In his first three games playing for the Baltimore Orioles, Jackson Holliday has struggled at bat, going 0-for-11 with seven strikeouts and one RBI. His .000 OPS ranks him as one of the least effective hitters in baseball.

Despite these early challenges, Holliday remains unfazed. Following Baltimore’s lopsided defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers in his first home game at Camden Yards, he shared his perspective with Luke Jones of BaltimorePositive.com.

“It’s only been three games,” Holliday reassured. “Although it feels like an eternity, I understand that it’s a small sample size. Being able to adapt is crucial in this sport due to its high failure rate. I managed to make adjustments during spring training, and that’s what matters most.

On April 10, Holliday was promoted to the Orioles, emerging as baseball’s top prospect.

His debut adds to a series of homegrown talents from Baltimore reaching the major leagues. However, until he establishes himself on the field, fans may not fully embrace the reality of his presence.

Moreover, the team’s potential remains uncertain until he proves himself.

Thankfully, his initial defeat in the major leagues was not significantly influenced by his three strikeouts.

Wells expressed: “I Failed to Provide the Team an Opportunity.

Starting pitcher Tyler Wells took to the pitcher’s mound against the Brewers, but was swiftly pulled from the game after just four innings.

In his third start of the season, Wells yielded six hits and four runs, resulting in a 5.87 ERA.

Addressing reporters after the game, Wells acknowledged that his performance put the Orioles in a difficult position against Milwaukee.

“I didn’t provide the team with an opportunity to win today,” Wells admitted. “That really frustrates me. I will use this experience to prepare diligently for the next game and ensure that I take care of business.”

The first homer he surrendered was to Gary Sanchez, who had previously gone 0-for-12 with the Brewers this season.

Reflecting on his early performances in the season, Wells described them as “average” in an interview with Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports postgame.

It feels like it’s been a pretty lackluster start to the season,” Wells remarked. “The issue mainly lies in poor pitch placements. Regarding the Sanchez pitch, although it may seem like an error, we executed it as planned but he managed to connect with it. Apart from that, the rest were simply mistakes – pitches delivered in the central zone. That’s unacceptable.”

Wells is the initial Orioles starter not to complete the fifth inning this season. His 5.87 ERA ranks second only to Cole Irvin among starters, with just 13 strikeouts out of 67 faced batters.

During the 2023 season, Wells allowed 25 home runs in 118.2 innings pitched. So far in 2024, he has already given up three home runs in 15.1 innings.

Holliday Receives a Standing Ovation at Camden Yards.

The off-field celebrations are expected to generate excitement among fans, possibly diverting attention away from Holliday’s current hitting challenges. During his debut game at Camden Yards, he was warmly greeted and received a standing ovation.

“That was amazing,” Holliday expressed. “Their backing has always been incredible, especially from all the minor league teams. To be finally here, it was a truly memorable moment.

 

With the fans’ celebrations, the #7 jersey gifted by the Ripken family, and the unwavering support from his teammates, one could almost overlook his 0-for-11 beginning.

However, the Baltimore Orioles and Jackson Holliday himself won’t overlook it.

As long as he begins to swing his bat as he has demonstrated he’s capable of doing, both Holliday and the team are poised for better days ahead.