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 and made his MLB debut in 2024. He is the son of former MLB All-Star Matt Holliday, continuing a well-known baseball family tradition.
Regarded as one of the top amateur prospects in recent memory, Holliday signed a record-setting deal out of high school and climbed quickly through the Orioles’ minor-league system. He earned national recognition as the 2023 Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year before establishing himself in the majors.
Early Life and Background
Jackson Matthew Holliday grew up around professional baseball, the son of Matt Holliday, a seven-time MLB All-Star, and the grandson of longtime coach Tom Holliday. He attended Stillwater High School in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he became one of the most decorated amateur players in the country.
After his freshman year, Holliday committed to play college baseball at Oklahoma State University, the program coached by his uncle, Josh Holliday. As a junior in 2021, he posted a .501 batting average with six home runs and 50 runs batted in, earning Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. That summer, he played in events such as the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park and earned a spot on USA Baseball’s 18-and-under team.
During his senior season in 2022, Holliday batted .685 with 17 home runs, 79 RBIs, 29 doubles, and 30 stolen bases across 40 games. He set a national record for hits in a single amateur season with 89, surpassing a mark previously held by J. T. Realmuto. He was named the Oklahoma Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year, joining his father and uncle as the third Holliday to win the award, and he also received an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove.
Path to Professional Baseball
Entering his senior year, Holliday was widely viewed as the top prospect for the 2022 MLB draft. The Baltimore Orioles selected him with the first overall pick, and he signed for $8.19 million, the largest signing bonus ever awarded to a high school player.
Holliday made his professional debut on August 11, 2022, with the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Orioles, going 1-for-3 with a stolen base. Later that month, he was promoted to the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Single-A Carolina League. Across 20 games between the two affiliates, he batted .297 with one home run, nine RBIs, and four stolen bases.
Jackson Holliday Career
Minor League Development (2022–2024)
Holliday began the 2023 season with Delmarva and immediately produced at a high level, batting .396/.522/.660 with six doubles, two home runs, and 16 RBIs in 14 games. He earned two promotions during the first four months of the season, 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 in 57 games. At Bowie, he posted a .338/.421/.507 line with nine doubles, three home runs, and 15 RBIs in 36 games before reaching Triple-A Norfolk in September. In 18 games with the Tides, he batted .267/.396/.400 with two home runs. Following the season, he was named the 2023 Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2024–Present)
On April 10, 2024, the Orioles selected Holliday’s contract and promoted him to the major leagues. Wearing uniform number 7, he debuted as a second baseman against the Boston Red Sox and went 0-for-4 with one RBI. He was optioned to Norfolk on April 26 after batting 2-for-34 in 10 games. With the Tides, he hit .259/.421/.455 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs in 63 games before a second recall on July 31.
That same day, Holliday hit his first major-league home run, a one-out grand slam onto Eutaw Street off Yerry Rodríguez in a 10–4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. He recorded his first four-hit MLB game on August 16, 2024, against the Red Sox. He finished his rookie campaign batting .189/.255/.311 across 60 games.
In 2025, Holliday continued his development with the Orioles. On May 4, 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, he teamed with Jeremiah Jackson and Alex Jackson to retire Carson Kelly at home plate against the Chicago Cubs, marking the first time in MLB’s Modern Era that a team started at least three players sharing the name Jackson. On August 13, 2025, he delivered his first career walk-off hit, a double in the ninth inning that drove in Dylan Carlson in a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners, the Orioles’ first walk-off victory of the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Holliday is a switch-hitting middle infielder known for his plate discipline, on-base skills, and developing power. His quick hands and strong defensive instincts have made him a steady presence at second base, while his advanced approach at the plate has drawn comparisons to his father, Matt Holliday.
Notable Events and Milestones
Holliday’s milestone moments include his first MLB home run, a grand slam onto Eutaw Street, his first multi-homer game in 2025, and his first career walk-off hit. He also became part of an unusual modern-era record in 2025, sharing the field with two other players named Jackson for the first time in MLB history.
Jackson Holliday Career Wins
Jackson Matthew Holliday’s growing list of accomplishments reflects his rapid rise through professional baseball, from record-setting amateur honors to early major-league milestones with the Orioles.
Minor League and Major League Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Holliday had recorded 22 home runs, 78 RBIs, and a .229 batting average in his major-league career. His minor-league résumé includes a 2023 campaign that featured batting averages above .300 at three different levels and culminated in Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year honors.
Other Awards and Performances
Before turning professional, Holliday earned the Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, the Oklahoma Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year in 2022, and an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove, joining his father and uncle as a third-generation Holliday to win the Gatorade award.
Jackson Holliday Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Jackson Matthew Holliday is part of one of baseball’s most prominent families. His father, Matt Holliday, played 15 major-league seasons and was a seven-time All-Star. His grandfather, Tom Holliday, is a longtime coach, and his uncle, Josh Holliday, is the head baseball coach at Oklahoma State. His brother, Ethan Holliday, was selected fourth overall in the 2025 MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies.
Personal Life
Holliday became engaged to Chloé Cox on December 28, 2022, and the two were married on January 6, 2024. He continues to be based in the United States, splitting time between the Orioles’ home base and his roots in Oklahoma.
2025 Season Performance
Holliday’s 2025 season has been a year of growth and signature moments with the Baltimore Orioles. After working to refine his swing following his rookie year, he produced his first career multi-homer game on May 4 against the Kansas City Royals, signaling a step forward in his offensive development.
His contributions extended beyond the batter’s box. On August 3, 2025, he was part of a defensive sequence featuring three players named Jackson, a feat unmatched in MLB’s Modern Era. Days later, on August 13, he delivered his first career walk-off hit, a clutch double that capped a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners and gave the Orioles their first walk-off victory of the season.
With his power, plate discipline, and defensive instincts trending upward, Holliday remains a central piece of the Orioles’ long-term plans. His blend of pedigree, work ethic, and emerging results positions him as one of the more intriguing young infielders in the American League as the 2025 season unfolds.