Christian Orioles Rookie Hits First MLB Grand Slam

Published: August 5, 2024

Christian Orioles Rookie Hits First MLB Grand Slam

By Movieguide® Contributor

Orioles rookie Jackson Holliday is thanking God after hitting his first grand slam in the MLB.

Holliday hit his grand slam at the bottom of the fifth inning in a close game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles won 10-4.

The hit was the second baseman’s first career MLB home run, “making him the third Oriole to hit a grand slam as his first MLB homer and the youngest Oriole ever to hit one,” per Sports Spectrum.

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“It’s pretty surreal,” Holliday said in a postgame interview. “Couldn’t have dreamt it up any better for the first home run. So, it’s just exciting to be able to help the team win…To come through in a big spot is more important to me than anything else.”

The Orioles rookie often talks about his faith.

After his first MLB game, he told reporters, “I wouldn’t be here without Jesus, honestly. Just 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…Just giving thanks to the Lord.”

He has also shared that he draws a cross in the dirt and prays before going to bat.

“I think being able to have your faith and being able to just kind of realize that everything is a plan and God has a plan for you, I think that makes it pretty easy for me,” he told Sports Spectrum. “I’m like, ‘OK, I’m gonna go out there, and I’m gonna compete, and I’m gonna do everything in my ability to succeed, but at the end of the day, like, if I do fail this, there is a purpose for that.’”

Movieguide® previously reported on Holliday’s career:

For Baltimore Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday, faith comes before baseball.

In a 2022 appearance on the “Sports Spectrum Podcast,” he discussed where his faith came from and when it became important to him.

“I’d say just the past—maybe last summer and definitely this summer—it’s been more important for me because…I was on my own recently,” Holliday said. “Traveling in the summer, I mean, it gets a little lonely, and you always have God. He’s always right there with you, so it’s been more important than it was kind of growing up.”

When asked what he is most grateful for, he didn’t hesitate to say God’s favor.

“I’d say just, Jesus died on the cross for our sins because we’re obviously not perfect, and we sin a lot,” the athlete said. “For Him to love us so much, for Him to send his only Son to die for us, I am forever grateful for that.”