High-A no problem for No. 2 prospect Holliday
Many Orioles hitting prospects battle upon their arrival to High-A Aberdeen. Even Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson endured early slumps for the IronBirds.
Since being promoted to Aberdeen on April 24, Holliday is 11-for-37 (.297) with one double, one triple, one house run and 4 RBIs in 10 video games. Baltimore’s No. 2 prospect and MLB’s No. 10 total prospect, in line with MLB Pipeline, has additionally drawn 9 walks to spice up his on-base share to .435, and he’s 4-for-5 on steal makes an attempt.
Holliday, 19, has proven a maturity properly past his years since he was chosen by the O’s with the No. 1 total decide within the 2022 MLB Draft. He held his personal in massive league Spring Training and tore up the Carolina League when he opened this season with Single-A Delmarva, together with a .392/.523/.667 slash line with two homers and 15 RBIs in 13 video games.
“He’s very advanced for his age in regards to his understanding of the game and his understanding of the professional lifestyle and work ethic,” Baltimore director of participant growth Matt Blood lately mentioned of the son of former All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday. “He’s been impressive in every aspect.”
So it’s not too shocking the South Atlantic League hasn’t confirmed to be a ton of bother for Holliday. Entering Sunday, he had collected not less than two hits in three of his previous 4 video games. That included a 2-for-4 displaying on Saturday, when he had a pair of singles, two RBIs and a stroll in Aberdeen’s 7-2 win at Brooklyn.
Here’s a have a look at a number of different high Orioles prospects who’ve fared properly of late.
Triple-A Norfolk INF Jordan Westburg (Baltimore’s No. 4 prospect, No. 66 total)
Westburg has been on a tear for the Tides, hitting three homers over his previous 4 video games getting into Sunday. His eight house runs this season are tied with Josh Lester for the crew lead.
Over 5 video games towards Durham this week, Westburg went 9-for-21 (.429) with six RBIs. The 24-year-old infielder, who has an eight-game hitting streak, continues to make a robust case that he could also be prepared for his first promotion to the Majors.
In his first 25 video games, Westburg slashed .346/.404/.615 and drove in 29 runs.
Triple-A Norfolk LHP DL Hall (Baltimore’s No. 6 prospect, No. 87 total)
After making a three-inning reduction look for the Orioles in the course of the first sport of a doubleheader in Detroit on April 29, Hall returned to Norfolk and delivered his greatest begin this 12 months. The 24-year-old left-hander tossed 5 scoreless innings towards Durham on Thursday, working round three hits and 4 walks whereas notching a season-high eight strikeouts.
Most notably, Hall threw 95 pitches, his most in a sport since reaching 99 in a begin for the Tides final Aug. 7. As he’s continued to construct up, he’s posted stable numbers, recording a 3.38 ERA by means of his first 5 Triple-A begins of the 12 months.
Double-A Bowie OF Heston Kjerstad (Baltimore’s No. 5 prospect, No. 71 total)
Kjerstad appears to at all times hit properly, and that was once more the case this week. The 24-year-old homered in back-to-back video games towards Erie on Thursday and Friday, and he now has eight homers by means of his first 23 contests with Bowie this season.
Over his previous 5 video games getting into Sunday, Kjerstad went 8-for-23 (.348) with 5 extra-base hits and 5 RBIs. He additionally collected a number of knocks in three straight contests getting into Sunday.
Double-A Bowie LHP Cade Povich (Baltimore’s No. 12 prospect)
Povich, who was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 24-30, continues to rack up strikeouts. The 23-year-old left-hander fanned seven in his begin towards Erie on Friday, when he allowed 4 runs (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings.
It was the fourth consecutive outing wherein Povich struck out seven or extra. He’s registered 34 punchouts in 21 2/3 innings over 5 begins for the Baysox this season.
