The Orioles' Young Bats
Jackson Holliday's initial stint in the majors was a struggle, with a .059 batting average and a 50% strikeout rate. However, since his return to the big leagues on July 31, he has shown significant improvement, posting a .940 OPS and a 163 wRC+ over his first 15 games. Although he has cooled off recently, his .715 OPS and 101 wRC+ since his return marks a significant turnaround, including a reduced strikeout rate of 29.2%.
This resurgence couldn’t have come at a better time, as some of the Orioles' top contributors from the first half of the season have hit slumps. Gunnar Henderson’s OPS has dropped from .956 to .797 in the second half, while Adley Rutschman has struggled with a .628 OPS during this period. Holliday’s performance will be crucial in determining the Orioles' position in the playoff standings at season's end.
Another young player who could make an impact is Coby Mayo. During his first stint in Baltimore, he struggled with just one hit in 20 plate appearances across seven games. However, since returning to Triple-A, Mayo has been showing promise, going 6-for-21 with a home run and five RBIs. A September call-up could give him a chance to prove his worth.
Given the Orioles' injury-plagued pitching staff, they’ll need to rely heavily on their offense to win games. This makes players like Holliday and Mayo even more critical.
