PHOENIX — On Friday, Baltimore Orioles rookie Jackson Holliday achieved a remarkable milestone as he became one of the youngest players in the team’s history to record a four-hit game, all while his phone buzzed continuously in his locker.

The messages were from his younger brother, Ethan, expressing his pride.

“I didn’t even wait for the game to finish,” said 17-year-old Ethan Holliday in an interview with YSL News Sports. “It was just so awesome to see that. My brother and I were inseparable as kids. We’re best friends, and I connect with him frequently during the week. That connection will always be there.”

While 20-year-old Jackson Holliday, the top draft pick in 2022, made history as the youngest Orioles player to hit four time since Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson in 1957, Ethan was about 2,200 miles away in Phoenix, participating in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

This summer has been a whirlwind for Ethan, taking him to various locations including Panama, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Texas, San Diego, Atlanta, Kansas City, and Boston for baseball showcases.

The entire Holliday family, led by Matt Holliday, a former seven-time All-Star and World Series champion, along with his wife, Leslee, have spent their summer traveling with their younger children, Gracyn, 14, and Reed, 11, enjoying a summer filled with baseball between Jackson and Ethan.

“Our travel schedule has been quite hectic,” Matt said. “But honestly, we love watching baseball.”

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This is truly a baseball-focused family. Matt’s father, Tom Holliday, coached at Oklahoma State for 25 years, and his brother, Josh, is currently the head coach there. Matt’s uncle, Dave, works as a scout for the Philadelphia Phillies, and he has a cousin, Heath, who also played for OSU.

It might even be a contemporary version of the famous Alou family, who had brothers Felipe, Matty, and Jesus all playing in Major League Baseball together.

“Now,” Ethan remarked, “that would definitely be awesome. My younger brother is incredibly talented.”

At 6-foot-4 and weighing 195 pounds, scouts believe Ethan has the potential to outshine the rest of his family. He has the physical attributes, competitive spirit, and passion to potentially become a regular star in the league.

He is widely viewed as the top prospect for the 2025 amateur draft; if selected as the first pick, the Holliday brothers would join Peyton and Eli Manning as the only brothers in American professional sports history to both have been drafted as No. 1 overall.

“People notice his size and physical skills,” Matt Holliday mentioned. “He has recorded an exit velocity of 111 mph and demonstrates a tremendous throwing arm. These tangible skills show he is even further advanced than Jackson was at that age.”

“They do have their differences, but it isn’t fair to judge them against each other. They’re both incredibly talented baseball players who fully support one another.”

When asked, Jackson, who is 4 inches shorter than Ethan, would say that Ethan is destined to be the best in the family. In contrast, Ethan acknowledges his father’s greatness and feels honored to be compared to his brother.

“However, I don’t think anyone can outdo our dad when it comes to competitiveness,” Ethan stated. “My dad is the most competitive person I know. Whatever it is, he wants to win. It’s wild. Right now, he is really into playing pickleball, and the whole family plays it.”

Jered Goodwin, Vice President of Scouting for Perfect Game, also hates to make direct comparisons. He has been observing Ethan’s progress since he was only 13 and admires his maturity and composure, recognizing his boundless potential.

“He performs a lot of the same things Jackson did but with greater physicality. He’s a large individual, much like Matt. He exhibits fluidity, grace, and has a fantastic swing. He has the tools to be a standout big shortstop with substantial power at the top level.”

For Ethan, who balances online schooling with Stillwater (OK) High School, the toughest aspect of being a Holliday is addressing the ongoing comparisons and high expectations. He is expected to excel simply because of his family legacy. As Jackson’s younger brother, anticipations run even higher. With a seven-time All-Star dad, there’s an expectation to become an MVP.

“They are under immense scrutiny,” Goodwin noted. “The expectations can be unreal occasionally. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by unfair standards.”

Ethan is well aware of the excitement surrounding his family name. He knows he has experienced advantages that many of his peers haven’t had. After all, who else gets to enjoy the St. Louis Cardinals clubhouse during the World Series and celebrate David Freese’s winning home run in 2011? Who else gets to spend time with Aaron Judge?

However, observing how Jackson managed similar situations as he grew up has taught Ethan to welcome the pressure. He makes an effort to block out social media gossip and ignore taunts from opponents or their parents. As a regular 17-year-old who loves baseball, he simply wishes to enjoy his last year as a high school student before considering turning pro or choosing Oklahoma State for college.

