Jackson Holliday of the Baltimore Orioles struggled in his first taste of big-league action in 2024, but he improved massively in the 2025 campaign and posted solid numbers that bode well for a potential breakout in the 2026 season as long as he stays healthy.
That could be a big issue with Holliday, as all signs point to him opening the 2026 season on the injured list due to a right-hand injury.
Holliday’s progress between the 2024 and 2025 seasons is clear. The promising second baseman hit .189 with a .566 OPS in 60 games and 208 plate appearances in 2024, but he improved drastically across the board in 2025.
Playing in 149 games and logging 649 plate appearances, Holliday, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, slashed .242/.314/.375 with a .689 OPS. The progress was evident beyond the numbers, as Holliday looked increasingly more comfortable as the season progressed.
Holliday also hit 17 home runs and recorded 17 stolen bases on 28 attempts. His efficiency on the basepaths could improve, but if he stays healthy, he could be in line to secure the first 20-20 season of his career.
Jackson Holliday 2026 Fantasy Baseball Outlook and Injury Status
One of Holliday’s biggest strengths is his ability to make contact, and the improvements were clear in 2025, as he trimmed his strikeout rate by 11.6 points (from 33.2% in 2024 to 21.6% in 2025), translating directly to an uptick in his batting average. Holliday should be better as he sees more big-league pitches, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he hits over .250 in 2026.
Seeing Holliday hit around .260 with an OBP of around .340 in the 2026 fantasy baseball season looks like a reasonable expectation as long as he stays healthy and continues to make adjustments offensively.
If that comes to fruition, he could easily reach new career-high marks in several categories, with the potential of a 20-20 season being a reality.
Holliday might not be one of the first second basemen off the board, particularly since he’s expected to open the campaign on the injured list, but he has a strong chance to perform much better than what his ADP indicates.
It wouldn’t be surprising if his improvements from the 2025 season translate into a massive breakout campaign for one of the most heralded prospects in the game in recent years.
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