Holliday on Holliday: 2022's No. 1 pick gives scouting report on '25 Draft pick brother

This story originally ran previously, before Ethan Holliday was drafted with the No. 4 pick by the Rockies.

BALTIMORE -- Jackson Holliday knows what it’s like to be the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft, having been selected by the Orioles with the top selection in 2022. Yet, the 21-year-old infielder can’t truly relate to what his younger brother, Ethan, is currently going through.

Jackson, the oldest son of seven-time All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday, had expectations put upon him because of his dad’s career. Now, Ethan -- MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 Draft class and the potential No. 1 pick -- is being compared to both his father and his older brother.

“I kind of just had my dad’s stuff to live up to, and I can’t imagine the stuff that [Ethan] may be dealing with as far as getting picked first and what that could mean for baseball history and stuff like that. It’s probably a lot for him,” Jackson said. “It’s an unbelievable situation to be in, and I think he’s handling it great. Every time I call home and talk to him, he’s golfing or messing around with his friends, so I think he’s in a really good headspace, and I’m just excited for him.”

The 2025 MLB Draft begins Sunday night at the Coca-Cola Roxy in The Battery Atlanta. The Nationals have the No. 1 pick and could take Ethan, an 18-year-old infielder out of Stillwater (Okla.) High School. If they don’t, the Angels (No. 2), Mariners (No. 3) and Rockies (No. 4) could be potential landing spots for the next Holliday.

Jackson may be biased, but does he think Ethan is deserving of going No. 1 overall?

“I do, I do. I think he’s done everything he can to put himself in that position,” Jackson said. “I’m just excited for Sunday.”

Ahead of the Draft, Jackson was asked to break down each of Ethan’s tools (grades via MLB Pipeline). Here’s Jackson’s scouting report on his younger brother:

Hit: 50
Jackson’s take: “I’ve been able to watch Ethan hit ever since he was a little kid. We grew up in the clubhouse and throwing to each other in the cage. To watch him kind of blossom into the hitter he is, it’s been a lot of fun. I think he can hit the ball all over the field and cover a lot of different pitches and shapes. I don’t really think there’s much of a hole for an 18-year-old as of right now.”

Power: 65
Jackson’s take: “I’m very jealous of Ethan’s power, his ability to hit the ball really far and consistently do it. Yeah, I’m jealous of how freakishly strong he is at 18, and he’s only going to get stronger.”

Run: 50
Jackson’s take: “Me and E spent a lot of time this offseason running, trying to enhance our games in that department. Like I said, he’s only 18, so the running will come. As hard as he works, it will definitely be a tool and an asset for him."

Field: 50
Jackson’s take: “I wish I was as smooth as Ethan sometimes, and the ability to throw from all angles and do some things that are pretty special out there in the infield, I’m kind of jealous of. He’s a great defender. I don’t think he gets enough credit for it. And I think he’ll be just fine to be able to stick at shortstop for a long time.”

Arm: 55
Jackson’s take: “Yeah, another thing I’m pretty jealous that Ethan has as an 18-year-old, to be able to throw the ball from all over the place. Honestly, it reminds me a lot of Gunnar [Henderson]. Being able to watch Gunnar out here every day and go home and take grounders with Ethan, it’s something that I envy. And like I said, he can definitely stick it in the infield for sure.”

Similarities between the brothers
Jackson’s take: “I think growing up and having our dad as our hitting coach, we probably have a pretty similar approach and to be able to hit the ball all over the field and similar mindsets at the plate, I’d say. Just kind of what our dad’s ingrained in our minds since we were little kids. But we hit together every day, we play catch and take ground balls, so some of our games might look alike eventually. Obviously, he’s a little bit bigger [6-foot-4, 210 pounds] and a little bit more physical, but as far as approach and kind of how we go about the game, it’s pretty similar.”