Let's be real for a second. Most of the hype around Baltimore lately has been sucked up by names like Jackson Holliday, Samuel Basallo, or Coby Mayo. It makes sense. Those guys are the "blue-chip" types. But if you’ve been watching the late-season chaos of 2025, there’s another name that basically came out of nowhere to start mashing.
Jeremiah Jackson.
He wasn't supposed to be the guy. Honestly, when the Orioles signed him to a minor league deal in November 2024, it felt like a depth move. A "just in case" body for Triple-A Norfolk. Jackson had been a second-round pick for the Angels back in 2018, and while he had serious pop, he was also striking out a ton. Then he bounced to the Mets in the Dominic Leone trade and just... stalled. By the end of 2024, he was hitting .205 and looking like a "quad-A" player at best.
Then 2025 happened.
The Mid-Season Explosion No One Saw Coming
Baseball is weird. You can struggle for five years, change one tiny thing in your load or your mental approach, and suddenly the ball looks like a beach ball.
Jackson started 2025 back in Double-A. Not exactly where a 25-year-old wants to be. But he didn't sulk. He hit his way to Triple-A Norfolk, and that’s where the light switch flipped. We’re talking about a .377 average over 40 games with an OPS (1.073) that looked like a typo. When the Orioles decided to have a bit of a "fire sale" at the 2024 trade deadline—trading away guys like Gregory Soto—they needed a body.
They called up Jackson on August 1st. He debuted at Wrigley Field and immediately started hitting.
It wasn't just a fluke week, either. He put together a 12-game hitting streak in late August. By the time the 2025 season wrapped up, he had a .276/.328/.447 slash line in the Bigs. Those aren't just "prospect" numbers; those are "I belong in the starting lineup" numbers.
Why the "Power-Speed" Label Finally Fits
For years, scouting reports on Jackson were basically: "Tons of power, can't find the zone."
He once hit 23 homers in rookie ball, tying a league record. But the strikeouts were always the monster under the bed. In 2025, he seemed to finally make peace with the strike zone. He stopped trying to hit everything 500 feet.
Check out the versatility:
- He’s played 2B, SS, and 3B.
- The Orioles stuck him in Right Field because they had a logjam, and he actually handled it.
- He hits breaking balls weirdly well—batting .347 against the bendy stuff in 2025.
Usually, young hitters get eaten alive by sliders. Jackson? He sits on them. It’s kinda wild to watch a guy who was discarded by two other organizations suddenly become the most reliable bat in a lineup full of former top-10 picks.
What to Expect for the 2026 Season
New manager Craig Albernaz has a "good" problem on his hands. The Orioles roster is crowded. Like, really crowded.
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You’ve got Taylor Ward and Colton Cowser in the outfield. You’ve got the young guns in the infield. Where does a 26-year-old (as of March) Jeremiah Jackson fit?
Honestly, he’s the ultimate "super-utility" weapon. He’s the guy who can give Jordan Westburg a day off at third or spell someone in right field without the offense taking a hit. He’s currently on a cheap $820,000 deal, which makes him a massive asset for a team trying to balance a budget while staying competitive.
He did have a scare in September 2025 when he got hit by a pitch on the elbow. Everyone in Baltimore held their breath. Luckily, it was just a contusion and he was back in the lineup 48 hours later. That’s the kind of grit the O's need right now.
The Realistic Outlook
Is he going to hit .330 over a full season? Probably not. His xBA (expected batting average) suggests he’s more of a .260 or .270 hitter, which is still totally fine given his power. The real test will be if he can keep the strikeouts under control once pitchers have a full book on him.
He’s not the biggest guy on the field. He’s 5'11" and about 165 pounds. He doesn't look like a traditional power hitter. But his bat speed is legitimate. It's that "old-school flick of the wrist" that scouts used to rave about when he was a teenager in Alabama.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Fantasy Owners
If you're following the Orioles or looking for a sleeper in your 2026 fantasy draft, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the Spring Training Lineups: If Albernaz is batting Jackson in the top five spots, he’s a lock for everyday ABs.
- Positional Eligibility: In most leagues, he’ll likely qualify at 2B, 3B, and OF. That is gold for roster flexibility.
- The "Breaking Ball" Factor: Keep an eye on his stats against sliders and sweepers. If he keeps punishing those, he’s going to force his way into the lineup regardless of who else is healthy.
- Don't Overpay: He’s a breakout candidate, but he’s still a "high-variance" player. Enjoy the ride, but don't expect him to be Aaron Judge.
The Jeremiah Jackson story is basically a lesson in not giving up on talent too early. Sometimes a player just needs the right hitting coach or the right organization to stop trying to change them. Baltimore seems to have found the "off" switch for his struggles and the "on" switch for his production.
Keep a close eye on the 2026 spring training box scores to see if the Orioles are giving him run at shortstop, as that would maximize his value even further.