The Colorado Rockies have played a bold card in the 2025 MLB Draft by snagging Ethan Holliday, a promising high school shortstop from Oklahoma, with the fourth overall pick. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because Ethan is not only the son of former Rockies icon Matt Holliday but also the younger brother of Baltimore Orioles’ second baseman Jackson Holliday. Talk about keeping it in the family.
Ethan expressed his excitement and gratitude during a televised interview on MLB Network, highlighting his faith as a major influence in his journey. At 18, Holliday stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs in at 210 pounds. He’s a left-handed hitter from Stillwater High School whose power at the plate has made him a standout in the draft class. In his senior year, he boasted an eye-popping .617/.737/1.309 slash line, clobbering 19 home runs and driving in 51 RBIs over just 32 games. No wonder many scouts and analysts were bullish on him, some even surprised he was available at the fourth pick.
National pundits have given the Rockies a pat on the back for this pick. R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports praised Ethan’s combination of a good hitting approach with significant power, while Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter gave the pick an “A” for nabbing what he called the best power-hitting prospect in the draft.
For the Hollidays, Colorado offers more than just a baseball opportunity; it’s a legacy. Matt Holliday had an outstanding career with the Rockies, being an essential player for the 2007 World Series team and making three All-Star appearances. Not to mention, he sits eighth in franchise WAR rankings. Now, Ethan has the chance to add to that familial story in Colorado.
Ethan sensed a pull toward the Rockies leading up to the draft. “There was something inside me leaning toward the Rockies,” Ethan mentioned. That instinct turned out to be prophetic.
Although Ethan played shortstop through high school, his stature and skills suggest a potential move to third base down the line—a position vacated by Nolan Arenado not so long ago. Yet, the Rockies’ current plan is to keep Ethan at shortstop and give him the chance to establish himself there.
“He’ll find his way off the position if that’s what needs to happen,” said Rockies assistant GM Danny Montgomery. “But for now, we’re sticking to our guns and seeing what he brings to shortstop.”
Despite Ethan’s commitment to Oklahoma State, where his uncle Josh Holliday is the head coach, the likelihood is that he’ll don a Rockies jersey soon. Being selected so high predicts a straight path to begin his professional career once the ink dries on his contract.
For a franchise struggling in the standings, Ethan Holliday’s arrival offers a hopeful glimpse into the not-so-distant future. “The organization has a special place in our family’s heart,” Matt Holliday reflected. “This year hasn’t been smooth, but sometimes it doesn’t take much to turn things around.”
The Rockies are banking on the magic of the Holliday name and the sheer talent of their new draftee to spark a new era on Blake Street.
