Some stories just feel like they were written by fate—like baseball’s version of deja vu. That was the energy when the Colorado Rockies stepped up at No. 4 in the 2025 MLB Draft and called one name. Ethan Holliday!

With the pick, the Rockies brought their past and their future colliding at their home plate, essentially. Ethan Holliday, after all, is a high school shortstop from Oklahoma and son of none other than Rockies legend Matt Holliday himself. Now, Ethan is one of the most hyped prospects of his class. With a near .661 average, stellar 19 home runs, and 64 RBIs, he had scouts drooling over him.

Mock drafts projected him to go No. 1 overall. But when the Nationals and Angels passed and Seattle grabbed LSU’s Kate Anderson at No. 3, then Colorado did not hesitate.

Honestly, though, for a franchise that is in deep need of a spark, choosing the son of their 2007 MVP candidate is not a bad deal, right? Plus, it almost is symbolic and feels like destiny. Matt Holliday, after all, gave the Rockies their golden era. A batting title and 137 RBIs in ’07.

Plus, that unforgettable slide into home during the wild card tiebreaker is something one should go to watch—the stuff of legends. And now the torch is passed, and the Rockies front office is all smiles. But fans? Not so much. They are bummed about Ethan making his way on a team that they are simply out of hope for at this moment.

Fans lament Ethan Holliday’s draft landing

One fan mentioned, “Gutted for Ethan. That couldn’t have worked out any worse for him. Holy hell. #Rockies.” But Ethan Holliday himself sees it very differently. After slipping to No. 4 in the draft, Holliday called getting picked by the Colorado Rockies a “really incredible opportunity.” He shared, “I’m so driven by faith, so grateful. I don’t even know what words to put to this. The Rockies organization—I’m just so thankful to them… That just adds such a cool thing, knowing everyone in the organization since I was born.” So while many fans view the Rockies as MLB’s black hole, for Ethan, it is home. And he is embracing the legacy of his father, with no regrets.

“Poor kid got drafted to arguably the worst org in the league,” read a blunt comment. Looking at the Rockies’ current state, it is hard to disagree. Colorado is enduring what one can call the most disastrous season in MLB history. They opened with a 7-33 record after they fired their longtime manager, Bub Black, in May. But even after that shakeup, the wins didn’t come easily. Their first series win didn’t happen until early June. So, fans are not thrilled with a talented kid stuck in a team that lacks the potential to hone him.

Echoing the same thing, another person commented, “Rip his career.” A grim reaction, but one that’s rooted in hard numbers. After Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Reds, the Rockies hit the All-Star break with a 22-74 record. This is not just the worst in MLB but a full 10 games behind even the struggling Chicago White Sox. While Holliday won’t debut in the majors for a while, his arrival can’t come soon enough for a team that’s desperate for direction now. But fans fear that the team could dim his potential.

One fan with a flair mentioned, “Ethan, I’m so, so sorry.” On the surface level, it surely looks like a career detour. But things already didn’t go as planned with Ethan not getting the No. 1 spot or No. 2 right? Plus, Holliday might know exactly what he is doing, given baseball is deep in his bloodline. His older brother Jackson went No. 1 overall in 2022 and is in the Baltimore Orioles. But Ethan is different from his brother; standing at 6 feet 4 and 210 pounds, he is more like his dad.

One user, without saying much, mentioned, “Welcome to purgatory.” Given the Rockies’ state of affairs, it doesn’t seem far off, right? Colorado owns the league’s worst record and has been in rebuild mode with no escape. But for Holliday, now there are challenges beyond the farmhouse. Yahoo Sports’ Jake Mintz reported that Ethan whiffed on 37% of in-zone fastballs during last summer’s showcase, and that raised red flags. However, Jordan Shusterman did clarify that it was a temporary mechanical issue.

Still, fans are annoyed—mostly with other teams—with some pointing out that the Los Angeles Angels missed big time, given they haven’t had a true third baseman since Troy Glaus.

Well, what is done is done; it remains to see what happens next…