The 2025 MLB Draft is almost upon us, and while there’s some clear consensus, nothing is ever a safe bet in the draft. Teams will make selections, and the players likely won’t impact the big league club for a few years, unless your name is Paul Skenes. As we get closer, it’s becoming clear that the little brother of Baltimore Orioles Jackson Holliday is going to go first overall. His name is Ethan Holliday, and many project that the Washington Nationals will take him with the first overall pick.
Ethan Holliday 2025 MLB Draft Profile
There was some doubt about Holliday as some college arms wrapped up stellar seasons. That being said, it hasn’t swayed the hype on Holliday. As most know, Ethan Holliday is the son of slugger Matt Holliday, who enjoyed a 15-year big league career. He slugged 316 homers and hit .299 in his career.
MLB Pipeline mentions that Ethan Holliday is projected to be even better than his brother, who came before him. He is “more physical and powerful than Jackson, and much more closely resembles their father.” The thought is that with his smooth left-handed swing, he could develop into a 35-home run slugger, much like his dad.
The Oklahoma State commit has already registered 111 MPH off a wooden bat.
Ethan Holliday 111 mph off the bat pic.twitter.com/FE168y6eMk
— Prospect Dugout (@prospectdugout) July 19, 2024
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After struggling in the summer circuit last year, according to MLB Pipeline, there were some swing-and-miss concerns. That being said, it’s possible he was pressing and trying to do a little too much to showcase his talent.
While he played shortstop in high school, as the best players often do, he projects more as a third baseman than a shortstop in MLB.
Headed to the Washington Nationals?
Ethan Holliday is now projected as a consensus number one overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. The Nationals, after plenty of struggles, have that very pick this year.
He has been projected in mock drafts by MLB Pipeline, Keith Law, and ESPN to land with the Nats, who are in the midst of a rebuild following their 2019 World Series run. Recently, the Nationals have had some success with prospects such as James Wood and CJ Abrams, leading the charge.
Would the Nationals like to accelerate their rebuild a bit? Certainly. The team has floundered the past few years and is off to a 25-30 start. They may reach for a college pitcher to help accelerate the rebuild. Given where they’re at, adding a blue chip prospect like Ethan Holliday makes a ton of sense.
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