The Baltimore Orioles secured the top overall pick in the 2022 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB Draft after finishing with the league’s worst record in the 2021 season. This position was particularly valuable because it was the last year before the introduction of draft lotteries, giving them direct access to the best available amateur talent. In addition, Baltimore bolstered its draft capital through two competitive balance picks—one in round A and another in round B—thanks in part to an off-season trade with the Miami Marlins that involved Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser. All told, the Orioles entered the draft with nearly $17 million in bonus pool money, the largest of any team, allowing them significant flexibility in signing top prospects.
Key Contenders for the Top Pick in the 2022 Draft
The Orioles’ decision for the first overall selection boiled down to three standout high school players: Jackson Holliday, Druw Jones, and Termarr Johnson. Both Holliday and Jones had strong pedigree as sons of former major leaguers—Matt Holliday and Andruw Jones respectively—while Johnson stood out as a talented Georgia high school bat. Although many scouting reports favored Druw Jones, Orioles general manager Mike Elias ultimately prioritized Jackson Holliday, a choice that has proven prescient as Holliday quickly established himself as a premier prospect.
Comparing the Progress of the Top Prospects
Three years after the draft, the contrast in development is clear. Druw Jones remains stuck at High-A, posting a .248/.319/.320 line with little power in 78 games. Termarr Johnson is performing modestly at Double-A Pittsburgh, hitting .249/.332/.389 over two seasons. In stark contrast, Jackson Holliday has dominated the minors, earning consensus status as the top prospect nationally before making his MLB debut early last year. At just 21 years old, Holliday has already appeared in 143 major league games, highlighting his rapid ascension.
Early MLB Challenges and Progression for Holliday
Holliday’s initial transition to the majors was rocky. Expectations were high after his promotion, prompting hopes he might replicate Gunnar Henderson’s Rookie of the Year success. However, his struggles during the first two weeks resulted in a demotion back to the minors, where he stayed for nearly three months. Meanwhile, fellow 20-year-old rookies like Jackson Chourio of the Brewers and Jackson Merrill of the Padres thrived at the MLB level, intensifying pressure on Holliday’s progress.
By the end of the 2024 season, Holliday’s form improved notably. From July 31 onward, his production was comparable to what Chourio and Merrill showed early in their major league campaigns, signaling that he was beginning to adapt to big-league pitching. This late-season surge fueled optimism for Holliday’s 2025 performance.
Jackson Holliday’s Breakout Performance in 2025
The first half of 2025 has reflected substantial growth from Holliday, particularly offensively. After hitting his 12th home run recently, he moved close to challenging for the team lead in that category. His batting line now stands at .263/.313/.425, representing a marked improvement from his earlier struggles. Although his on-base percentage could be higher to fit better as a leadoff hitter, the progress has been substantial enough to quell doubts about his offensive potential.
The Orioles have also experimented with Holliday as a base-stealer, though the results thus far have been disappointing, with just a 9-for-17 success rate in stolen bases. While this is not yet effective, there is speculation that Holliday is still learning and may eventually post higher steal totals with improved efficiency. Defensively, Holliday’s metrics like Defensive Runs Saved and Statcast’s Outs Above Average show room for improvement, suggesting his development in the field is ongoing.
Other Top Picks from the 2022 Draft Class
Beyond Holliday, Baltimore’s 2022 draft class featured a mix of college and high school players with varying trajectories. One notable second-round pick was Colton Beavers, chosen 33rd overall. Beavers was a 20-year-old outfielder coming off an impressive sophomore year at California with 17 home runs in 56 games. While initially ranked as a mid-second round talent, the Orioles saw him as a steal with that selection.
Beavers showed promise as a professional in 2023, batting .288/.383/.467 across 119 games spanning High-A and Double-A levels, though his power numbers were modest with 11 home runs. After a challenging Double-A stint last year, Beavers rebounded strongly in Triple-A Norfolk this season, hitting .319/.407/.504 with a 13.2% walk rate and 17.5% strikeout rate over 65 games. His ten homers and 19 stolen bases highlight his all-around game. Given the Orioles’ projected absence from the postseason in 2025, it is anticipated they will find playing time for Beavers by August to evaluate him at the major league level.
Mixed Outcomes for Other College Selections
The Orioles drafted Max Wagner, Clemson’s 2022 ACC Player of the Year, in the second round. Pre-draft analysis by FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen suggested Wagner was on the cusp of a breakout, having hit 27 homers in college. However, Wagner’s professional career has been hampered by inconsistent power and injuries, resulting in a disappointing .217/.296/.343 line at Double-A in 2025. His current performance does not appear to warrant a spot on Baltimore’s 40-man roster, leaving his future uncertain.
