Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday recalled from Triple-A

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, two months after the top prospect struggled in his first crack at the big leagues. 

The 20-year-old Holliday, ranked No. 1 in ESPN's Kiley McDaniel's top 10 prospects, traveled to Baltimore on Tuesday from Norfolk and officially returned to the Orioles' roster amid a series of moves before the American League East leaders' series finale against  Toronto. He batted eighth and started at second base Wednesday afternoon against the Blue Jays.

The Orioles also activated left-handed reliever Gregory Soto, who was acquired Tuesday in a trade with the Phillies, and optioned catcher Blake Hunt and utility man Terrin Vavra to Norfolk on Wednesday.

Holliday is expected to slot in at second base, where the Orioles had been starting rookie Connor Norby, who was traded Tuesday with outfielder Kyle Stowers to the Miami Marlins for left-hander Trevor Rogers.

Norby had taken over for Jorge Mateo, who was placed on the injured list last week with a dislocated elbow. Mateo had split time with Jordan Westburg, who is also part of a third-base time share with Ramon Urias.

Holliday, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft, rocketed through the minor leagues and was called up April 10 to join the Orioles' elite core of young players. Over 10 games, he went 2-for-34 with 18 strikeouts and was optioned back to Norfolk, where he has hit .271/.431/.477 with 10 home runs, 38 RBIs and 75 walks in 73 games.

Last season, he was the unanimous minor league player of the year after ascending from Low-A to Triple-A and hitting .323/.442/.499 with 12 home runs, 75 RBIs and 24 stolen bases.

The son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday is a natural shortstop but has shifted to second with All-Star and MVP candidate Gunnar Henderson entrenched at short. With Westburg at third base and Ryan Mountcastle at first -- not to mention star prospect Coby Mayo, a corner infielder, whose production at Triple-A should soon warrant a call-up -- the Orioles' infield depth allowed them to move Norby for Rogers, who is under team control through the 2026 season.

Baltimore sought pitching depth at the deadline after losing three starters to Tommy John surgery this year, and it acquired Rogers and veteran right-hander Zach Eflin to join a rotation headlined by Cy Young candidate Corbin Burnes. The Orioles own a half-game lead on the New York Yankees in the AL East.