Without hard work, talent is next to nothing.
There are a lot of talented and skilled athletes in professional sports, but discipline and work ethic separates the good from the great, and the great from the legendary.
This is exactly why it’s always great to see top MLB prospects working on their swing or in any other aspects of their game during the offseason.
They are required to show up to spring training, but ideally, they should start getting ready a lot sooner than that and that has been the case with Baltimore Orioles middle infield prospect Jackson Holliday.
Orioles No. 1 overall pick Jackson Holliday taking some off-season BP 👀
(📹 @J_Holliday7) pic.twitter.com/HserClcI6c
— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) January 19, 2023
Holliday was the first overall pick in the 2022 draft.
The Orioles trusted his incredible talent would pair well with his drive to improve.
So far, if the 2022 season was any indication, he seems to be on the right path.
He had a 1.167 OPS in a few games in the Florida Complex League and a .772 mark in Class-A.
His power numbers weren’t ideal, but that will come with time and work.
He has an incredible batting eye that gives him, so far, more walks than strikeouts as a professional.
That’s rare, and obviously desirable for young hitters.
The 19-year-old is still a long way from the majors, but the Orioles will allow him to develop at his own pace since they have some quality outfielders to solve the short-term urgency of fighting for a playoff spot.
The sweet-swinging infielder could be a threat to hit .300 with 25 home runs every year when his development is complete.
NEXT: Stat Reveals The Elite Talent Of Gunnar Henderson