Rockies pick Ethan Holliday with the fourth overall pick of MLB draft

High school slugger Ethan Holliday is headed to the Rockies The club selected the left-handed hitter with the fourth overall pick of the Major League Baseball draft on Sunday He s the son of former Rockies slugger Matt Holliday who was the cornerstone of Colorado s only World Series band in Ethan is the younger brother of Jackson the No overall pick of the draft who climbed the minor-league ladder briskly and is now the starting second baseman for the Orioles There was widespread speculation that the Washington Nationals might take Holliday with the No overall pick But the Nationals who not long ago shook up their front office surprised numerous draftniks by selecting Eli Willits a -year-old shortstop from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Broxton Okla As a senior at Oklahoma s Stillwater High School the -foot- -pound Ethan hit with a OPS home runs and RBIs He was a shortstop at Stillwater but might project as a third baseman in professional baseball Matt was a seven-time All-Star slugger over a -year MLB career making the All-Star gang three times with the Rockies and four times with the Cardinals Ethan will muscle up more as he gets older though he might not fill out to pounds like his father who belted career home runs Ethan is already hitting the ball in the - mph range at years old Matt advised The Post last September He might have more raw power than me The Holliday family is baseball royalty in Oklahoma Matt s father Tom was a coach for the Oklahoma State baseball crew for years including head coach from - a position now held by Matt s brother Josh This story will be updated Related Articles Rockies hurt by poor defense lose to Reds limp into All-Star break - Rockies Journal Drafting Ethan Holliday is a baseball decision not a sentimental journey Ethan Holliday could well be best athlete available when Rockies pick fourth on Sunday Rockies waste multiple scoring chances lose in walk-off fashion to Reds Grading The Week Are Rockies Ryan McMahon Jake Bird blowing their best chance to escape Coors Field nightmare Want more Rockies news Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis