On Matt Holliday’s MLB.com player page, his seven All-Star selections are proudly listed. Soon, his son Jackson might contribute to an unofficial eighth.
Jackson Holliday, a 21-year-old second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, is starting to look like a potential All-Star himself. Depending on fan voting, he could even start in July’s Midsummer Classic in Atlanta.
That scenario didn’t seem likely just a few months ago. The former top prospect struggled after his 2024 call-up, hitting just .189/.255/.311 and starting the 2025 season with similar struggles (.167/.239/.310 over his first 13 games). Some were even starting to wonder perhaps prematurely if he might be a bust.
But things turned around on April 23, when Holliday collected two hits in Washington. Since then, he’s been on a tear, posting a .297/.345/.459 line over his last 29 games numbers comparable to stars like Bobby Witt Jr. and Julio Rodríguez. It’s not quite a full breakout, but it’s a huge improvement.
What sparked the change? According to MLB.com’s Jake Rill, Jackson’s turnaround began after a conversation with his father, Matt Holliday, before the April 23 game. Matt noticed his son’s swing had changed from late 2024, when he’d stood more upright and used a toe tap instead of a leg kick a change inspired by Shohei Ohtani.
Matt sent Jackson videos from that strong finish in 2024 and pointed out that his current setup was pulling him around the ball. Jackson made adjustments, moving his hands slightly farther from his body and returning to a more vertical bat position, which gave him better space and bat control.
These mechanical tweaks have led to more effective contact. Statcast data shows that Jackson’s “attack angle” improved from 5° to 9°, and his rate of ideal swings rose from 41% to 53%. He’s now staying “on plane” with pitches longer essentially matching the pitch’s path more effectively and cutting down on swing-and-miss issues, especially against fastballs.
Before April 23, no hitter in MLB had a more opposite-field-angled swing than Holliday a sign he was consistently late. That’s changed. His whiff rate against 95+ mph pitches has dropped from 25% to 13%.
The results are clear: on April 3, he fouled off a center-cut fastball. On May 17, a similar pitch was launched for a three-run homer. His improved mechanics, bat placement, and timing have helped unlock the swing that scouts raved about.
“I just needed to feel free to move,” Jackson said. “That was the biggest change getting into a position where I can move confidently in the box.”
It’s still early, but Holliday’s recent surge has breathed new life into his season and in a year with few standout second basemen in the American League, he might just earn a trip to the All-Star Game and bring the Holliday family full circle
