Rockies sign Ethan Holliday with record-setting bonus

There will be no drama here; the Colorado Rockies have quickly signed first-round pick Ethan Holliday — giving the Scott Boras client an over-slot bonus of $9 million, according to a report from MLB.com.

The Rockies selected the son of Matt Holliday earlier this month out of Stillwater High School in Oklahoma with the fourth pick in the draft. His bonus is the fourth highest in MLB Draft history and the largest for a high schooler entering pro baseball. The slot value for the pick was about $8.8 million, which means the Rockies will have a little over $6 million for bonuses on the rest of their draft picks.

In theory, Holliday could have held out and played college ball for his uncle at Oklahoma State, where he was committed if he so chose that route. Thankfully, the Rockies made quick work of locking up their first-rounder.

Holliday projects to play the premium left side of the infield with his right-handed arm, though he bats left-handed, unlike his father. In a perfect world, Ethan can play the infield like his star brother Jackson in Baltimore, but bring more pop like his pops — just from the left side.

The older Holliday was a three-time All-Star in Colorado, led the Rockies to the World Series with an MVP performance in the 2007 NLCS and is responsible for the club’s most iconic moment as he slid into home plate to cement Rocktober’s legend. The Rockies missed out on drafting Matt’s older son, who was selected first in the 2022 Draft.

Holliday was Baseball America’s 2025 High School Player of the Year. Jackson earned that honor in 2022, and other stars like Bobby Witt Jr., MacKenzie Gore, Kyle Tucker and Byron Buxton have claimed that award.

His senior year stats at Stillwater were insane, as are most top MLB Draft prospects playing at the high school level. This spring, he hit .611 with 19 home runs and an OPS of 2.038 — these are not typos.

On MLB’s 20-80 scouting scale, Andrew Simon rates his tools as such:

• Hit: 50
• Power: 65
• Run: 50
• Arm: 55
• Field: 50
• Overall: 60

Holliday is instantly the most hyped prospect in Rockies history and joins last year’s top pick, college star Charlie Condon, in the farm system as the future of the club’s infield and lineup.

Most draft picks make an appearance at Coors Field after signing but before heading out to the minors — expect that in the coming days.

Colorado already has Ryan McMahon signed to play third base through 2027, though he has shifted positions in the past and is the subject of trade rumors. More importantly, 23-year-old Ezequiel Tovar is inked to play shortstop in Denver through 2031 — and the dream of the Venezuelan star anchoring the infield alongside Condon and Holliday should bring legitimate hope to Rockies fans beaten down by three straight 100-loss seasons.

But the Rockies’ farm system still lacks; they were only named No. 18 in MLB.com’s preseason minor league system ranks.

That ranking still counted right-hander Chase Dollander, who has been up for most of the year. Adael Amador struggled in another stint with the big club, and his prospect hopes are fading while former first-rounder Zac Veen’s first taste of the majors wasn’t great. Last year’s late first-round pick, Brody Brecht, has done well in his first taste of pro ball, but the 22-year-old is still in Single-A. He and Dollander are the only arms of note on the farm.

Holliday is likely to set out for either Rookie Ball in Scottsdale or Single-A in Fresno.

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