Jackson Holliday made a strong return to the major leagues by hitting a grand slam in the fifth inning for his first career home run, leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 10-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Holliday, who was the top pick in the 2022 draft and is currently baseball’s top-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, had been sent down earlier this season after a tough stretch where he went 2 for 34 with 18 strikeouts.
In his first game back, he grounded out twice before hitting a 439-foot grand slam that gave Baltimore an 8-3 lead.
“Just try to keep it simple,” Holliday said. “The last time I was up here, got myself trying to do a little bit too much.”
Colton Cowser also hit a home run for the Orioles, while Addison Barger homered for Toronto. It was a mixed day for Baltimore, as they also lost All-Star third baseman Jordan Westburg to a broken hand after he was hit by a pitch right before Holliday’s homer.
Grayson Rodriguez (13-4) gave up three earned runs and six hits in six innings for Baltimore, with eight strikeouts and three walks. Paolo Espino (0-1) allowed four runs and five hits in four innings.
Ryan Mountcastle got the Orioles on the board with a two-run triple in the first inning, and Cowser’s homer in the second made it 3-0. After Barger’s solo homer, Gunnar Henderson hit a leadoff triple in the bottom of the third and scored on Ryan O’Hearn’s sacrifice fly.
Barger added an RBI double in the fourth, and after George Springer doubled and scored on a groundout by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Blue Jays were within one run.
Then the Orioles scored five runs off reliever Yerry Rodríguez in the fifth inning. With two walks and a hit batter, the bases were loaded with one out, and Holliday hit an 0-2 pitch onto Eutaw Street at Camden Yards.
