Well, that almost makes sense. The 110 mph reading shot out from the radar gun like unbridled skepticism. Matt Holliday‘s son laughed, “It might’ve been a misread,” although he also recorded a solid 105 mph blast. Even his father, former All-Star Matt Holliday, had it verified—101 mph—on a YouTube video made by Eric Sim. But who cares what the exact speed is? The strength and recently shot confidence have kept scouts, coaches, and everybody circling back to the same topic.

What’s the secret behind these eye-popping numbers?

Jackson Holliday explains it plainly: “A lot of ground beef and rice. I had ground beef for breakfast pretty much every day.” That was no typo. While other athletes chase extravagant meal plans, Jackson keeps his simple. “I’m not a very good cook,” he chuckles. “I can make steak and ground beef, and that’s about it.” His modest meal plan is leading to gains, a testament that sometimes sticking to the basics can yield premium results.

Mentorship also plays a pivotal role. Because of his father, Matt Holliday, his life and career lessons are excellent.

Does this approach really work?

Of course. It’s noticeable after a long season in 2022 during which Jackson’s weight fluctuated between 188 pounds at the end of regular season to 200 pounds, solid and hard as hell, for camp. Or perhaps manager Brandon Hyde says it best, “He still looks really young, but physically? Physically, his power is impressive.” Jackson’s bat sends balls into the bitter, winter air with exit velocities of 95 mph or greater 45.1% of the time. The work is setting Jackson up for the six-month marathon of consistency.

The evolution of Holliday’s strength

How did he build that strength?

Jackson’s offseason wasn’t spent idly. Initially, he was “lifting heavy things” with little direction. By the winter, that changed. He committed to a regimented training plan developed by his longtime trainer and the Orioles’ strength and conditioning team.

Is it just about power, or does speed play a role too?

Speed counts, too. Though Jackson has added weight, he has intended for his power not to come at the expense of his speed. Jackson’s sprint speed is 29.4 feet per second, putting him in the 95th percentile among his peers.

What lessons did his early struggles teach him?

Jackson’s career wasn’t always a home run. His first stint in the major leagues at age 20 got off to a rough start. He struck out 18 times in his first 10 games and got sent down to Triple-A Norfolk. But those moments wouldn’t rattle his determination. Those bad moments helped him develop a plan that topped his off-season transformation.

Jackson Holliday’s evolution is a kind of thrilling alchemy. Radar gun readings and simple rituals. Ground beef and rice are for breakfast and training. The shoulder-stiffening power is a product of consistency, training wisdom, and Holliday’s pragmatic superfood of simple nutrition.

Are you intrigued by how basic ingredients can lead to extraordinary athletic feats? Track Jackson’s development this season, and let’s have the conversation on how simple methods can produce explosive results.