Three rising stars for the Orioles
With spring training starting up, each MLB team is filled with hope for a run at a World Series title and fresh faces are ready to make a name for themselves in the majors.
After one of the best seasons in franchise history in 2023, the Baltimore Orioles will look to repeat as American League East division champions in 2024.
Here are three rising stars who will look to make an impact for the Orioles in 2024.
Jackson Holliday, shortstop
2023 MILB stats: .323/.442/.499, 51 extra-base hits, 75 RBI and 24 stolen bases in 125 games played
The first overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday ascended through the minors, going from Low-A ball to Triple-A all in one season. Now, he is knocking on the door for his MLB debut in 2024.
The son of Matt Holliday, one of the greatest hitters in Colorado Rockies history, the 20-year-old has played in 145 career games in the minors since being drafted and he has slashed .320/.449/.490 with 57 extra-base hits in 671 plate appearances.
He will enter spring training with every chance to make the Opening Day roster for the defending AL East champions.
If he does, he will have a great shot at giving the Orioles back-to-back AL Rookie of the Year award winners after third baseman Gunnar Henderson took home the honors in 2023.
Holliday has the pedigree to become one of the game's youngest superstars and should put the league on notice this season.
Grayson Rodriguez, starting pitcher
2023 MLB stats: 7-4, 4.35 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 129 strikeouts in 122 innings pitched
After making his much anticipated MLB debut in 2023, former Orioles top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez had a rough start to his career, including an 11.14 ERA in May.
After that disastrous month and a demotion to Triple-A, the 24-year-old settled into a groove once he was recalled in July, going 5-2 with a 2.58 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 76.2 innings pitched over the rest of the 2023 season.
Cutting down on the home runs allowed was a major key to his turnaround. Rodriguez surrendered 13 home runs over his first 10 career starts and after his return to the MLB, he only allowed three over his next 13 starts.
Heading into 2024, Rodriguez will look to continue the dominance that he showed in the second half of the 2023 season as he rises to stardom in Baltimore.
Heston Kjerstad, outfielder
2023 MLB stats: .233/.281/.467, two home runs and three RBI in 13 games played
After injuries derailed most of the first two seasons of his professional career, Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad finally got to showcase the talent that got him drafted second overall in the 2020 MLB Draft.
After only 65 games played in 2022, the 25-year-old outfielder slashed .303/.376/.528 with 58 extra-base hits and 55 RBI in 122 games played across two minor league levels before getting the call to make his MLB debut.
Although he only spent a brief time in the majors, he made the most of it by hitting his first two home runs of his career in limited playing time.
With another year under his belt and some MLB experience, Kjerstad is one of the most under-the-radar breakout candidates in the American League on a team that won 101 games last season.
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