Here's the Orioles' Spring Breakout roster
Jake Rill
@JakeDRillSARASOTA, Fla. -- Jackson Holliday should get his chance at a rematch against Paul Skenes.
Holliday, MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect, is among the 25 players on the Orioles’ roster for Spring Breakout, the inaugural four-day prospect showcase happening across Arizona and Florida from March 14-17. The O’s prospects will be taking on a team of Pirates youngsters (including Skenes) on March 14 at 7:05 p.m. ET at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.
If Skenes (the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft) gets the start for Pittsburgh, the seven-inning Spring Breakout exhibition could open with him facing Holliday (the No. 1 overall Draft pick in ‘22). It wouldn’t be the first time this spring they’ve had a first-inning battle.
On Feb. 29, Holliday batted leadoff for Baltimore in its Grapefruit League contest vs. Pittsburgh, which sent Skenes (baseball's No. 3 overall prospect) to the mound at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota for his first career Spring Training start. Holliday grounded out to second base on the second pitch delivered by Skenes to begin the bottom of the first.
But Holliday later stated, “I think maybe midseason form, I like my chances in that at-bat.” Spring Breakout isn’t midseason, but it will be mid-spring, and the 20-year-old infielder has more reps and swings under his belt.
Regardless of how the potential second meeting goes, Holliday -- who came out of Stillwater (Okla.) High School -- enjoys any opportunity he gets to face the former LSU right-hander.
“It’s pretty cool to be able to compete against [Skenes],” Holliday said. “He seems like a pretty awesome dude.”
In addition to Holliday, 14 more prospects from MLB Pipeline’s new Top 30 O’s list are on the team’s Spring Breakout roster. That includes No. 2 prospect catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo (No. 17 overall), who has yet to play in a game this spring.
Basallo is recovering from a right elbow stress fracture and isn’t scheduled to catch in games until late April. But the 19-year-old participated in live batting practice for the first time this spring on Monday, and he should soon get into games as a designated hitter. He’s hopeful he’ll get to play at Spring Breakout.
“I feel really good overall,” Basallo said via team interpreter Brandon Quinones on Tuesday.
What is Spring Breakout? MLB Spring Breakout is a four-day event showcasing baseball’s future: the current stars of Minor League Baseball. The inaugural edition will be held from March 14-17 at Grapefruit and Cactus league stadiums during Spring Training. A series of 16 exhibition games will be played between teams comprised of each MLB organization’s top prospects, creating a new touchpoint on the baseball calendar that celebrates our sport’s budding talent.
Here's the Orioles' Spring Breakout roster with MLB Pipeline's rankings:
CATCHERS
Samuel Basallo, C/1B, No. 2 (MLB No. 17)
Creed Willems, C/1B, No. 30
Silas Ardoin, C, NR
Connor Pavolony, C, NR