Hyde says Orioles’ Holliday remains confident; Mountcastle out with sore wrist; Akin returns

BALTIMORE—Jackson Holliday is batting eighth and playing second base for the Orioles in Friday night’s game against Houston. Holliday has played in every game since he was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, and he’s hitless in his last 16 at-bats.

Overall, Holliday, who was just 2-for-34 in his first stint in the major leagues, is batting .174 with five home runs and 16 RBIs. He’s struck out 40 times in 109 at-bats

Holliday is playing every day at second and Ramón Urías at third because Jordan Westburg suffered a broken right hand when he was hit by a pitch in Holliday’s first game back, July 31^st.

“He’s 20 years old in the big leagues,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “When he came here, he swung the bat really well. He’s just had a tough handful of games. He almost had a base hit last night in his last at-bat through the middle. It’s not easy up here. He’s improved defensively. It’s going to be a process.

“These young guys come up. They’re going to have their ups and downs.”

Hyde said he’s handling the stress of the big leagues well.

“Talking to him on a daily basis … how he’s gone about his business is the right way. He still feels confident. I don’t see him losing any sort of confidence. I think he’s going to be a really, really good player in this league for a long time, but he’s 20. It’s late August, and it’s not easy to do right now.”

Notes: First baseman Ryan Mountcastle isn’t in the lineup because of a sore wrist. Mountcastle suffered the injury sliding into second base in the second inning on Thursday night and left the game after the eighth inning. “He’s better today. It’s a little better, “Hyde said. “He’s getting treatment right now. He’s going to get treatment right up until gametime, so we’ll see if he’s available. It got pretty sore as the game went on last night.” … Left-hander Keegan Akin was activated off the paternity list and left-hander Nick Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.