Similarly, college outfielder Fabian, a 2023 draft pick rumored to have been considered by Baltimore in 2022, continues to battle high strikeout rates despite showing some power upside. Currently hitting .221/.332/.441, Fabian draws some comparisons to former Orioles prospect Colton Cowser. His strong defensive play in center field adds value, but his injury status and competition from emerging players like Beavers make his path to regular playing time difficult. The 2025 Rule 5 Draft will be critical for determining his fate with the organization.
Pitching Prospects and Missed Opportunities
The 2022 Orioles draft included pitching selections but with less success. Nolan McLean, a pitcher from Oklahoma State, was the earliest pick used on a pitcher by the Orioles in that draft, chosen in the third round. However, medical concerns prevented McLean from signing with Baltimore, and he later was drafted by the New York Mets in 2023. Since joining the Mets’ system, McLean has developed into a promising prospect ranked highly by MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, boasting a 2.80 ERA and 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings across ten games in Triple-A.
This missed signing remains a sore point for the Orioles, as McLean represents a valuable potential MLB-caliber pitcher the team could have added to their Triple-A rotation. Speculation surrounds whether the Orioles’ medical reservations influenced their inability to ink him. It also raises questions about whether Baltimore has veteran assets appealing enough to trade for such a prized pitching prospect as part of a potential future sell-off.
Later Round Picks Show Limited Impact So Far
The Orioles’ draft choices beyond the first few rounds have yielded mixed, mostly underwhelming results. Fourth-round catcher Silas Ardoin was projected as at best a backup option due to limited offensive production, a prognosis supported by a .632 OPS spread over three Double-A seasons. Fifth-round pitcher Trace Bright has struggled this season, posting a 5.50 ERA and 1.490 WHIP at Double-A. Cameron Weston, an eighth-rounder who has reached Triple-A, performs respectably but without standout numbers, recording a 4.58 ERA and 1.424 WHIP.
Relief pitcher Zack Showalter, picked in the 11th round as part of the Billy Cook trade compensation, has shown difficulties in High-A, with a 5.52 ERA and control issues evident in 18 walks over 14.2 innings. Tall outfielder Jared Beck, selected in the 13th round, remains stuck at High-A due to major command struggles. Meanwhile, 14th-round pick Adam Retzbach, a versatile player handling catcher, first base, and designated hitter roles, is batting .239/.346/.410 for the Chesapeake affiliate, which is modest but reflects some offensive ability.
Holliday’s Rise Highlights the 2022 Draft Success
Despite challenges elsewhere in the draft class, Jackson Holliday’s rapid emergence as the Orioles’ top prospect and budding major leaguer stands out as the clearest success story from 2022. His ascent surpasses the development of the other top candidates considered for the first overall pick, validating the team’s choice. While he has not yet delivered perennial All-Star production, Holliday’s ongoing progress and improvements at the plate and field point toward a bright future.
Outlook for Other Prospects and Organizational Needs
Looking beyond Holliday, the Orioles pin most hopes on Colton Beavers among the 2022 picks, though there remain supporters for Fabian, Ardoin, Weston, and Retzbach to varying degrees. Still, the team’s ability to cultivate impactful prospects outside of their first two draft picks remains a critical issue. Unless the Orioles improve their player development or scouting depth, they risk placing too much reliance on Holliday and Beavers, elevating those players’ importance to the organization’s future competitiveness.
As Baltimore continues rebuilding, the 2022 draft class serves as a mixed bag reflecting both potential breakthroughs and developmental challenges, underscoring the difficulties in translating draft capital into major league success. The coming seasons will determine whether more players from this cohort can reach the big leagues and contribute meaningfully, but for now, Jackson Holliday remains the franchise’s brightest star from that pivotal draft.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Will Jackson Holliday be called up?
A. Jackson Holliday, considered the top Major League Baseball prospect, has been promoted once more from the Norfolk Tides to the Baltimore Orioles about mid-season.
Q. Is Jackson Holliday being called up?
A. Jackson Holliday is about to start playing for the Baltimore Orioles. The team promoted the 20-year-old infielder from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday. MLB Pipeline ranks him as their top prospect. Tony Kemp, an infielder and outfielder, was removed from the roster to make space for Holliday.