Orioles hilariously troll Jackson Holliday during playoff clinching celebration

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Cold beer and champagne was flowing freely in the visitor’s clubhouse last night at Yankee Stadium, after the Orioles clinched their second straight postseason berth under manager Brandon Hyde.

There was only one problem: Not everyone on the Orioles is of legal drinking age.

Infielder Jackson Holliday, who has endured a challenging, up-and-down rookie season is only 20 years-old, and does not turn 21 until December 4. Even if the Orioles make a playoff run into late October or early November, Holliday will still only be able to drink non-alcoholic beverages.

The Milwaukee Brewers recently faced a similar dilemma when they were celebrating their NL Central title with 20-year old phenom Jackson Chourio. So, waiting for Chourio in the Brewers’ clubhouse was a station of non-alcoholic beer and champagne, which was presented to Chourio in a baby carriage. The Brewers were just too kind to their young outfielder, who excelled in his first full season in Milwaukee to the tune of 3.9 WAR.

Rookie Jackson Holliday receives his own special, age-appropriate station to celebrate the Orioles’ playoff-clinching win at Yankee Stadium

The Orioles took a page out of the Brewers’ book, generously setting up a celebration station for Holliday complete with Orioles’ branded water, an infant-size jersey, and colored-in Oriole bird drawings, one of which looks like it was literally done by a toddler (my son Grayson will be of coloring age in about one year, and is available to help color for any similar celebrations for under-aged athletes).

With last night’s win over the Yankees and the Minnesota Twins’ loss to the Marlins, the Orioles clinched a playoff spot. And while the division is still mathematically possible (the Yankees need to lose out and the Orioles need to win out), it appears far more likely that the Orioles will be preparing themselves to host a best of three Wild-Card series against either Kansas City or Detroit.

As for Holliday, his spot on the Orioles’ playoff roster appears a bit murky. Holliday survived the slew of cuts the Orioles made upon the returns of Jordan Westburg, Ramon Urias, and Ryan Mountcastle. The expectation was that Holliday would start against right-handed pitchers, with Westburg moving to third and Ramon Urias returning to his familiar utility role.

However, it was Urias, and not Holliday, who started last night’s game against righty Clarke Schmidt in the Bronx. And with Urias hitting a key home run in the seventh inning last night, it is reasonable to expect Urias to stay in the lineup against righties this week. In fact, he’s in the starting lineup against Yankees’ right hander Marcus Stroman later tonight.

If the Orioles decide to include veteran Emmanuel Rivera as an extra-infielder on the playoff roster, the young Holliday may be left on the outside looking in.

Whether Holliday makes the playoff roster or not, he no doubt enjoyed last night’s celebration. The Orioles hope this will be the first of many playoff-clinching celebrations in Holliday’s Orioles’ career. And as soon as next year, Holliday can enjoy the cold beer and champagne with the rest of the big kids on the team.

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