Jackson Holliday knew exactly what was coming. Celebrating with a bit of alcohol was a familiar scene for him, especially during his time with Triple-A Norfolk in 2023, where he played a key role in their International League title and Triple-A championship win. Now, at just 20 years old, he found himself once again on the outskirts of a champagne celebration—this time at Yankee Stadium after the Orioles clinched a postseason berth with a solid 5-3 win. But Holliday couldn’t partake in the festivities like everyone else, but why?

Rookie Jackson Holliday is 20 years old and still underage for drinking. But his teammates weren’t about to let him feel left out. The Orioles have qualified for their 2nd consecutive playoffs and were in the mood for a party; so, to celebrate, they gave him a very special drink – sparkling water. In the cozy back left corner of the room, they set up a delightful bird bath fountain to celebrate their “Baby Bird,” Holliday. With champagne-style bottles filled with water, adorable baby bottles, and a youth-sized No. 7 jersey casually draped over the edge, it’s like they were making him feel right at home. Coloring book pages featuring ‘the Oriole Bird’ added a playful touch, hanging cheerfully on the plastic covering in front of the lockers.

Amused by this playful setup, Holliday told MLB.com, “To be able to be here and be a part of this is awesome.” At first, Jackson Holliday just hung back during the clinching celebration. But soon enough, they pulled him into the fun, urging him to ‘pop bottles’ of his own. With a playful grin, he grabbed one of the water bottles labeled ‘0.0% alcohol for Orioles under 21’ and let loose, dumping it toward the center of the room. “I had something like that in Norfolk last year. … A little bit different here. A little bit more organized,” Holliday added with a smile.  

This season has been a big deal for Holliday, who kicked things off as the top prospect in all of baseball. Now, he’s heading to the MLB postseason for the very first time. Playing 57 games for Baltimore during two stints, he stepped up when fellow infielders Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías were on the injured list. With Westburg and Urías back, it’s a whole new chapter. Jackson Holliday was seemingly destined for this surge, and how could he not be? He’s the son of former All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday, who had nine postseason appearances over a solid 15-year MLB career. Talk about some serious shoes to fill!  

Jackson Holliday : A legacy child 

Jackson grew up dreaming about making his own mark in the big leagues. And now, he is on the brink of his first postseason experience, carving out his own path while honoring the legacy of his dad. “Growing up and being able to watch winning baseball for so long, I think that’s kind of the environment that I came to Spring Training and I was like, ‘I think this team has that environment of guys being super close and being super competitive,’” he said. That hunger has been evident in Jackson Holliday’s mindset – he’s got his sights set, especially on the 2025 season when he’ll turn 21. Jackson is counting down the days until his birthday on December 4.

Jackson Holliday’s MLB start has been a tough one—he’s 1-for-30 so far, with 16 strikeouts and just two walks. It’s rough, to say the least, with him whiffing at half the pitches he’s swung at. But despite the shaky beginning, he’s got the potential to turn it around. The Orioles are committed to being patient with him, aiming to win the toughest division in baseball for a second year in a row. So, they have to find that sweet spot between nurturing Holliday’s development and keeping the team competitive.

Coaches are working closely with him on his mechanics to help him catch up to those fastballs. Meanwhile, everyone around him is doing their best to keep his spirits up and prevent him from getting discouraged. It’s all about finding that balance, and you can bet they’re all rooting for him to bounce back strong! “Next year,” Holliday said, “I’ll be able to drink.”  Well, why don’t we make a toast to that? Not you though Jackson, you’re still underage.