Orioles rookie Infielder, Jackson Holliday is off to a dreadful start to his MLB campaign, going 1-30 at the plate. Yet the son of former MLB star Matt, isn’t gonna let his focus drift.
"Obviously I wasn't expecting this," said Holliday, "I knew what I was getting myself into. It's the best of the best of the best for a reason. I guess I haven't had a challenge yet, and this is the first one. … It's obviously challenging, but I feel like I'm handling it the best that I can."
Baseballs number one prospect was called up earlier this month following a hot start to his minor league season.
"I don't think there's very many people in the big leagues who haven't struggled," he said. "It just happens to be at the beginning."
Orioles' hitting coach Ryan Fuller is confident in Holliday's progress, stating that the Baltimore coaching staff is actively helping the young player with adjustments to his mechanics. These adjustments are aimed at increasing his ability to handle high fastballs and breaking balls in the lower part of the strike zone.
"There's a process that you go through in the big leagues," Fuller said. "It’s the jungle. And no matter what you have done in the minor leagues, when you come up here, there's external pressure. You've got cameras in your face at all times. It's just a higher level. He's going to be fine. He's here for a reason."
Despite Holliday's sluggish beginning, the Orioles currently lead the AL East with a 15-7 record.
This week, they are scheduled to play two matches against the Los Angeles Angels and three games against the Oakland Athletics before facing off in a four-game series against division rivals, the New York Yankees, from April 29 to May 2.
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