The already-crowded infield for the Baltimore Orioles won't include Jackson Holliday when the 2024 MLB regular season begins next week.

Holliday, the No. 1 overall prospect in MLB, was reassigned to minor league camp on Friday. He will likely open the season with the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk where he finished 2023.

This is a disappointing, if not unexpected, outcome for Holliday. The 20-year-old certainly looked like one of the best players in Orioles' camp. He hit .311/.354/.600 with two homers, six RBI and two stolen bases in 45 at-bats.

If there was an argument against Holliday right now, it's that the Orioles don't necessarily have a spot for him. Reigning AL Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson is locked in at shortstop.

Jordan Westburg, a top-20 prospect last season, was going to get the first crack as the starting second baseman. The 25-year-old posted a .260/.311/.404 slash line in 228 plate appearances as a rookie in 2023.

The argument for Holliday to make the Opening Day roster is because of the versatility it would offer manager Brandon Hyde. Holliday could slot in at shortstop, with Henderson moving to third base.

If there's one position on the infield that's unsettled in Baltimore right now, it's the hot corner. Ramón Urías is penciled in as the starting third baseman, but he struggled last season with a .264/.328/.375 slash line in 116 games.

This scenario would potentially create another problem down the road, because Coby Mayo is going to be the third baseman on the same Norfolk team with Holliday after he was also reassigned on Friday.

Mayo is a top-30 prospect entering this season. He might eventually move to first base by virtue of his size—he's listed at 6'5" and 230 pounds—but it would be a waste of his value to immediately start him at that spot.

These are roster problems that every MLB club would love to have. Holliday will eventually be in Baltimore, probably sooner than later, but he only has 54 games of experience in the minors above the High-A level.

Jackson, the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft. He hit .323/.442/.499 with 12 homers and 75 RBI in 125 games across four levels last season.