By: Tobey Schulman
Consensus Odds as of April 12th 2024: +450
With the MLB season kicked off and in full swing, rookies across the league have started to put together campaigns to possibly win the Rookie of the Year award. Some still sit in the minor leagues, and are just waiting for the call up to start their rookie campaigns.
One of those minor leaguers was the Orioles and Major League Baseball’s top prospect: Jackson Holliday. Son of former big leaguer Matt Holliday, Jackson received the call up to the bigs last night, and he now looks to be one of the favorites to win the award.
Holliday possesses incredible tools as a prospect, and put up absurd numbers his entire time developing in the minor leagues. The 20 year old shortstop hit .321 across the minors, and his 70 grade hit tool and 60 grade power tool gives scouts hope that he can make an immediate impact at the plate upon his debut.
It’s not only scouts who seem to think this. Sportsbooks seem to have the same thought process as Holliday’s odds to win the Rookie of the Year award have been moving ever since he debuted this week. At some points, he’s been favored ahead of Rangers outfielder Evan Carter, after the defending world champion got off to a slow start.
Getting the call up this early on in the season is huge for Holliday as he easily has enough time to put together a Rookie of the Year campaign. If he can stay up in the bigs and not have to go back down to the minors for any reason, he could be a very good bet to take home the award.
There’s little reason to believe that Holliday will get sent back down to the minors however. Hitting nearly .300 in AAA across 147 plate appearances, Holliday has very little to prove that he’s ready to be in the majors. The Orioles now can throw Holliday into a middle infield with budding superstar Gunnar Henderson, who will no doubt help Holliday’s adjustment to the major league level.
With an Orioles roster that’s young and on the hunt for a World Series title, bringing up Holliday is a huge boost to their 2024 championship effort. With the odds for him to win the award moving, he’s a great dark horse bet to take home the award.