Orioles select Jackson Holliday, son of Matt, 1st overall

With the first pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Baltimore Orioles selected prep shortstop Jackson Holliday, the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday.

Holliday said he found out the Orioles were picking him "as they were saying it," at the draft, according to MASN's Roch Kubatko.

He's expected to sign for over $8 million, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

Holliday joins Ken Griffey Jr. (1987) as the only sons of former major-league players to be picked first, according to MLB Communications.

Holliday's bloodline is strong, and so is his game. The Gatorade Oklahoma Baseball Player of the Year slashed .685/.749/1.392 for Stillwater, breaking J.T. Realmuto's high-school record for hits in a season with 89 in 41 games.

The 18-year-old could slide over to second or third base if his arm and range, which both improved during his senior year, aren't deemed ready for pro ball.

Bio

Age: 18
Position: SS
Height/Weight: 6-1, 175 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
School: Stillwater HS (OK)
NCAA commit: Oklahoma State
Pick value (1): $8,846,900

Tools

• Makes consistent hard contact (60-grade hit tool)
• Considerable power (55-grade power tool)
• Plus-plus run times

Why fans will love this player

• High baseball IQ and notable pedigree
• Gatorade High School Player of the Year for Oklahoma
• Well-rounded offensive and defensive game

Things he'll need to overcome

• Swing can get long, leading to weak contact
• Arm and range could force position change
• Focuses too much on hitting homers

Take a look ...

(Video source: Baseball America)