“There are times when The pressure can be overwhelming,” Ethan states. “There’s certainly pressure and expectations. At these events, people sometimes try to plant doubts in your mind. But you need to learn to handle it.”

“You get accustomed to it. Growing up with my dad, when things weren’t going well, it was tough to manage the pressure. It can feel quite isolating. But I choose to focus on the game, enjoy playing it, and the company of those around me. This won’t last forever. One day, it’ll all be over.”

Undoubtedly, it’s much more challenging compared to what his father faced as a seventh-round draft selection by the Colorado Rockies in 1998 from Stillwater.

“Not at all close,” says Matt Holliday. “The situation is completely different now. We didn’t deal with social media, cell phones, or summer tournaments. Nowadays, with social media and the extensive coverage of high school players and prospects, there’s a lot more focus on them. Everyone is aware of who he is, and with Jackson’s success, it’s only intensified.”

“Ethan faces so much more pressure, not only because of my career but also being compared to Jackson.”

Matt Holliday, who called it quits after the 2018 season, was set to become bench coach for the St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol in November 2022. However, he recognized his family needed him more. Just two months later, he decided to withdraw from the position. His sons required his presence more than the Cardinals did.

“It felt like a great opportunity at first, but as it approached, I realized the time commitment involved,” explains Matt Holliday. “Even though I wanted it to work out, I didn’t want to regret missing out on important moments with my boys. I was trying to discover the right balance between staying involved in the game and having the freedom to support them with baseball, watch them play, and travel.”

“In the end, family is what matters most. I don’t know what the ideal situation is, but I can’t imagine a day when I won’t be watching them play baseball.”

This weekend, while Jackson created history in Baltimore, the entire family gathered in Phoenix. Ethan was at a downtown hotel with fellow Perfect Game players, while the rest of his family relaxed 20 minutes away at a resort featuring luxurious swimming pools, trying to beat the 106-degree heat.

“Having my family around throughout this experience has been truly special,” Ethan shared. “I get to play baseball and make lifelong friends while my family is right there cheering me on. Meanwhile, we often find ourselves on our phones or iPads watching Jackson’s accomplishments.”

“This whole experience has been a blessing for all of us.”

Around the Basepaths

– The Toronto Blue Jays are likely to consider trade offers this winter for shortstop Bo Bichette, who has stated he does not wish to remain in Toronto once he becomes a free agent after the 2025 season.

First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also becomes a free agent after the 2025 season, but the Blue Jays are eager to sign him before he reaches free agency.

– Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet, who has been struggling since the All-Star break (0-3, 8.78 ERA) until a recent start on Friday, is drawing attention from teams scouting for a potential trade this winter. In his last appearance, Crochet impressed by striking out nine batters over four innings, having thrown 43 of his 55 pitches for strikes.

The White Sox still plan to trade Crochet over the offseason, and they are also looking to move center fielder Luis Robert Jr., who recently hit two home runs after struggling with a 5-for-46 slump.

– Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who was expected to be available for teams this winter, may now consider staying in Japan for an additional season, according to several club executives. It appears he has not been the dominant pitcher he once was this year, sporting a 6-3 record with a 2.20 ERA but struggling with control, achieving a career-low 4.10 strikeouts to walks ratio. He has struck out 82 while walking 20 in just 69 ⅔ innings, allowing 52 hits.

– The Pittsburgh Pirates’ sharp decline out of the NL wild-card race may put manager Derek Shelton’s job at risk, or at least prompt changes among his coaching staff.

– While the White Sox have publicly stated their intention to seek an external candidate for manager after the season – with Marlins’ Skip Schumaker as the frontrunner – it is privately indicated that interim manager Grady Sizemore will also be considered depending on the team’s performance in the closing six weeks of the season.

– Giants ace Blake Snell, who struggled in the first half of the season, will exercise his opt-out clause after achieving a 2.08 ERA with 63 strikeouts and a no-hitter over his last eight starts. Snell is not expected to wait until spring training to sign this time.

– Relief pitcher Michael Kopech has emerged as a major asset for the Los Angeles Dodgers after being acquired from the White Sox. He was practically a throw-in in a three-team deal for utility infielder Tommy Edman from St. Louis, during which he had a 2-8 record with a 4.74 ERA across 43 games.

Kopech has been outstanding with the Dodgers, having faced 27 batters and retiring 25 of them, allowing just one hit, one walk, and striking out 13. He is already becoming one of their closers within two weeks of joining the team.

