- **Q: Is Jackson Holliday performing up to his draft expectations in 2025?
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Fantasy Baseball / Player Analysis
Jackson Holliday, the highly-touted Baltimore Orioles prospect selected #1 overall in the 2022 MLB Draft, entered the 2025 season as a popular breakout candidate. Despite struggles in his initial MLB stint in 2024, optimism remained high. T...
While Jackson Holliday's early 2025 performance hasn't wowed fantasy managers (ranking as the 37th-best second baseman vs. being drafted 18th at the position), a closer look reveals encouraging signs. His pitch recognition appears to be improving, demonstrated by a lower out-of-zone swing rate and increased zone contact rate. This suggests he's seeing the ball better at the Major League level.
However, this improved approach hasn't translated into walks or significantly better results yet. His average exit velocity (90.3 mph) is league average, but below-average bat speed limits his hard-hit rate and power potential; expecting more than 20 home runs seems unlikely.
The Orioles appear committed to letting Holliday develop, keeping him in the lineup regularly, often batting eighth and playing second base. His defense also helps secure his playing time. For fantasy managers, especially in redraft leagues, the path to Holliday returning value hinges significantly on his speed. His sprint speed ranks in the top 8% of MLB players. If he can get on base more consistently and the Orioles allow him to run aggressively, he possesses the potential for 30+ stolen bases, which could offset a modest batting average (projected around .230-.260). Dynasty league managers can afford more patience, but redraft owners need those steals to materialize sooner rather than later.
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Are you holding onto Jackson Holliday in your fantasy leagues, or have the early struggles made you cut bait? Do you think he'll start running more soon?
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