Ethan Holliday Following Father, Brother On Prospective Path To Majors

Ethan Holliday has signed a record-setting $9 million deal with the Colorado Rockies. The fourth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft earlier this month joins father Matt and brother Jackson as pro players.

The signing bonus for the 18-year-old shortstop is the largest for a high school draft pick, surpassing the $8.2 million to Eli Willits, 17-year-old shortstop picked No. 1 by of the Washington Nationals.

It’s the fourth-highest bonus awarded to a draft pick. Only right-handed pitchers Paul Skenes ($9.2 million, Pittsburgh Pirates, No. 1 in 2023) and Chase Burns ($9.25 million, Cincinnati Reds, No. 2 in 2024) and first baseman Charlie Condon ($9.25 million, Rockies, No. 3 in 2024) signed for more.

Jackson Holliday signed for $8.19 million as the No. 1 overall choice by the Baltimore Orioles in 2022. That obliterates what dad Matt got as a seventh-round pick (No. 210 overall) by the Rockies in 1998. He got $840,000 as a high school third baseman – but that was more than eight first-rounders and 24 second-rounders received that year.

Matt was also a star quarterback and coveted by several colleges. The money persuaded him to turn pro and he eventually earned, according to baseball-reference.com, nearly $160 million over 15 years in the Majors.

Numerous scouts had Ethan ranked as their No. 1 prospect, as did MLB Pipeline.com, citing his athleticism and raw power. At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, they forecast the left-handed hitter to outgrow shortstop and eventually move to third or first. He does not have the speed of his brother or father.

Jackson, with 13 homers at age 21 this year, told Jake Rill of MLB.com he thinks baby brother is better: “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.

“I think he can hit the ball all over the field and cover a lot of different pitches and shapes.

“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. He’s a great defender. I don’t think he gets enough credit for it.”

Like Father, Like Two Sons

There have been 17 instances of a father and two sons playing in the Majors. The Hairston family is listed twice.

Jerry Hairston, son of Sammy and brother of Johnny, then had sons Jerry Jr. and Scott make the Majors.

Overall, the three-generation family played in 3,231 games from when Sammy debuted with the 1951 Chicago White Sox until Scott retired from the Washington Nationals in 2014. Jerry Jr. had the best career, playing 1,4423 games at second, third and the outfield for nine teams, mostly the Orioles.

The first MLB dad to have two sons in the Majors was Jimmy Cooney. He played shortstop, 1890 to 1892, batting .242 in 324 games, mostly with the Chicago Cubs. Oldest son Jimmy played short and second for six clubs, mostly the Cubs, batting .262 from 1917 until 1928.

Johnny hit .286 as a two-way player from 1921 through 1944, mostly with the Boston Braves. He hit only two homers but struck out just 107 times in 1,172 games, mostly in center field. He played all three outfield spots, first base and had a 34-44 record and 3.72 ERA in 159 games as a pitcher.

The Best Combos

The most successful fathers to have two sons in MLB have been Hall of Fame first baseman George Sisler, seven-time gold glove catcher Bob Boone, six-time gold glove third baseman Buddy Bell, five-time all-star catcher Tony Pena and five-time all-star pitcher Mel Stottlemyre.

The best of the kids’ duos are Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar and six-time all-star catcher Sandy, and the Boones, three-time all-star and gold glove second baseman Bret along with former all-star third baseman and current New York Yankees manager Aaron.

Here’s the complete list of fathers and two sons:

Sandy Alomar, Sandy Jr., and Roberto

Buddy Bell, David and Mike

Bob Boone, Aaron and Bret

Jimmy Cooney, Jimmy Jr., and Johnny

Chris Cron, C.J. and Kevin

Dave Duncan, Chris and Shelley

Larry Gilbert, Chris and Tookie

Tom Gordon, Dee Strange and Nick

Sammy Hairston, Jerry and Johnny

Jerry Hairston, Jerry Jr. and Scott

Dave LaRoche, Adam and Andy

Manny Mota, Andy and Jose

Tony Pena, Tony and Francisco

Kevin Romine, Andrew and Austin

George Sisler, Dave and Dick

Mel Stottlemyre, Todd and Mel. Jr.

Dixie Walker, Dixie and Harry

The Future Of Ethan Holliday

Power hitters thrive in Colorado. Just ask Hall of Famers Larry Walker, Todd Helton and Ethan’s dad. Matt Holliday had six fine seasons with the Rockies. His best season was at age 27 in 2007. He won the National League batting championship with a .340 average, led the league in hits (216), doubles (50), RBI (137) and had a career-best 36 homers.

The Rockies are excited to pair the power potential of Ethan Holliday with Condon, the 6-6 right-handed slugger who is currently hitting .300 with 5 homers in the minors this year despite being slowed by a broken left wrist incurred in spring training.

Holliday grew up idolizing current St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado – who was a prolific slugger and gold glove third baseman in all eight of his years in Colorado before being dealt in 2021. If he embraces defense as well as his hero while continuing to hit, the Rocky Mountain sky is the limit.

Ethan Holliday will have pressure to match his brother and his father. Many believe he has the skills to do it.