Jackson Holliday Thrives with Aggressive Hitting for Orioles

SEATTLE — Jackson Holliday is showcasing his aggressive hitting style this season as a standout player for the Baltimore Orioles. Arriving in Triple-A late in 2023, Holliday faced an adjustment in his approach. He realized that although he could hit almost anything, he shouldn’t swing at everything.

Holliday’s father, seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, noted that Jackson became ‘a little bit passive’ during his time in the minors. Reflecting on this, Jackson believes he may have waited longer for better pitches because he was more feared there.

This season, Holliday has embraced his natural aggression once again. He is among the best hitters for fastballs on the first pitch, currently ranking 14th in baseball for his swings. With a 42.1% swing rate on the first pitch, his contact results are impressive, batting .351 when he connects.

‘When you step into the box, you’ve got to be ready to hit,’ Matt Holliday emphasized. Jackson agrees, stating he aims to attack fastballs, especially when the pitch is in the strike zone.

Holliday’s approach is paying off, as he swings at first-pitch fastballs much more than his teammates. In his numerous at-bats, he has consistently capitalized on this strategy, making him a formidable opponent at the plate.

‘I don’t like to take fastballs in the middle,’ Jackson said. His confidence in hitting against pitchers translates into his aggressive style, which helps him and his team.

Additionally, Jackson recognizes that having power hitters behind him in the lineup allows him to see more fastballs. ‘I get attacked a little bit more,’ he noted.

The opportunity to perform well on the field is vital for Holliday as he focuses on improving his performance while learning from experiences, such as groundouts from bad swings.

‘I’d rather err on the side of aggression,’ he concludes, reflecting his positive results this season.