While there is still a lot of uncertainty at the top of the draft, Ethan Holliday is gaining steam to be first pick
The theme of the 2025 MLB Draft has been uncertainty. Talk to any expert, and they will tell you it is a muddy picture at the top of the draft. This differs greatly from the last times the Washington Nationals had the first pick in the draft. Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper were slam dunk picks, and seen as generational prospects.
However, as we are getting deeper in the process, one name is rising to the top, Ethan Holliday. He is the most famous prospect in the draft, being the son of Matt Holliday and brother of former first overall pick Jackson Holliday. Maybe it was just him all along, and people tried to pretend otherwise. Whatever the case, in the three most recent high profile mock drafts, he has been the Nationals pick at one for all three.
MLB Pipeline mocked Ethan Holliday to the Nats, adding that the pick is likely to come down to Holliday, or high school pitcher Seth Hernandez. With Holliday’s bloodlines and pedigree, he is the safer pick than Hernandez, who would be the first ever high school right handed pitcher to be drafted first overall. Holliday would also bring excitement to a fanbase that is growing restless with the progress of the rebuild.
Today, Baseball America put out a mock that also had Holliday at the top. They noted that the Nats are tracking a variety of players, but Holliday’s name is the one that comes up the most. While Holliday struggled some in the summer showcase circuit, he has had a dominant spring, showing the huge power upside he possesses. While he is likely to move to third base, BA noted that he has looked good at shortstop this spring.
Keith Law, who is never afraid to throw a curveball also had Holliday as the Nationals top pick. He added a lot of the same things as the other mocks, talking about how a number of names are still in play. Law also floated the possibility of cutting a deal.
With none of the college players really taking the next step, I think Holliday is the easiest pick for the Nats. He has huge power and has the baseball intelligence that comes with being the son of an All-Star.
While he struggled at times this summer, it would not be the first time that has happened for a top player. Being the biggest name at those events, Holliday got pitched around a lot and tried to do too much because of that. I remember seeing that happen to Bryce Harper in 2016. It can be tough to stay locked in when you aren’t being given pitches to hit on a regular basis.
Another key factor for me would be the role of Matt Holliday. It is clear he knows hitting like the back of his hand. Having him in Ethan’s corner would be a huge asset and would help out the Nationals a lot. While there has been a lot of uncertainty at the top of this draft, sometimes the right answer is the one staring you in the face. Ethan Holliday is the guy staring Mike Rizzo right in the face.