In a disappointing turn of events, the Baltimore Orioles' highly touted prospect, Jackson Holliday, had a difficult start to his major league career and has been optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk. Ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 1 prospect in baseball, Holliday's struggles at the plate necessitated this decision.

Holliday was called up to the major league roster on April 10, but unfortunately, he couldn't find his footing in the big leagues. In the 15 games he played, the young outfielder had a tough time, slashing a meager .059/.111/.059 with a paltry .170 OPS and a worrisome -47 OPS+. His performance included just two hits in 34 at-bats, with 18 strikeouts, no home runs, and a lone run batted in. As a result, he recorded a disappointing -0.5 BWAR.

Reflecting on his struggles, Holliday expressed his need to make adjustments in order to perform at the major league level. "Whenever you're struggling a little bit, you just start searching," Holliday told The Athletic. "And start creating little habits. I'm just making some adjustments because you got to. It's a lot more difficult than Triple-A."

Ryan McKenna has been recalled from Triple-A as the corresponding move for Holliday's demotion. The Orioles hope that McKenna can help bolster their lineup while Holliday refines his skills in the minors.

Holliday was selected by the Orioles with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft and quickly became one of the most highly regarded prospects in recent years. After an impressive performance in the minor leagues last year, where he swiftly rose from Single-A to Triple-A, Holliday began this season in Triple-A before earning his call-up. In those ten games, he showcased his potential, slashing an impressive .333/.482/.595 with a remarkable 1.077 OPS.

Despite the challenges he faced in the majors, Holliday remains optimistic about the experience and is determined to learn from it. "It's quite an experience," he said after recording his first hit in a win over the Twins on April 14. "I don't think I would ever take it for granted, the experience that I'm having. If you go 0-for for three or four games, it's going to happen in baseball. I'd prefer it not to be at the beginning of my career, but it's going to happen. I'm glad to hopefully learn from it."

Notably, Holliday comes from a baseball lineage, as his father is the longtime MLB star Matt Holliday. The young outfielder was drafted directly out of Stillwater High School in Oklahoma, highlighting his exceptional talent.

As Holliday returns to Triple-A Norfolk, it is evident that he will continue to work on his game, striving to overcome the obstacles he faced in his short stint with the Orioles. The organization remains hopeful that Holliday will regain his form and make a successful return to the major leagues in the near future.