Rockies draft Ethan Holliday: How national media graded Colorado’s first-round pick

The Rockies are hoping a familiar surname will again bring success to Coors Field one day Colorado on Sunday selected -year-old Ethan Holliday son of former Rockies star outfielder Matt Holliday with the No overall pick in the MLB draft Holliday a -foot- -pound shortstop with power was hardly a surprise pick entering the draft as national draftniks universally had him coming to the gang who drafted his father Now that Colorado has official drafted him here s a look at how national analysts are grading the pick Bleacher Document s Joel Reuter Grade A Holliday hit a blistering with home runs and RBI in games this spring solidifying his status as the best power-hitting prospect in the draft class His strong - -pound frame more closely resembles his All-Star father Matt than it does his contact-oriented brother Jackson though it also means a shift to third base is in his near future He evidenced several swing-and-miss on the showcase circuit last summer but he has more than enough hit tool to consistently get to his elite power giving him the probable to be a perennial -homer -RBI threat Related Articles Rockies pick Ethan Holliday with the fourth overall pick of MLB draft 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 member available when Rockies pick fourth on Sunday Rockies waste multiple scoring chances lose in walk-off fashion to Reds CBS Sports R J Anderson Grade A Holliday marries a good approach with big-time strength from the left side He s not going to remain at shortstop however and there s enough swing and miss in his tournament to give evaluators specific pause I think it s a fine pick for the Rockies especially with how tough it is for any pitcher to be a good fit in Coors Field ESPN s David Schoenfield No grade given There was plenty of talk about Holliday being a possibility for the No pick so the Rockies have to be happy about getting the athlete who might have the best chance of progressing into a true major league star His best-case scenario is reaching the majors as a power-hitting good-fielding third baseman who turns into the Rockies first franchise player since they traded away a power-hitting good-fielding third baseman in Nolan Arenado The Sporting News Dan Treacy Grade A The Rockies were never going to pass on Holliday if he made it to No and they have a probable cornerstone with ties to the organization in the -year-old No high school prospect can be called a sure thing but Holliday has all of the tools needed to put himself on a fast-track to the majors His power would play well in Coors Field or any stadium really and the off-field benefits of adding a promising household name to an organization that badly demands various positive attention USA The present day s Austin Curtright Grade A Ethan Holliday falls to No to the Colorado Rockies where his dad seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday started his MLB career Want more Rockies news Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis