In an impressive display of skill and composure, 20-year-old infielder Jackson Holliday of the Baltimore Orioles left a lasting impression on the perennial Cy Young candidate, Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies. Holliday started Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against Wheeler by ripping a blistering 104.4 mph double, catching the attention of not only his opponents but also baseball enthusiasts everywhere.

Wheeler, who was making his spring debut after signing a massive contract extension, acknowledged Holliday's talent, stating, "It's impressive, him being that young. He's obviously got the power to go with it.... He should be a good player." For Holliday, facing a pitcher of Wheeler's calibre was an exciting opportunity. He remarked, "Obviously, you want to compete against the best. To be the best, you've got to beat the best, right?... It's encouraging, especially to hit a double off him."

Holliday's performance in the game went beyond that initial double. As the top overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, he went on to hit a triple and steal a base, finishing the game with a stellar 3-for-4 batting line. Both his third-inning triple and eighth-inning single registered an impressive exit velocity of 102.3 mph.

Manager Brandon Hyde praised Holliday's aggressive approach at the plate, stating, "He swung the bat really well today... It's good to see him swing the bat aggressively like that." Holliday's success in the game was not solely attributed to power hitting but also his ability to navigate through tough at-bats. Against Wheeler, he demonstrated patience, laying off a difficult curveball and spoiling a fastball before finally lacing the sixth pitch of the at-bat for a double.

Wheeler acknowledged Holliday's resilience, noting that catcher JT Realmuto called every pitch but a splitter to him. Despite being faced with four different offerings during the six-pitch at-bat, Holliday remained composed and did not allow Wheeler to put him away.

This game against Wheeler served as Holliday's toughest test this spring, yet he has shown glimpses of his potential in previous matchups as well. He worked a four-pitch walk against Braves pitcher Max Fried on February 26 and roped a double off tough reliever Raisel Iglesias on March 1.

As Holliday prepares for his next challenge against Pirates' right-hander Mitch Keller, the Orioles' coaching staff is eager to see how he performs against such formidable pitching. Manager Brandon Hyde expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "That's what you see in the season. So good to be able to evaluate your guys against those types of arms, which is what you see on a nightly basis, how he handles those at-bats."

With his impressive performance against Zack Wheeler, Holliday has undoubtedly passed his first major spring training test. Orioles fans and baseball enthusiasts alike eagerly await his future performances, as he continues to showcase his exceptional talent and potential to become a key player for Baltimore.