No. 4 Draftee Holliday offers window to Rockies' future with first Coors Field visit

DENVER -- Rockies No. 1/MLB Pipeline No. 17 prospect Ethan Holliday watched part of the flight of the last and most memorable blast of an impressive batting practice at Coors Field on Friday.

By the time the ball landed three rows from the top of the third, and highest, deck, Holliday was strolling out of the cage, smiling. The fourth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Stillwater (Okla.) High School, Holliday already has made his professional debut -- 18 games at Single-A Fresno (.239/.357/.380), and took a break from instructional ball in Scottsdale, Ariz., to take swings at what he hopes is his future home.

“I was just trying to have a good day at BP,” Holliday said. “I was out here on the big league field with all the big leaguers, trying to do what I do every day in Arizona. The ball flies a little different here.

“So I decided to let some rip.”

The Rockies completed a celebratory night with a 7-6 victory over the Angels to begin the final home series of the season. The highlight was a bullpen that tended to perform well when presented with a lead. Jaden Hill, Juan Mejia, Jimmy Herget and Victor Vodnik (ninth save) each pitched a scoreless inning while protecting a one-run lead.

In the FWIW category, the victory was the Rockies’ 42nd of a rough season. It means they have surpassed last year’s White Sox, whose win total of 41 was the lowest in the Modern Era.

Many teams have their top Draft picks sign at the Major League park and have a press conference and display day. The Rockies this year did all the signings in Scottsdale -- with Holliday inking for $9 million, a record for a player out of high school -- and began workouts.

It was not as if Holliday needed to be introduced to Coors Field.

When his father, Matt Holliday, returned to the Rockies in 2018 for the final days of his career, Ethan and his older brother, now-Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday, sometimes would take batting practice or field grounders and fly balls before games.

Ethan can’t remember if he hit any out back then, at age 11. But he made this swing session memorable.

After a get-me-acquainted first round, Holliday began blasting with regularity to center and to either bullpen. In fact, one went into the second deck in center, clearing the display pennant commemorating the 2007 National League championship. His dad was a key figure, while Ethan -- born in Tucson, Ariz. that Feb. 23 -- was merely a babe in arms.

He’s all grown up now.

The club arranged a locker with a “Holliday 25” white jersey with purple pinstripes, and treated him like the teammate the Rockies hope he becomes. Holliday appreciated the welcome, but treated the on-field stuff like any other day.

“I was talking with some of the hitting coaches, and they were like, ‘What are you working on right now?’” Holliday said. “I was telling them I would just go let it rip and have fun, don’t worry about that stuff right now.”

Being at Coors Field on Friday and Saturday serves as a respite for Holliday during an intense intro to pro baseball.

Holliday and many of the prospects played games against similar groupings in Arizona, then Holliday joined a Fresno team in a push that led to an appearance in the California League playoffs. So he had plenty of moments that showed him he’s not in high school anymore. Good thing he has his father, who played mostly for the Rockies and Cardinals in a 15-year career, and Jackson, in his second season.

He is close enough in age to have observed Jackson, 21, during his quick climb.

“I called him after one game and was like, ‘Man, this is tough, I’m striking out a lot,’” Ethan said. “And he was like, ‘I struck out three times the other night. It happens. You gotta get ready for tomorrow. Like, come on, dude, get out of that.’

“We lean on each other for advice. It’s just having that brother, friendship and relationship and talking about golf or normal stuff. He’s great.”

Matt Holliday had a day like Friday after he was drafted in 1998.

“I hit a few out, but nothing like that -- so I was impressed,” the elder Holliday said. “I know he’s got power. I pitched to him a lot.

“I know it’s in there. He’s such a controlled kid. The first round was nice and easy. I remember my first round, I was trying to hit it off the scoreboard.”

Ethan Holliday’s learning will continue in instructionals, which run through Oct. 4. The Rockies are allowing Holliday to stay at shortstop until his ability or team needs make a position change necessary. Fundamentals that don’t come up in high school ball -- such as devising plans against opposing pitchers, truly learning the strike zone offensively and proper angles and paths to the ball defensively -- are areas to address.

But Holliday showed enough in his first pro go-round for the Rockies to enjoy his talents while he seeks improvement at finer points.

“The directional plays -- being able to throw from multiple arm angles, his fluidity, his agility, being able to turn a double play -- he’s got the makings,” Rockies senior director-scouting operations Marc Gustafson said.

At 6-4 and roughly 207 pounds, Holliday figures to fill out physically. He’s working to round out his game as his frame progresses.

“I’ve found myself, even from the time the Draft happened, taking big jumps,” he said. “So I’ll just continue to work with that.”