Here is what the Orioles’ lineup should look like once Jackson Holliday returns

After missing all of spring training with a hamate bone injury, it hasn't taken Jackson Holliday long to settle in on his rehab assignment in Norfolk. The Baltimore Orioles will most likely call Holliday up to join the team following their midwestern road trip to Pittsburgh and Chicago, just in time for his bobblehead day. Holliday's return will force manager Craig Albernaz to find a spot for him in the Orioles' already very deep lineup.

With Holliday's return quickly approaching, there are three questions that the Orioles have to answer. Where will Holliday hit in the lineup? Who will be optioned to make room for him on the roster? And will he be an everyday player?

Jackson Holliday is more likely to hit at the bottom of the Orioles' lineup than the top

Last season, Holliday was one of the Orioles' very few everyday players, playing in 149 total games and more specifically serving as the Orioles' leadoff man for 113 games after Brandon Hyde was fired and Tony Mansolino declared Holliday the Orioles' leadoff man of the future.

Holliday does have some of the raw skills that are fitting of a leadoff hitter. He has a good eye for the strike zone, and he doesn't chase, but in his short career, he has not yet put up on-base percentage numbers that demand he be given a spot at the very top of a lineup. Last year, specifically as a leadoff man, he got on base at a .311 clip, which is not going to cut it.

It seems more likely that Holliday will start the season towards the bottom of the lineup. Here is an example of what that might look like based on what Albernaz's lineup has looked like so far:

1. Taylor Ward
2. Gunnar Henderson
3. Pete Alonso
4. Adley Rutschman
5. Samuel Basallo
6. Tyler O'Neill
7. Colton Cowser
8. Coby Mayo
9. Jackson Holliday

This hypothetical lineup allows Holliday to ease into the season without being thrust into a top-of-the-order role. It also gives the Orioles a kind of second leadoff man with Holliday batting ninth.

In Holliday's absence, utility infielders Blaze Alexander and Jeremiah Jackson have been taking turns filling in at second base. Alexander is out of options, so he won't be sent down to make room for Holliday. Of the players who can be optioned, Jackson has the most options, and he is the most duplicative with the Orioles full up on infielders and outfielders, making him the most likely to be sent down to make room for Holliday.

If the Orioles feel like Alexander can play a good enough centerfield, they may have him get in the lineup that way once Holliday sets up shop at second. In that case, Leody Taveras could be the one optioned.

If the Orioles want to get creative, they could option Ryan Mountcastle, who has played the least out of anyone on the roster and provides the least positional versatility. This would be a cold move, and it would nuke much of Mountcastle's remaining trade value, but at this point, it doesn't seem like he has much anyway. That said, this feels unlikely compared to how easy it would be to demote Jackson and have him be the one who gets the call in case of an infield or outfield injury.

Early in Albernaz's tenure as manager, it is clear he wants to ensure all his players get a chance to play. So far, only Taylor Ward, Gunnar Henderson, and Pete Alonso have been in the lineup every day; everyone else has had to rotate in and out of the lineup.

There are a few reasons for these rotations. Some of them are for platoon advantages, and others are to give players in demanding positions a day off. With Alexander as a righty who can play second, the Orioles will have the option to protect Holliday against lefties.

As mentioned above, Holliday was an everyday player last year so having him become a platoon player would feel like a step back in his development, but the Orioles are at a point where they need to be putting the best lineup possible on the field as often as possible so if Albernaz feels like the best way to do that then Holliday might find himself in a second base timeshare until he hits and defends well enough that it's not necessary.