This story originally ran previously, before Ethan Holliday was drafted with the No. 4 pick by the Rockies, the team that also drafted his father, Matt Holliday.
Ethan Holliday is MLB Pipeline’s No. 1-ranked prospect for the 2025 Draft. Here is everything you need to know about Holliday.
FAST FACTS
MLB Pipeline ranking: No. 1
Position: SS/3B
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 210 lbs.
Bats/throws: L/R
Age: 18 (Born Feb. 23, 2007)
School: Stillwater (OK) High School
MLB PIPELINE SCOUTING GRADES (20-to-80 scale)
Hit: 50
Power: 65
Run: 50
Arm: 55
Field: 50
Overall: 60
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. He’s carrying on the family tradition
Yes, another Holliday is on the way. Just three years ago, the Orioles made Ethan’s older brother, Jackson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 Draft, also out of Stillwater High. Jackson debuted in the Majors last April, and at age 21 this season, is finding success as Baltimore’s everyday starting second baseman.
Of course, this is the second generation of Hollidays in the Majors. Ethan and Jackson’s father, Matt, set the family standard during a 15-year career -- mainly with the Rockies and Cardinals -- that included seven All-Star selections, four Silver Slugger Awards and a World Series title.
The family ties go beyond MLB. Matt’s father, Tom, was the head coach at Oklahoma State from 1997-2003, a position now held by Matt’s older brother, Josh. Ethan has a college commitment to Oklahoma State, though that’s unlikely to stand in the way of him starting his pro career.
2. He’s not exactly like his brother … or his dad
While there is of course a family resemblance, Ethan does not figure to be a carbon copy of either Jackson or Matt in pro ball. As his MLB Pipeline scouting report puts it: “Ethan is more physical and powerful than Jackson and much more closely resembles their father.” (MLB Pipeline judged him as having the best power in the Draft class, and he showed out at the 2024 All-Star High School Home Run Derby.) With that said, Ethan bats left-handed, like Jackson, while Matt is a righty. He also projects to stay on the infield at the MLB level (most likely at third base), while Matt was an outfielder.
3. His high school numbers were absurd
This is no surprise for a top MLB Draft prospect playing at the high school level, but it’s still hard not to gawk at what Holliday did as a senior at Stillwater. He batted .611 -- yes, .611 -- with 19 home runs, a 1.295 SLG and an OPS of 2.038. He was named the Gatorade Oklahoma Baseball Player of the Year, an honor Jackson previously earned in 2022.
4. He has competed for Team USA, too
Holliday represented his country in 2022 (on the 15U National Team) and 2024 (on the 18U National Team). In 2022, Holliday helped lead Team USA to a gold medal at the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-15 Baseball World Cup in Mexico and was named to the All-World Team.
5. He’s a student of the game
As noted, Holliday comes from a proud baseball family and grew up around the game. His father was a superb big league hitter. Given that, it comes as no shock that he has picked up a few things. Holliday recently told ESPN that watching video of Barry Bonds hitting with a toe tap inspired him to try it during a cage session, ditching the leg kick he had long used in his swing. He also has gotten a valuable window into the mental side of the equation.
“Baseball comes with a high failure rate -- you’ve got to expect adversity but keep going,” Holliday told Men’s Health in a recent interview. “My dad says, ‘Keep your circle tight and your mindset steady.’”