Ethan Holliday is already a famous player before even hitting the big leagues. Why? Because of his brother and father. It’s a baseball family through and through. Holliday has high (and likely unjust) expectations for his own career because he is the brother of a prospective All-Star and the son of a past one.
He’s a promising prospect, though, and might end up being selected first overall, matching his brother and becoming the first brothers to be selected at the top of the draft.
In any case, Holliday’s bat is and will continue to be the key selling point, even though he is probably going to wind up at third base before everything is said and done.
He has the kind of on-base and slugging ability that might solidify him in the middle of an order because he is a lefty hitter with a strong approach and big-time strength.
Ethan Holliday’s Performance
Ethan played infield at Stillwater High School in Oklahoma and is currently ranked as the top prospect in the 2025 class.
This spring, Ethan was erratic at the plate. He tries too hard to get that power, which left his front side flying open and left him open to stuff on the outside third, but it is a fixable issue.
He is familiar with the striking zone, and during the summer and fall of last year, he hardly ever chased anything out of there. This spring, he has shown improved range and more consistency on routine plays despite being too big for shortstop.
If he transfers to third base, it will be because he outgrows shortstop, not because he has the skills.
Family History
The Rockies selected Matt Holliday, Ethan’s father, in the seventh round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft. During his first five seasons in Major League Baseball, Matt was a three-time All-Star for Colorado.
Jackson Holliday, Ethan’s older brother, was selected by the Baltimore Orioles with the first overall choice in the 2022 draft.
Matt’s dad, Tom Holliday, coached at Oklahoma State for 25 years, where his big brother, Josh, is the current coach. His uncle, Dave, scouts for the Philadelphia Phillies. And he has a cousin, Heath, who also played for OSU.
Ethan Holliday
GATORADE POY• 1995 Oklahoma Player of the Year: Josh Holliday
• 1998 Oklahoma Player of the Year: Matt Holliday
• 2022 Oklahoma Player of the Year: Jackson Holliday
• 2025 Oklahoma Player of the Year: Ethan HollidayQuite a family tree.
Congrats Ethan! pic.twitter.com/Auqlvj3JQu— Stillwater Baseball (@SHSPioneersBSBL) June 4, 2025
Why Do Scouts Love Ethan Holliday
Holliday’s amazing swing and enormous power potential make him an ideal fit for Coors Field. The 18-year-old may have a bright future in Major League Baseball because he resembles his father more than his brother. In addition, it would position him to succeed his father, Rockies great Matt Holliday.
Scouts are praising Holliday as a potential 35-home run-per-year slugger with “easy juice to all fields,” and he inked a NIL contract with Adidas. He is now ranked #1 on ESPN’s 2025 draft board.
Despite his commitment to Oklahoma State University, he is a large guy; thus, the major leagues are probably his next destination. He batted and, at 6’4″ and 200 pounds, had a clean swing that drove the ball at exit velocities exceeding 110 mph. 611 with 65 RBIs and 19 home runs in his final season.