Ethan Holliday Makes History as Adidas’ First NIL Baseball Athlete
Last Updated on January 30, 2025
Adidas has signed high school baseball phenom Ethan Holliday to a name, image, and likeness deal, marking the company’s first such partnership in the sport. Holliday, a standout infielder at Stillwater High School in Oklahoma, is widely projected as the No. 1 overall pick in this summer’s MLB Draft.
“Signing with Adidas was a no-brainer,” Holliday said in a press release. “Seeing my brother sign with Adidas as a young player was special for our family, so to now have this opportunity myself is incredible. I’m honored and thankful, and I truly believe working with Adidas will help me take my game to the next level and reach the goals I’ve set for myself.”
As part of the agreement, Holliday will debut the latest version of the ADIZERO Edge+ cleat, showcasing Adidas’s commitment to innovation and precision in baseball footwear.
The Holliday Baseball Lineage
This partnership mirrors Adidas’s earlier collaboration with Ethan’s older brother, Jackson Holliday, who signed with the brand in 2022 before being selected first overall by the Baltimore Orioles in 2024. Both brothers are sons of seven-time MLB All-Star Matt Holliday.
“Ethan is far ahead of where Jackson was at a similar time as a high schooler,” Jonathan Mayo wrote in a 2023 MLB comparison of the Holliday brothers. “After an uneven summer before his senior year, Jackson was thought more of as a potential first rounder. It wasn’t until his senior season that he jumped to the top of the Draft. But Ethan is generally considered to already be the top prospect in the Class of 2025. They are different players.”
While it may be unfair to compare the brothers who are such different players, the competition only encourages the two, as they remain each other’s biggest fans.
Ethan Holliday’s exceptional talent has been evident throughout his high school career. In 2022, he was a key member of the United States national baseball team that clinched the U-15 Baseball World Cup, where he was honored as the tournament’s top shortstop.
“He’s got 111-mph exit velocity with the bat, he’s got an incredible strong arm, and just some of the tangible things at a young age that he was further along than Jackson was,” Ethan’s father, Matt Holliday, commented.
His commitment to Oklahoma State University, under the guidance and coaching of his uncle, Josh Holliday, further emphasizes his dedication to raising his competition levels in the sport.
Adidas’s decision to partner with Holliday not only highlights his prowess but also signifies the more recent shift in the sports industry, recognizing and nurturing younger talent through NIL agreements. As the first high school baseball player to secure such a deal with Adidas, Holliday is on track to make a significant impact both on and off the field.
Holliday’s Path to MLB Stardom
With the 2025 MLB draft on the horizon, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound 17-year-old will continue to play this season for Stillwater High School. All eyes will be on Ethan for his last high school season as he continues to develop his game and uphold his family’s storied baseball legacy. However, there is very little chance that Holliday will continue on his path to playing in the NCAA as the top-ranked draft prospect for the 2025 Class.
If Ethan is drafted as the No. 1 pick this summer, history would be made. It would mark the first time that a pair of brothers were both selected as the No. 1 top pick in the MLB draft. The Holliday brothers would then join Peyton and Eli Manning as the only other pair of brothers to each be drafted No. 1 overall in American professional sports history.
With his historic Adidas NIL deal and a family legacy of baseball excellence, he will soon face a pivotal decision—honor his commitment to the Oklahoma State Cowboys and play under his uncle, or take the leap into professional baseball. Either way, this season will be a must-watch as Holliday cements his place as one of the most exciting prospects in the sport.