– The Miami Marlins have laid off 12 amateur scouts, along with four field coordinators and two assistant general managers. They are expected to start reducing their pro scouting staff as well. Many teams have already pulled their professional scouts off the road, and some veteran scouts suggest that this could lead to the end of pro scouting in about five years.

– Scouts are expressing concern over the fact that only 10 Dominican players are ranked among the top 100 in MLB Pipeline’s latest rankings, suggesting that the elimination of short-season leagues has harmed player development.

– Injury updates will follow shortly.

Of the week: Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo shared with NJ.com that a factor in his disappointing season is an allergy to his batting gloves.

– Giants third baseman Matt Chapman is likely to opt out of his contract after the season, as he believes he can secure a better deal than his current $17 million for 2025, $18 million for 2026, and a mutual $20 million option for 2027.

Chapman is enjoying his best season since 2019 and wishes to remain in San Francisco, with the Giants set to discuss a contract extension with him.

– The Orioles made a surprising move by paying $13 million to veteran Craig Kimbrel to be their closer, but now they face a decision about how to utilize him in the postseason within the next six weeks.

Kimbrel last secured a save for the Orioles on July 7, boasting a 2.10 ERA. However, in his subsequent 10 appearances, he has struggled with a 10.24 ERA and a 2.38 WHIP:

In 9⅔ innings, he allowed 11 hits, 13 runs (11 earned), 12 walks, and struck out 11 batters while giving up 4 home runs.

– Interested in parity?

This marks the first time in 33 years that no team has a winning percentage of .600 or higher this late in the season, and it’s possible that no team will achieve 95 or more wins for the first time since 1959.

– Shohei Ohtani is on track to potentially reach the 40-40 club with the fewest games played in history.

He currently has 37 home runs and 35 stolen bases after the Dodgers’ 120 games leading up to Saturday.

The fastest player to join the 40-40 club was Alfonso Soriano in 2006, doing so in the Nationals’ 148^th game.

– Congratulations to former pitcher Miguel Batista, who graduated this week with a Master’s degree in criminal procedure law.

– No team has experienced a turnaround quite like the Houston Astros this season. They were down by 10 games in the standings on June 17, leaving many wondering if they would start trading their star players. Instead, the Astros surged to take the lead in the AL West and are on the verge of their eighth consecutive ALCS. Remarkably, they have done this without All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who has been sidelined for three months due to a bruised shin, and there’s still no timeline for his return.

Their pitching staff, despite numerous injuries, has played a key role in their success, boasting the second-lowest ERA in MLB since June 1, and they will soon welcome back three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander.

This remarkable comeback brings to mind 2005 when they started 19-32, leading Houston Chronicle to feature a tombstone reading, “RIP Astros season: April 5, 2005 – June 1, 2005.”

That year, the Astros turned it around with a 41-16 record through June and July, eventually making it to the World Series.

– Credit to 44-year-old Rich Hill, who signed a minor-league deal to return to the Boston Red Sox for the fourth time after spending the summer coaching his son’s Little League team.

– It’s surprising that the Milwaukee Brewers hold the largest division lead in baseball at 10 games as of Saturday, considering the numerous injuries they’ve faced this season after trading Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes last winter.

– The best celebration of the week: Gabby Sanchez, wife of Minnesota Twins catcher Christian Vazquez, who arranged for a seven-piece Puerto Rican band to perform in the clubhouse to honor his 10 years in Major League Baseball. She also brought his parents from Puerto Rico to join the celebration.

“It was a very, very special day,” Vazquez expressed to reporters. “It’s been a long journey with many bumps, but we made it.”

– David Hamilton and Jarren Duran are just one stolen base away from being the first Red Sox teammates since 1910 to each steal 30 or more bases in the same season, following the footsteps of Harry Hooper (40) and Tris Speaker (35).

– Do you remember when the Cleveland Guardians were open to trading closer Emmanuel Clase last winter?

Well, he’s now the MVP of their team, leading all of baseball with 37 saves and posting an impressive 0.64 ERA. He has been successful in all of his last 24 save opportunities and became the first Guardians pitcher since Jose Mesa in 1995 to save games on four consecutive days.

– While Ohtani may be recovering well from his Tommy John surgery, any thoughts of him pitching for the Dodgers this season are off the table. Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes has made it clear that it’s not going to happen.

– It was 20 months ago when the Oakland A’s traded their star catcher, Sean Murphy, to Atlanta for five top prospects.

This trade has turned out to be a massive failure.

