Jackson Holliday, the Baltimore Orioles player who is following in the Major League Baseball footsteps of his father, World Series star Matt Holliday, spoke with reporters after his first game with the Orioles in mid-April, 2024. After the game, the 20-year-old star explained why he made a mark in the dirt behind his position at second base, explaining that it was part of his faith-based routine.
As background, Holliday was the number 1 pick in the 2022 draft and, as of Sunday, April 14, has played four games in the MLB after rocketing through the minor leagues as a young man. He managed his first MLB hit on Sunday, when he hit a ground ball single.
That came during his 14th at-bat, well after his debut game. During that game, when he walked out on the field in the first inning and got in position behind second base, eagle-eyed watchers noted he made some sort of symbol in the dirt. Asking him about it after the game, a reporter said, “In the bottom of the first, right before the inning started, you went kind of behind second base and touched the dirt. Did you draw something in the dirt, is that kind of a tradition for you?”
Responding, Holliday explained that he had made a cross in the dirt, as is his part of his routine while getting ready for the action. He explained that, as he wouldn’t be in the incredible position he is without God’s help, he always makes sure to make the mark of the cross in the dirt at the beginning of the game, whether he’s on the field or at bat.
He explained, “Yeah, it’s kind of a routine to draw a cross.” Continuing, the ball player added that his incredible opportunity to play ball for a living comes thanks to God, saying, “I wouldn’t be here without Jesus, honestly. His love that he’s had on me and blessed me with the ability to play baseball, and to be here today, I probably wouldn’t be anywhere without him.”
Continuing, he explained that he makes sure to make the mark of the cross before beginning each game, whether that’s before his first at bat or before he starts the inning on defense. He said, “Just kind of a routine that I have before every inning or at the beginning of the game on defense, or before every at bat. Just giving thanks to the Lord.”
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This isn’t the first time that Holliday has spoken about his faith. He did so as well in 2022, before the MLB draft, saying, “Faith has always been important to me.” Continuing, he explained that his parents raised him as a Christian, saying, “I’m so grateful to be raised in a Christian home and have such great examples around me of how to be a follower of Christ.”
Continuing, he explained that he tries to live out his faith, saying, “Faith plays a major role in baseball and my life. I want to honor the Lord in everything that I do, and I try to represent that on the field, through my actions and how I carry myself on and off the field.”
Featured image credit: By Bryan Green – https://www.flickr.com/photos/begreen90/52297830106/in/faves-195925043@N06/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133830111