The in-game interview is usually a difficult job, and Heston Kjerstad didn’t make it any simpler for Jackson Holliday.
As Holliday, the Orioles’ 19-year-old shortstop prospect, was in the midst of answering a query from the dugout on the MLB All-Star Futures Game, Kjerstad was comically unaware a dwell interview was occurring. Kjerstad, one other prime 100 prospect within the Orioles’ farm system, appeared within the body and interrupted Holliday, who was answering a query about sharing the expertise along with his father, seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday.
“I’m glad he’s here. I got to experience a lot of All-Star Games with him,” Holliday started to say about his dad earlier than responding to Kjerstad.
“I’m on the phone, Heston,” Holliday stated, garnering laughs from the Peacock announcers and the highest prospect himself.
The humorous change wasn’t the one factor the 2 Baltimore prospects did at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park on Saturday throughout the exhibition sport that showcased the game’s prime minor league expertise. Kjerstad began in proper discipline and was the American League’s No. 3 hitter, going 1-for-2 with a single, whereas Holliday entered early at shortstop, went 0-for-1 and was prominently featured on the printed as MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 prospect.
The paths Kjerstad and Holliday took to succeed in the Futures Game are wildly totally different regardless of each being excessive draft picks. The former missed the primary two years of his skilled profession after being drafted No. 2 general in 2020 due to coronary heart and hamstring illnesses, however the 24-year-old zoomed via the minors over the previous yr. The latter is simply 19 years previous and has a .940 OPS as one of many youngest gamers in High-A.
On Saturday, they each represented the Orioles’ top-ranked farm system with 9 gamers inside Baseball America’s prime 100.
“It’s really neat. We’ve got a bunch of talented guys throughout the organization,” Holliday stated about headlining Baltimore’s wealthy prospect ranks. “In Aberdeen, we’ve been playing pretty well lately, and we’ve got some pretty good hitters. It’s a lot of fun to be a part of such a talented organization and a bunch of really good guys.”
The Orioles drafted Holliday with the No. 1 general decide final summer time, and the wunderkind has since confirmed he was worthy.
“It’s pretty crazy to think about a year ago I was sitting at home waiting for the draft,” Holliday stated. “To be here, it’s a blessing what’s happened in a year.”
“My goal is to move up as fast as possible, and Double-A is the next step,” he later stated.
When he wasn’t slicing in on Holliday’s interview, Kjerstad stored up the offensive manufacturing he’s displayed this season as he’s posted a .979 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A. He flied out to heart discipline in his first at-bat, however in his second, he recorded one of many sport’s 11 hits because the National League topped the AL, 5-0. The left-handed slugger, who impressed throughout his stint in main league spring coaching earlier this yr, grounded a 94.7 mph sinker on the primary pitch between first and second for a single.
Across the sphere from Holliday, one of many NL’s shortstops was Severna Park High graduate Jackson Merrill. At 20 years previous, Merrill is hitting .280 for the San Diego Padres’ High-A affiliate. The Baltimore native went 0-for-2 Saturday.
In his lone at-bat, Holliday struck out on 4 pitches in opposition to San Francisco Giants left-handed pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt. After getting down 0-2, Holliday swung over Whisenhunt’s plus changeup.
“Well, I felt pretty good. I never faced him before, but Heston told me he had a good changeup, and he was right,” Holliday stated with fun.
The interview throughout the contest wasn’t the one one Holliday did, because the shortstop was additionally interviewed pregame.
“I’ve just matured in my game in, I feel like, all aspects,” Holliday stated. “I’m someone who likes to improve in every part of my game, so just being able to grow offensively and defensively has been pretty important. I feel like those are the biggest strides that I’ve made.”
His dad, the previous Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees outfielder, was additionally interviewed throughout the broadcast.
“It’s been a lot of fun. Today’s been a great day,” the elder Holliday stated. “I really enjoyed watching him out there and get a chance to play in front of this kind of crowd on this stage at such a young age. I’m proud of him. He’s a great kid, and it’s been fun to watch.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com