Ethan Holliday

Ethan Holliday
Colorado Rockies
Shortstop
Born: (2007-02-23) February 23, 2007
Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Stats at Baseball Reference 

Ethan Smith Holliday (born February 23, 2007) is an American professional baseball shortstop in the Colorado Rockies organization. Holliday was selected with the fourth pick in the 2025 MLB draft by the Rockies.

Holliday attended Stillwater High School in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he played shortstop.

Early life and family

Holliday was born in Tucson, Arizona and raised in Austin, Texas, to former Major League Baseball player Matt Holliday.[1] He is the younger brother of Jackson Holliday, who was selected first overall in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft by the Baltimore Orioles.[2] His cousin, Brady Holliday, also plays baseball for Stillwater High School.[3] His uncle, Josh Holliday, serves as the head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team, representing Oklahoma State University.[4]

Amateur career

Holliday attended Stillwater High School in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he played baseball for the varsity team all four years. He was teammates with his older brother Jackson during the 2022 season, Jackson's senior year before being drafted.[5] Holliday committed to attend Oklahoma State on a college baseball scholarship.[4]

In 2022, Holliday was selected for the United States national baseball team that competed in the U-15 Baseball World Cup. The team won the championship and Holliday was named the tournament's top shortstop.[6] Holliday participated in the high school home run derby held during Major League Baseball's All-Star Week.[7]

Before his senior year at Stillwater, Holliday signed a name, image and likeness endorsement deal with Adidas, which was reported as the company's first such agreement with a baseball player.[8]

During his senior season in 2025, Holliday posted a .611 batting average with 19 home runs and 64 runs batted in (RBIs) in 33 games, along with a slugging percentage of 1.295 and an on-base plus slugging (OPS) of 2.038.[9] He also drew 44 walks and scored 57 runs while helping Stillwater reach the Class 6A state tournament with a 25-8 record.[10] Throughout the season, opposing teams frequently chose to intentionally walk Holliday in key situations. In district championship games against Bixby High School, he hit home runs in his first at-bat in both games of the series. In Stillwater's first-round state tournament loss to Piedmont, Holliday was intentionally walked in all three of his plate appearances.[11]

Holliday was named the 2025 Gatorade Oklahoma Baseball Player of the Year, making him the fourth member of his family to receive this honor.[12] He was also selected as Baseball America's 2025 High School Player of the Year, making him and Jackson the first brother tandem to each receive this honor.[13] Other honors include selection to the 2025 Preseason MaxPreps All-America High School Baseball Team and recognition as Prep Baseball Oklahoma's 2025 Player of the Year.[14][15]

Professional career

Multiple scouting organizations ranked Holliday among the top prospects for the 2025 Major League Baseball draft. MLB.com, Baseball America, and Perfect Game listed him as their number one prospect in the draft class.[16][17][18] The Colorado Rockies selected Holliday with the fourth overall selection.[19] Holliday signed with the Rockies for a $9 million signing bonus on July 22, 2025, setting a record for the largest bonus given to a high school player.[20] Holliday played for the Fresno Grizzlies of the Single-A California League after he signed. He batted .239 with two home runs and six RBI in 18 games.[21]

Holliday began the 2026 season with Fresno. He batted .262 with nine home runs and 32 RBI in 33 games before his season ended prematurely due to a stress fracture in his left foot.[21]

Playing style and scouting reports

At 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and 215 pounds (98 kg), Holliday has a larger frame than his brother Jackson and more closely resembles their father Matt physically.[22] Scouts have noted his left-handed swing mechanics and plate discipline. He has demonstrated pitch recognition skills and drawn walks throughout his career.[23]

According to scouting reports, Holliday's power is considered his primary tool, with scouts grading it at 65 on the 20-80 scale. He has recorded exit velocities of 111 miles per hour (179 km/h) with a wood bat.[24] Evaluators project that he could develop into a player capable of hitting 30 or more home runs annually at the professional level.[25]

While playing shortstop as an amateur, many scouts project that Holliday may transition to third base due to his size, though he has worked on his defensive mobility and fundamentals. Some evaluators also consider him a candidate for corner outfield positions.[26]

References

  1. ↑ "Like father like sons: Holliday boys make baseball a family affair". KOCO. November 30, 2023.
  2. ↑ Hart, Hallie (May 3, 2022). "Holliday brothers rely on competitiveness, camaraderie to create special varsity season together". Stillwater News Press.
  3. ↑ Breeden, Ryan (May 8, 2024). "The Holliday season: Ethan and Brady look to lead Pioneers through state baseball tournament". Stillwater News Press.
  4. 1 2 Unruh, Jacob (May 24, 2022). "Matt Holliday has lived a charmed baseball life. His oldest son, Jackson, could be next". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Ethan Holliday Stats & Scouting Report". Baseball America. September 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ "'Pretty surreal': Stillwater's Ethan Holliday savors winning gold with Team USA baseball". The Oklahoman.
  7. ↑ "Stillwater Standout Ethan Holliday Will Compete In High School Home Run Derby At MLB All-Star Week". www.newson6.com.
  8. ↑ Lacques, Gabe (January 28, 2025). "Will Ethan Holliday go No. 1 in MLB draft? Family's latest stud inks NIL deal with Adidas". USA Today. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Ethan Holliday named Gatorade Oklahoma Baseball Player of the Year". Stillwater News Press. June 2025.
  10. ↑ "2025 Prep Baseball Oklahoma Player of the Year: Ethan Holliday". Prep Baseball Report.
  11. ↑ "Ethan Holliday Named Baseball America's 2025 High School Baseball Player Of The Year". Baseball America. June 2025.
  12. ↑ "Stillwater's Ethan Holliday selected as Gatorade's state baseball player of the year". Tulsa World. June 2025.
  13. ↑ "Ethan Holliday Named Baseball America's 2025 High School Baseball Player Of The Year". Baseball America. June 2025.
  14. ↑ "2025 Preseason MaxPreps All-America High School Baseball Team". MaxPreps. January 29, 2025.
  15. ↑ "2025 Prep Baseball Oklahoma Player of the Year: Ethan Holliday". Prep Baseball Report.
  16. ↑ "Jackson Holliday family tree: Meet Orioles star prospect's dad Matt Holliday, brother Ethan Holliday, more | Sporting News". www.sportingnews.com. April 10, 2024.
  17. ↑ "New: Top 100 Draft prospects for '25". MLB.com.
  18. ↑ Nightengale, Bob (August 18, 2024). "2025 MLB draft: Ethan Holliday could join brother Jackson at No. 1". USA Today. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Rockies take Ethan Holliday, son of franchise great, at No. 4 overall". mlb.com. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  20. ↑ Adams, Steve (July 22, 2025). "Rockies Sign No. 4 Overall Pick Ethan Holliday". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  21. 1 2 "Rox top prospect Holliday to have foot surgery, out for the season (source)". MLB.com. October 13, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Ethan Holliday Stats & Scouting Report". Baseball America. September 28, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Ethan Holliday Stats & Scouting Report". Baseball America. September 28, 2023.
  24. ↑ "2025 Draft prospect Ethan Holliday attends Nationals-Angels game". MLB.com. June 2025.
  25. ↑ "MLB Draft 2025: Is Ethan Holliday worth the hype?". Federal Baseball. February 27, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Ethan Holliday Stats & Scouting Report". Baseball America. September 28, 2023.
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