Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday has yet to break out at the big-league level, but he's taking small steps in the right direction. The 22-year-old revealed an update about his rehab progress on Wednesday as he works back from a hamate bone injury, via The Baltimore Banner's Andy Kotska.

"Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday said he’s scheduled to begin swinging with both hands tomorrow," he reported. "He had been swinging one-handed (with his left) and he began throwing last week. Recovery from his broken hamate bone in right hand is going well." 

Holliday broke the hamate bone in his right wrist during a spring training workout on Feb. 6, and he had surgery to remove it days later. The 2022 No. 1 overall draft pick won't be ready for Opening Day on March 26 (per MLB.com), but he's at least not having setbacks, which is the first step toward having a successful campaign.

From star first baseman Pete Alonso's arrival to manager Craig Albernaz's first campaign, Baltimore already has plenty of storylines this season. However, Holliday is arguably the most important one.

Holliday was MLB's top prospect in 2024 according to MLB Pipeline, but he hasn't lived up to the hype yet. The son of former MLB All-Star Matt Holliday is slashing just .229/.300/.360 with 22 homers and 78 RBIs over 209 career games.

Holliday was more effective in the minors, as he slashed .304/.442/.486 with 23 homers and 122 RBIs over 218 contests. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy rose from Rookie League to Single-A in 2022 before reaching Triple-A in 2023. He then split time between Triple-A and MLB in 2024.

If Holliday breaks out this year, it will be the most significant new development for the organization's future. Veterans like Alonso and outfielder Taylor Ward are in their prime, and the team has a long-term cornerstone in shortstop Gunnar Henderson. But if Holliday becomes the star he was drafted to be, he could establish himself as another cornerstone.

The Orioles also have other young pieces like catcher Samuel Basallo and outfielder Colton Cowser, but neither came into the big leagues with the same level of hype. Basallo is MLB Pipeline's eighth-ranked prospect after playing 31 MLB games last season, and Cowser was ranked 19th in 2024. The latter player is slashing .216/.300/.404 with 40 homers and 113 RBIs over 271 career big-league games.

Basallo and/or Cowser could end up with better careers than Holliday, but it's ideal for the former first overall draft pick to become a superstar. Regardless, Baltimore needs another homegrown talent besides Henderson to develop into an elite player. Catcher Adley Rutschman looked like he would be the Robin to Henderson's Batman after making the All-Star team in 2023 and 2024, but he recorded just a .673 OPS in 90 games last season and could be replaced by Basallo eventually.

Up next for the Orioles is a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.