Kade Anderson seems to be the popular choice to be the #1 choice in this years MLB draft. That being said, it is very possible that Ethan Holliday commands that pick. Some think that it is a 70/30 split between who may command that #1 overall spot. The Nationals definitely demand some pitching, but it must also be realized that though pitching is a top team demand, the prospect still will not be seen for a couple years or so.
Ethan Holliday comes from a very renowned family of MLB talent. His father, Matt Holliday, is a Cardinals legend. He batted a career .299 with 316 home runs and 1,220 RBIs. A supremely successful career. Holliday comes as the second son of Matt with a potential of going 2/2 in MLB 1st overall picks.
Ethan is looking to go straight to the MLB without reaching any college baseball. Some do it, and Ethan will be one of them. At Stillwater HS in Oklahoma, Holliday batted .611 with 19 home runs with a stunning 2.038 OPS. I struggle to even comprehend that anyone could have an OPS that high. He is surely a very promising prospect but will have to continue to earn his way through the minor leagues.
Kade Anderson is the #2 choice in the MLB prospects rankings. He also commands more experience being a 21 year old out of LSU, the current college baseball champions. It is no secret that the Nationals weakness in 2025 has been pitching. Their offense has been solid in progression, but weaknesses glare obvious. I would personally say that Kade Anderson is the likely pick, and potentially the right pick, but you cannot ever ignore someone like Ethan Holliday. The promise is tremendous.
Despite a slow start, Jackson Holliday is having a very good year with Balitmore with a .259 average and .727 OPS. He will surely progress in his career, but he has been solid enough for Baltimore. Success is not grown overnight. With the staff and legacy behind him, surely he will become a top tier MLB talent in due time. This may very well rub off on his brother, Ethan.
Ethan Holliday is a 2024 All-American and a 2021 14U standout. He is no stranger to his playing hype. The accolades are nothing shy to glaring success. The Nationals have had much hitting success with young talent, most notably James Wood. If the team decides to go with hitting over pitching, Ethan Holliday is no mistake. He is has tremendous MLB coaching behind him and that must come with credibility. Experience is experience and in any aspect of work, that comes with massive respect. The talent is one thing, the ability to progress with his father and company behind him goes even further. It is a notable bonus.
Popular media and betting suggests that Ethan is still quite unlikely to be a National, but anything is possible. Kade Anderson is a heck of a ballplayer, and he would be just fine. Kade already underwent Tommy John. Any great MLB pitcher, unfortunately, will probably undergo the surgery. To have done it already and still been great is nothing to bat an eye at. Anderson shutout Coastal Carolina on 130 pitches and lead D-I in strikeouts. He is the best pitcher since Paul Skenes, and man, it is hard to say to not draft the guy. All the data being said, any pick is great and should come with no disappointment. Let's go Nats!
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