Jackson Holliday's mother pens emotional message for his brother Ethan ahead of big MLB moment

The Baltimore Orioles selected Jackson Holliday with the first pick in the 2022 MLB draft. His younger brother, Ethan, is set to follow in his footsteps in the upcoming 2025 MLB draft, as multiple sources predict Ethan will be selected as number one by the Washington Nationals.

The 2025 MLB draft is just a month away, on July 13-14. With the big day inching closer, the Holliday brothers' mom, Leslee, penned a heartwarming message on Instagram on Tuesday.

"I tend to stuff emotions and keep moving. Here we are in June and Ethan’s graduation has finally caught up with me. It is impossible to come up with great words to capture what the last 18 years have been like for our family with you in the house," Holliday's mom wrote.

The Holliday matriarch cited a verse from American singer Luke Combs' song 'Plant a Seed,' showing her faith in god to guide her son.

"Ethan- I am grateful and overwhelmed by Gods grace that I get to be your mom. You are an absolute joy- I am excited to see your story unfold," she added.

The post also featured a video montage of Ethan and pictures from when he was a toddler growing into an adult.

Jackson Holliday's brother, sister, and more react to the post

In addition to Jackson and Ethan, Cardinals legend Matt Holliday and his wife Leslee have two more kids; a daughter, Gracyn Ivy, and the youngest, Reed. Jackson Holliday's wife, Chloe, and Ethan's girlfriend, Mary O'Neil, are also part of the family.

Soon after Leslee penned the emotional message for Ethan, many family members reacted in the comments.

"Emotional post out of you," Gracy Ivy wrote.

"❤," - Jackson Holliday's wife, Chloe, commented.

"Love you❤️❤️❤️," Ethan wrote.

Spouses of MLB players also reacted to the post.

"K didn’t needa cry today but here i am. Love you momma you are an inspiration to us all. 👏👏👏," said Lexi, the wife of Philadelphia Phillies catcher JT Realmuto.

Caroline, the wife of former Orioles All-Star John Means, commented:

"So sweet!!!!!!"

Screenshot of comments [Image Source: Instagram/lesleesmithholliday]

.Whether the Nationals will pick Ethan as the first pick remains to be seen. If not, he will likely be picked fourth by the Colorado Rockies, where his father began his MLB career. If he is picked number one, Ethan and Jackson will become the first brothers to do so in the MLB.

About the author

Safeer M S is a baseball journalist at Sportskeeda, having delved into the sport professionally since 2024. His journey into baseball was sparked by Shohei Ohtani’s remarkable MLB performances, which ignited his passion for the game. Safeer’s enthusiasm for fantasy baseball further fueled his engagement with the sport.

Safeer supports baseball stars like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Aaron Judge, with Shohei Ohtani's dual-threat dominance being his most memorable baseball moment. He admires Willie Mays for his athleticism and historic achievements in pinch-hitting and stealing bases.

In addition to his baseball expertise, Safeer is deeply passionate about combat sports, which he has been reporting on since 2022. His journey into combat sports began with Karate lessons in school, followed by boxing training. Films like Rocky 4, Never Back Down, and Warrior inspired his love for MMA, and witnessing Demetrious Johnson's victory over Kyoji Horiguchi solidified his commitment to the sport.

When not immersed in sports, Safeer enjoys playing football, working out, and watching anime or thriller movies.

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Edited by Chaitanya Prakash