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Jackson Holliday's All-Star Potential: A Deep Dive into His Recent Success
about 1 year agoUS
Baltimore Orioles' young second baseman, Jackson Holliday, is showing significant improvements, sparking discussions about his potential All-Star appearance. After a rocky start to the 2025 season, Holliday has adjusted his batting stance based on advice from his father, former MLB All-Star Matt Holliday, leading to a surge in performance.
Key Insights
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Jackson Holliday's SLG% has increased by 132 points from April to May, indicating a significant improvement in hitting performance.
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Advice from his father, Matt Holliday, led to adjustments in Jackson's batting stance, specifically related to hand placement and bat verticality.
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Holliday's attack angle has improved, allowing him to stay on plane with pitches longer and make better contact.
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His swing-and-miss rate on fastballs has decreased significantly since implementing the changes, suggesting better timing and pitch recognition.
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Why this matters:: Holliday's resurgence provides hope for the Orioles and highlights the impact of mentorship and mechanical adjustments in baseball. His potential All-Star selection would be a significant achievement, given his initial struggles.
In-Depth Analysis
Jackson Holliday's journey to potentially becoming an All-Star in 2025 is a story of adjustments and perseverance. Initially struggling with a .167/.239/.310 line through his first 13 games, Holliday sought advice from his father, Matt Holliday, a seven-time All-Star. Matt identified that Jackson was standing too upright and was 'around the ball' too much.
The adjustments focused on Holliday's pre-pitch setup, emphasizing a smaller toe tap instead of a larger leg kick, inspired by Shohei Ohtani. This change allowed Jackson to keep his hands further from his body, providing more space to maneuver and get inside the ball. According to Baseball Savant, Holliday’s attack angle has improved from 5° to 9°, bringing him closer to the ideal range for hitting. His ideal attack angle percentage has also risen from 41% to 53%.
Before April 23, Holliday had an opposite-field-angled swing, indicating he was often late on pitches, especially fastballs. Since the adjustments, his swing-and-miss rate on pitches 95 mph or faster has decreased from 25% to 13%. A key example is a game where he crushed a 95-96 mph fastball for a three-run homer, a stark contrast to fouling off a similar pitch earlier in the season. This turnaround has positioned him as a top-50 hitter over the past month, with production similar to stars like Bobby Witt Jr. and Julio Rodríguez.
While it's still early in the season, Holliday's performance is a promising sign for the Orioles, who have faced challenges with other young stars and overall team performance. His ability to adapt and improve highlights his potential to become a key player for the team.
FAQs
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Q: What specific advice did Matt Holliday give to Jackson?
Matt Holliday advised Jackson to adjust his batting stance, focusing on hand placement and bat verticality to improve his timing and contact.
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Q: How has Jackson Holliday's hitting performance improved since making the adjustments?
His SLG% has increased by 132 points, and his swing-and-miss rate on fastballs has decreased significantly.
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Q: What is the significance of Holliday's improved attack angle?
A better attack angle allows him to stay on plane with pitches longer, resulting in more solid contact and better hitting performance.
Key Takeaways
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Jackson Holliday has significantly improved his hitting performance due to adjustments in his batting stance based on his father's advice.
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These adjustments have led to a higher SLG%, improved attack angle, and reduced swing-and-miss rate on fastballs.
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Holliday's resurgence offers hope for the Orioles and demonstrates the importance of mentorship and mechanical adjustments in baseball.
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Keep an eye on Holliday as a potential All-Star candidate, especially given his recent performance and the relatively thin competition at second base in the American League.
Discussion
Do you think Jackson Holliday will continue his All-Star trajectory? Let us know in the comments below!
Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!
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