Like 2nd home for O’s prospect

Holliday blasts another homer in Dunedin

DUNEDIN, Fla. — To begin the 2021 season, the Toronto Blue Jays played their home games at TD Ballpark in Dunedin because of Canada’s coronavirus restrictions.

Unfortunately for Jackson Holliday, the Blue Jays are no longer playing regular-season games at their spring training home.

Holliday on Tuesday once again showed why he’s MLB’s best prospect, hitting a home run in the Orioles’ 13-8 win over the host Blue Jays. It’s his second long ball of the spring, with the first — a grand slam — also coming against Baltimore’s American League East foe in Dunedin.

“I do like hitting here,” Holliday said with a smile. “Usually the wind blows out, so it’s pretty favorable. So I can’t say I don’t like it.”

The 20-year-old middle infielder stayed back on a hanging curveball from right-hander Chad Green and deposited it 376 feet over the fence in right-center field. Holliday, who started the game at second base as he continues to work at the relatively new position, ended the day 2-for-3 with a homer and a walk.

Perhaps more impressive than the home run was the overall quality of Holliday’s plate appearances. Entering Tuesday, the only blemish on Holliday’s spring resume as he battles for a roster spot was his strikeout-to-walk ratio. He walked just twice but struck out 14 times in his first 42 plate appearances — a sign that maybe his trips to the plate weren’t going as smoothly as his slash line would suggest. As he dominated the minors last season, Holliday walked (101) nearly as much as he struck out (118).

But the quality of Holliday’s plate appearances was not lacking Tuesday. He reached a 3-2 count in three

of his four trips to the plate — a leadoff infield single in which he displayed his blazing speed and left Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette holding his head, a walk against former All-Star starting pitcher Chris Bassitt after getting down 1-2, and his solo home run.

“I know I’ve probably been striking out a little bit more than I would like, but I know that takes time,” Holliday said. “The past few games have been good. I think I’ve put some really good at-bats against some really good pitching.”

Manager Brandon Hyde said he’s noticed the youngster ease into his approach at the plate in recent games.

“[He was] pressing a little bit early, which is super natural, overswinging at times,” Hyde said. “Now, for me, the at-bats are more under control. I think he’s seeing the ball a little bit better.”

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said during the offseason that there’s a “very strong possibility” that Holliday makes the opening day roster. As each day goes by this spring, it’s getting harder to imagine anything else.

“I feel good with where my game is at,” Holliday said. “Whatever they decide, they decide, right?”

Hyde was asked whether Holliday has looked like a big leaguer during spring training. “Well, I mean, it’s hard to say he doesn’t,” the manager said.

With opening day nine days away, perhaps Holliday will officially become a big leaguer March 28 at Camden Yards.

Cowser’s crush

Colton Cowser wasn’t trying to do too much when he stepped to the plate for his fourth at-bat of the day.

“To be honest, put it in play,” Cowser quipped about his approach after striking out in each of his first three plate appearances.

On the sixth pitch from left-hander Brandon Eisert, Cowser clobbered a 3-2 fastball over the batter’s eye in center field for his fifth homer of spring training. Holliday projected that the long ball traveled 480 feet, and that guess wasn’t far off.

The left-handed Cowser crushed the third-farthest home run of any MLB hitter this spring — among those hit at stadiums with Statcast tracking data — at a projected distance of 463 feet. Despite the shocking distance, it’s not the farthest of Cowser’s career. Last spring, he hit a 476-foot blast in Fort Myers against the Minnesota Twins.

“I think that was taking some frustration off his first few at-bats,” Hyde said. “Yeah, Colton has big-time power, he’s got a lot of tools.”

Cowser is among a trio of Orioles outfield prospects — which includes Kyle Stowers and Heston Kjerstad, both of whom started alongside Cowser in the outfield — that is likely competing for one roster spot, maybe two. He struggled in the majors last year with a .115 batting average in 26 games, but he’s been perhaps the best MLB hitter this spring with a 1.251 OPS.

“We have a really talented, deep organization, a lot of great guys in the outfield. It’s not really in my control,” Cowser said when asked if he believes he’s done enough to make the team. “Whatever decision they ultimately make, I’m going to trust it and stay ready no matter what.”

Cowser and Holliday weren’t the only Orioles prospects to homer Tuesday. Connor Norby, who Baseball America ranks as Baltimore’s sixth-best prospect, hit a two-run shot to left field off Bassitt.

Normally, the lineup for a road game in Dunedin, which features a traffic-delayed drive back to Sarasota, would not be competitive. Adley Rutschman was the only regular from last year’s club to make the trip, but the prospect-filled lineup was still potent — putting up 17 hits, including three apiece from Kjerstad and Tyler Nevin.

“It’s pretty ridiculous how much talent we have in this organization,” Holliday said. “It’s really exciting to be a part of. Anytime I get to go out on the field with these guys, it’s a blast.

“It’s really fun to be a part of.”

Irvin isn’t worried

Cole Irvin was an early camp surprise when he was throwing mid-90s mph in his first start.

The left-hander was likely a shoo-in for the rotation given Kyle Bradish and John Means are beginning the season on the injured list, but he seemingly solidified that spot by looking like a new pitcher in that initial start.

But over his past two outings, an uncommon issue has arisen: walks. He issued four free passes in his start last week against the Atlanta Braves — and allowed seven hits, two homers and six runs. On Tuesday, he walked five batters for the first time in any game — spring training, minor league or major league — of his professional career, which dates to 2016.

“I’m frustrated about the walks,” he said. “It’s not part of my game.”

In 3 innings, which includes being removed in the second because of his pitch count and returning in the third and beyond, Irvin allowed just three hits but surrendered four runs because of his free passes.

“If I’m looking at the scoreboard, I gave up a couple hits and the walks are the tale of the story,” Irvin said. “Just some more stuff to work on. I wasn’t as fine at commanding the zone.

“May have nibbled a little bit too much with the walks, but all in all, we’re going to piece it together I’m not worried at all.”

Also on the mound, lefthander Nick Vespi had his first bad outing this spring, allowing three runs in 1 innings with three strikeouts. Pitching prospect Alex Pham, ranked by Baseball America as the club’s ninth-best pitching prospect, struck out four in 2 scoreless innings.

Around the horn

Before the game, the Orioles optioned left-hander Bruce Zimmermann to minor league spring training. The Ellicott City native will be a depth option in Triple-A to come up and provide bulk relief innings or a spot start. While most teams are narrowing their rosters with less than one week of spring training left, the Orioles still have 46 players in camp. They need to make 20 cuts before opening day.

Hyde said starting pitcher Bradish is “responding well” to his throwing regimen as the right-hander works to return from a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow. He said Bradish, who has begun throwing bullpens, is throwing mostly fastballs but that he “might have spun a couple breaking balls” in his most recent session. Bradish will open the season on the injured list after getting platelet-rich plasma injections in his elbow during the offseason.

The Los Angeles Angels announced left-hander Patrick Sandoval will start opening day against the Orioles next week. Ace Corbin Burnes will start for Baltimore.