Current:Home > NewsFastexy:Watch: Orioles' Jackson Holliday crushes grand slam for first MLB home run -VisionFunds
Fastexy:Watch: Orioles' Jackson Holliday crushes grand slam for first MLB home run
Algosensey View
Date:2025-04-06 14:55:54
BALTIMORE - A couple hours before his second go-around in Major League Baseball,Fastexy Jackson Holliday expressed hopes that it will be less of a blur this time around, that he'd be able to enjoy it and "be present" after a rough debut in April.
A few hours later, Holliday slowed things down plenty, driving a slider 439 feet for his first major league home run.
A grand slam, no less.
Holliday's first of what's expected to be many round-trippers came with the bases loaded in the fifth inning Wednesday afternoon at Camden Yards, off Toronto Blue Jays reliever Yerry Rodriguez. It cleared the flag court and landed on Eutaw Street, where a brick will commemorate the blast alongside the dozens of other big league sluggers with that kind of pop.
After Holliday ran the bases and slapped hands with Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins and Jordan Westburg at home plate, many in the Camden Yards crowd of 25,528 stayed on their feet. In the Orioles dugout, reigning Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson pointed to the field - guiding Holliday to his first career curtain call.
All things Orioles: Latest Baltimore Orioles news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
Holliday, 20, became the youngest player in Orioles history to hit a grand slam and just the third to hit his first homer with the bases loaded.
"It’s pretty surreal. Can’t have dreamed it up much better for a first home run," says Holliday. "That’s about as best as I can hit a ball."
It was a key step in the arc of baseball's top prospect, who debuted in April but proceeded to go 2 for 34 with 18 strikeouts, earning him a trip to Class AAA Norfolk. Holliday expressed confidence Wednesday that the 346 additional minor league plate appearances would serve him well in, what he called, "the world's toughest league."
Three at-bats into that stint, he proved the hard work had paid off. And no matter how many home runs he hits, it will be tough to match the thunder of his first.
The Orioles will need Holliday's production even more than they'd imagined. Westburg, their All-Star infielder, suffered a right hand fracture when he was hit by a Rodriguez pitch preceding Holliday's slam. Manager Brandon Hyde indicated Westburg would be out until roughly the end of the regular season.
veryGood! (963)
Related
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- 'Sleeping giant' no more: Ravens assert contender status with rout of Lions
- Authorities search for two boaters who went missing in Long Island Sound off Connecticut
- 'These girls can be pioneers': Why flag football is becoming so popular with kids
- Trump's 'stop
- Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes Are the Real MVPs for Their Chiefs Game Handshake
- Taylor Swift, Brittany Mahomes cheer on Travis Kelce at Chiefs game with touchdown handshake
- Zombie Hunter's unique murder defense: His mother created a monster
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- With another election cycle underway, officials aim to quell fears of voter fraud, rigging
Ranking
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Two men claim million-dollar prizes from New York Lottery, one from historic July 19 Powerball drawing
- How long before a phone is outdated? Here's how to find your smartphone's expiration date
- Teen climbs Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money to fight sister's rare disease
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- North Dakota lawmakers begin special session to fix budget invalidated by Supreme Court
- Leading in early results, Machado claims win in Venezuelan opposition’s presidential primary
- A Swiss populist party rebounds and the Greens sink in the election. That’s a big change from 2019
Recommendation
Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
How age, stress and genetics turn hair gray
Christopher Bell wins at NASCAR race at Homestead to lock up second Championship 4 berth
Penn State, North Carolina among teams falling in college football's US LBM Coaches Poll
Sam Taylor
California Gov. assures his state is always a partner on climate change as he begins trip to China
Leading in early results, Machado claims win in Venezuelan opposition’s presidential primary
Flock of drones light up the night in NYC’s Central Park art performance