Jackson Holliday’s family takes in firsthand view of Orioles prospect’s growth with Aberdeen IronBirds
Growing up, Jackson Holliday wanted no part of them. He’ d want to hit balls and want people to play catch with him,” said Matt Holliday, Jackson’ s father, a 7- time All-Star and 2011 World Series champion.“ He always had incredible mechanics in his swing even as a toddler. Now here he was, playing at Ripken Stadium a year removed from being drafted No. 1 overall by the Orioles...
There are babysitting rooms at ballparks where major leaguers can drop off their kids in capable hands while they play baseball. Growing up, Jackson Holliday wanted no part of them. He and his younger brother, Ethan, preferred to be in the stands where they could lock in on every pitch.
They mimicked stances, tracked each play and could name everyone on the field. Baseball has always been the guiding light of Jackson’s life.
“He’d want to come to the field with me. He’d want to hit balls and want people to play catch with him,” said Matt Holliday, Jackson’s father, a 7-time All-Star and 2011 World Series champion. “He always had incredible mechanics in his swing even as a toddler. He kind of naturally could just hit the ball. I always thought when he got stronger that he would really take off from a pro prospect standpoint.”
Now here he was, playing at Ripken Stadium a year removed from being drafted No. 1 overall by the Orioles and nearly two months from his promotion to High-A Aberdeen. Sitting six rows behind home plate to watch him play — albeit inconspicuously — were his parents, Matt and Leslee, his three younger siblings and his fiancé, Chloe.
A few rows in front of them was a signed Orioles jersey etched with Jackson’s No. 11. To their left and right were young fans pulling out camera phones, hoping to catch a glimpse of the organization’s future stepping into the batter’s box. And all around them came a reception of bells and whistles for the Orioles’ top prospect still in the minors.
Wednesday night marked Matt’s third time seeing Jackson play in person since the promotion and the rest of the family’s second. They were in town for an East Coast trip that included seeing Ethan, now a 16-year-old committed to Oklahoma State, play in Atlanta.
Jackson previously mentioned his family wasn’t the rambunctious type at games — although, Jackson’s youngest brother, Reed, stood up, glove in hand, for any opportunity to catch his foul ball. But the group remains steadfast, even with the surrounding excitement.
It wasn’t until Jackson’s final at-bat with two outs and a man on in the bottom of the ninth that Matt turned his hat backward and leaned forward in his seat. Jackson singled to right, pushing Jud Fabian to third base, but the IronBirds ultimately fell to the Brooklyn Cyclones, 5-4.
“Matt [played] for so long, so for me, I think it’s been an easier transition,” Leslee said. “Matt went from player to dad. I’ve been wife and mom. My role hasn’t changed a whole lot; I’m sitting here anxious about someone’s performance on the field. For me, I’m a little used to sitting in this seat.”
Matt was more privy to the transition from pro ball player to dad. He never forced the game on his sons.
The former 14-year pro admitted he battled with his own mechanics a fair share during his playing career. Matt made a point of letting his sons naturally develop their own swings. Then, when they got old enough to understand the technical side, he could help talk through particular nuances.
“I think there’s a fine line between letting them figure it out and be able to coach themselves,” Matt said. “Then, being able to step in when they need and give him some guidance. I always want it to be as natural as possible.
“A good swing is a good swing, teaching him how to stay in the strike zone and keep the bat moving in the right direction, having a timing mechanism that gets him ready and early on time, and having a mindset that’s aggressive and confident.”
Matt has also visited a few Aberdeen practices this season, standing off to the side while players are in the batting cages. For manager Roberto Mercado, conversations never revolve around baseball. For Jackson’s teammates, Mercado said it’s a chance to pick a former big leaguer’s brain.
What’s Jackson like away from baseball? Leslee says he’s the same as he is in baseball. He’s got a quiet confidence about him. He puts a lot of pressure on himself. And he’s ultra-competitive — in everything.
The Holliday family has a barn with a pickleball court inside. It’s largely aluminum with one side of drywall. Maybe six months ago, Jackson was losing a particular game when he proceeded to casually, but heatedly, kick a hole through the wall.
Mercado said he hasn’t seen that competitive side of him yet. But he does “show up every day ready to play hard.”
“What’s comforting to me as his mom is there are a lot of guys on this team who made the transition from living at home to being a professional at such a young age,” Leslee said. “Honestly, this has exceeded my expectations … Obviously, our first one to leave the house at 19. But the guys on the team, both in Delmarva and here at Aberdeen, have been fantastic. It’s a great organization so it hasn’t been as hard as I anticipated.”
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