as one of the top prospects in the 2022 draft class, Holliday was selected first overall by the Baltimore Orioles. He signed with the team for $8.19 million, which was the largest signing bonus ever awarded to a high school player at the time of the deal. The selection capped a path that included national all-star recognition, USA Baseball involvement, and family ties to the major leagues.
His draft position reflected the same kind of pedigree seen in his father, Matt Holliday, who built a 15-year major league career as a seven-time All-Star. The Orioles viewed Holliday as a cornerstone talent and quickly moved him through the minor leagues, beginning with the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Orioles on August 11, 2022. He went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in his professional debut and was later promoted to the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Single-A Carolina League, where he finished the year batting .297 with one home run, nine RBIs, and four stolen bases across 20 total games.
Jackson Holliday Career
Minor League Rise (2022–2024)
Holliday began the 2023 season with the Delmarva Shorebirds and quickly proved he was ready for tougher competition. In 14 games, he slashed .396/.522/.660 with six doubles, one triple, two home runs, and 16 RBIs, earning promotions first to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds on April 24 and then to the Double-A Bowie Baysox on July 9. With Aberdeen, he hit .314/.452/.488 with 11 doubles, five triples, five home runs, and 35 RBIs over 57 games. He then batted .338/.421/.507 with nine doubles, three triples, three home runs, and 15 RBIs in 36 games at Bowie before reaching the Triple-A Norfolk Tides on September 4, where he hit .267/.396/.400 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 18 games. His overall 2023 performance earned him the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year award.
Holliday was invited to spring training in 2024 as a non-roster player and opened the year back at Norfolk. In 10 Triple-A games, he hit .333/.482/.595 with two home runs, carrying a career .321 batting average and .949 OPS in the minors. That production set the stage for his first major league call-up.
Major League Debut and Rookie Season (2024)
On April 10, 2024, the Baltimore Orioles selected Holliday’s contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. He was assigned uniform number 7 and made his debut as a second baseman against the Boston Red Sox, going 0-for-4 with one RBI. He recorded his first major league hit against the Milwaukee Brewers and later scored the go-ahead run. After batting 2-for-34 in his first 10 games, he was optioned back to Norfolk on April 26.
At Norfolk, Holliday slashed .259/.421/.455 with 20 doubles, eight home runs, and 29 RBIs in 63 games before being recalled on July 31. Later that day, he hit his first major league home run, a one-out grand slam onto Eutaw Street off Yerry Rodríguez during a 10-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. On August 16, 2024, he notched his first four-hit MLB game in a 12-10 loss to the Red Sox. He finished his rookie season with a .189/.255/.311 slash line across 60 games.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2024–Present)
Holliday returned to the Orioles in late July 2024 and remained a regular contributor through the end of the season. On May 4, 2025, he went 3-for-4 with two home runs in an 11-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals, recording his first career multi-homer game. On August 3, 2025, the Orioles started a lineup featuring three players whose given name or surname was Jackson, marking the first such occurrence in MLB’s Modern Era. Holliday added his first career walk-off hit on August 13, 2025, a two-out double in the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners that scored Dylan Carlson and delivered Baltimore its first walk-off win of the year.
The 2026 season began with a setback. On February 11, 2026, the Orioles announced that Holliday would open the year on the injured list after undergoing surgery for a fractured hamate bone in his right hand. He was activated on May 18 and made his season debut the following day, returning to the lineup as the team continued its rebuild around young position players.
Driving Style and Strengths
Holliday is a left-handed hitting middle infielder known for his patient approach at the plate, his ability to draw walks, and his above-average speed on the base paths. Defensively, he has shown strong instincts at second base and shortstop, along with the range and arm strength to handle both positions. His combination of offensive upside and defensive versatility has been a major reason the Orioles have kept him in their everyday plans.
Notable Events and Milestones
Holliday’s most memorable moments include his first-overall selection in 2022, his grand slam onto Eutaw Street in 2024, his first multi-homer game in 2025, and the rare three-Jackson starting lineup that same season. His 89-hit senior season at Stillwater High School also stands as a national amateur record.
Jackson Holliday Career Wins
Holliday’s career statistics are still being written, but his record-setting amateur season, his Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year honor, and his rapid major league debut have already established him as one of baseball’s most promising young infielders. His first-overall draft status in 2022 and his $8.19 million signing bonus marked a historic moment for high school players.
Minor League and Major League Highlights
Through the early part of his MLB career, Holliday has batted .226 with 26 home runs and 90 runs batted in. His first major league home run, a grand slam onto Eutaw Street, and his first multi-homer game in 2025 stand as early career highlights, while his walk-off double against the Seattle Mariners in August 2025 marked a signature moment.
Jackson Holliday Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Holliday comes from one of baseball’s most recognizable families. His father, Matt Holliday, played 15 major league seasons and earned seven All-Star selections, while his grandfather Tom Holliday is a longtime coach. His uncle, Josh Holliday, is the head baseball coach at Oklahoma State University, and his brother Ethan was selected fourth overall in the 2025 MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies.
Personal Life
Holliday got engaged to his girlfriend, Chloé Cox, on December 28, 2022, and the couple was married on January 6, 2024. His family ties, both within and beyond baseball, have remained a central part of his story as he continues his major league career with the Baltimore Orioles.
2025 Season Performance
Holliday’s 2025 season was a year of growth, highlighted by his first multi-homer game on May 4 against the Kansas City Royals and his first career walk-off hit on August 13 against the Seattle Mariners. The August 3 lineup featuring three players named Jackson also stood out as a unique moment in MLB’s Modern Era.
Through the year, Holliday continued to refine his approach at the plate and his defense at second base, working within a young Orioles core that has remained competitive in the American League. His combination of on-base skills, power potential, and base-running ability gave Baltimore a steady middle-of-the-order presence.
Looking ahead, Holliday’s continued development, his recovery from hand surgery in 2026, and his standing as a foundational piece of the Orioles’ long-term plans all point to a player whose best years are still ahead of him. His 2025 results suggest that he is settling into the major leagues and beginning to deliver on the promise that made him the first overall pick in 2022.