The A’s recently designated reliever Kyle Muller, one of the key players from that deal, for assignment. Other players from the trade included injured outfielder Esteury Ruiz at Triple-A, right-hander Freddy Tarnok being designated for assignment, catcher Manny Pina released after only four games, and minor-league reliever Royber Salinas, who has a 9.95 ERA at Triple-A and is shut down for the season.

Additionally, the A’s acquired All-Star catcher William Contreras from Atlanta, only to trade him to Milwaukee for Ruiz in a three-team trade.

– The Yankees were open to trading prized outfield prospect Spencer Jones for pitching help at the trade deadline, according to several teams, but negotiations fell through due to Jones’ poor performance this year.

– Texas Rangers GM Chris Young, who is still awaiting a new contract from ownership after winning the World Series last year, has stated they do not plan to designate any players on expiring contracts for assignment to save money, unlike the Angels did a year ago to stay below the luxury tax threshold. Teams in contention would surely be interested in claiming players like Nate Eovaldi and relievers Kirby Yates, David Robertson, and Jose Leclerc.

– The Dodgers, who have ruled the NL West for the past 11 years, winning the division by 16 games last year and 22 games in 2022, now find themselves in a tight race with the Padres and Diamondbacks, who are just three games behind them.

“I’d be lying if I told you no one is keeping an eye on the scoreboard, appreciating how well the other teams in our division are performing,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “This puts pressure on us to play effective baseball.”

It’s been since 2009 that the NL West had three teams finish within seven games of each other.

– Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is just one stolen base away from becoming only the seventh shortstop in history to achieve 60 stolen bases. He’s on track for a total of 81 stolen bases this season, a feat achieved only by Maury Wills among shortstops.

– It seems unfathomable that the Mariners have lost five games this season while their pitching staff allowed five or fewer hits.

– If the White Sox season isn’t already embarrassing enough, they will have no higher than the 10^th pick in the 2025 amateur draft since they can expect a lottery pick in consecutive years as a team that does not receive revenue sharing.

– The Dodgers have dealt with more pitching injuries than any other team this year, with 11 starting pitchers placed on the IL so far this season, and Tyler Glasnow making his second trip to the IL this weekend.

– The backlash against the Astros for trading too much to get Yusei Kikuchi at the deadline seems to have faded.

Kikuchi has proven to be a valuable addition, boasting a record of 2-0 and an ERA of 2.70, along with 24 strikeouts in 16 and 2/3 innings across three starts since joining from Toronto.

– Mariners outfielder Victor Robles has experienced an incredible transformation; he was let go by the Washington Nationals on June 1 after struggling with a .120 average and .401 OPS, and just over two months later, he secured a two-year contract extension worth $9.75 million.

– The San Diego Padres are optimistic that Yu Darvish will make a comeback this season from the restricted list, which would significantly enhance their chances of winning the franchise’s first World Series title.

– The lowest batting average for a player winning the National League batting title is .313, achieved by Tony Gwynn in 1988.

Currently, Padres infielder Luis Arraez, a two-time batting champion, leads the NL with a .308 average.

Atlanta’s designated hitter Marcell Ozuna is the only other NL hitter above .300, currently at .302.

– Among all pitchers traded at the deadline, Zach Eflin from the Orioles has been the most effective. He holds a perfect 4-0 record and a 2.13 ERA since being traded from Tampa Bay, making history as the first Orioles pitcher to have at least 25 strikeouts with two or fewer walks in his initial four starts with the team.

– The Padres have certainly caught the eye of team owners everywhere. They reduced their payroll by $90 million during the winter and now find themselves in the World Series race, outperforming nearly everyone.

After trading Juan Soto, allowing Cy Young award winner Blake Snell and All-Star closer Josh Hader to depart, and parting ways with veteran starters Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Nick Martinez, they are now only three games behind the Dodgers.

– The Toronto Blue Jays may be looking to call up first baseman Joey Votto to the majors soon, especially with a three-game series against his old team, the Cincinnati Reds, starting on Monday.

Votto has struggled this season, hitting only .180 with two home runs in 29 minor-league games.

– The Oldtime Baseball Game, a charity event in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will pay tribute to the late Jim Caple on August 22.

A talented baseball writer who contributed to ESPN, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Caple passed away at the age of 61 after battling ALS and dementia.

– Congratulations to Atlanta’s veteran pitcher Charlie Morton for achieving his 2,000^th strikeout in what is likely his final season.

– Former manager Clint Hurdle will host the 4^th annual Pathfinder Village Baseball Clinic at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York, on August 27 for adults with special needs.