Orioles' Jackson Holliday has 'more comfort' at position other than second base

Tony Mansolino Suggests Jackson Holliday Is More Comfortable At Shortstop Then Second Base

A quote from Orioles 2025 interim manager Tony Mansolino that was included in an October 12 article from Roch Kubatko of MASN suggests that Holliday might still be better suited to shortstop than his new primary defensive position.

“I think Holliday is probably the guy,” Mansolino said when asked who will likely play shortstop for Baltimore if Gunnar Henderson ever gets injured. “I know he played those opening days in Toronto. It feels like five seasons ago, but it was this year. I think now he’s way more prepared to flip over and play a day or two at shortstop than he has ever been, just because the game has slowed down for him in a lot of ways.

“Strangely, when we do put [Holliday] over there, he seems to have like a little more comfort in a weird way at short. I think Jackson can do it. I don’t think it is a prerequisite for the utility guy here to have to play shortstop. It would be nice, but I think with Jackson’s ability to handle it, it makes it a little bit easier for Jeremiah not to have to," Mansolino added.

It's interesting to hear that Holliday still has more comfort at shortstop than second base, at least according to Mansolino's opinion.

Henderson was a slightly below-average shortstop during the 2025 campaign, according to his advanced stats. But Holliday didn't have a good defensive season, either, which makes it unlikely these guys would ever switch places if both were healthy.

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