'25 Draft prospects -- including another Holliday -- show out in High School HRD

July 13th, 2024

ARLINGTON -- Josiah Hartshorn had never previously batted left-handed in an official home run hitting contest. As for Jacob Parker, he felt a sense of familiarity as he displayed his powerful swing inside the home of his beloved Rangers.

Both 2025 Draft prospects looked quite comfortable as they emerged as the finalists of the 2024 All-Star High School Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field on Saturday morning. They will compete for the title during Monday night’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).

“I’ve never really competed in a home run derby this big, in a big league stadium and with big league balls,” Parker said. “I got to hit it pretty far.”

Eight players had two rounds to hit as many homers as possible. Parker, out of Mississippi's Purvis High School, hit 13 in the two-minute, 30-second first round and 11 more in the 90-second second round, while Hartshorn, out of California's Orange Lutheran, hit 11 in the first and 12 in the second, narrowly edging Ethan Holliday, who totaled 20.

“It was just great playing against the guys that I love playing against,” Hartshorn said. “So, it was really fun.”

Here's a look at each participant's totals:

Round 1 - 2 minutes, 30 seconds
Brady Ebel - 6
Jacob Parker - 13
Xavier Neyens - 8
Evan Hankins - 2
Josiah Hartshorn - 11
Quentin Young - 11
Ethan Holliday - 11
Sebastian Norman - 7

Round 2 - 1 minute, 30 seconds
Brady Ebel - 8
Jacob Parker - 11
Xavier Neyens - 9
Evan Hankins - 5
Josiah Hartshorn - 12
Quentin Young - 2
Ethan Holliday - 9
Sebastian Norman - 5

There were some familiar baseball names in this competition. Ebel is the son of Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel. Young is the nephew of former Major Leaguers Dmitri and Delmon Young. Holliday’s father, Matt Holliday, was a longtime big leaguer and his older brother Jackson currently ranks as MLB’s No. 1 prospect.

“I remember the [2015] Cincinnati All-Star Game,” Holliday said. “My dad wasn’t in [the Derby], but he was an All-Star, so we were there front and center to watch Joc Pederson and Todd Frazier. That was pretty special. This felt a little big like that.”

Parker and Holliday both drilled a couple 440-plus-foot homers. Hartshorn’s value has soared as he has shown his abilities from the left side of the plate. He was injured batting right-handed this year. So, he has spent the past two months focusing on his left-handed hitting skills.

“I’ve been hitting lefty for about two months,” Hartshorn said. “I didn’t really have a choice which side to hit from [in the Derby]. But I still wanted to come and see what I could do.”

Parker had the support of many friends and family members who made the six-hour drive from his native Mississippi. The Mississippi State recruit had been in the building a few times to watch the Rangers.

Now, he’ll get a chance to return Monday to compete and stand alongside MLB’s All-Stars.

“It’s awesome,” Parker said. “I’m just glad to do it in front of all the fans and be with the MLB guys.”

More on the participants:

Brady Ebel, SS, Corona HS (Calif.)
The son of Dodgers’ third-base coach Dino Ebel, Brady is a 6-foot-3 left-handed-hitting infielder with one of the prettier swings in the class, clearly having benefited from hanging around the Dodgers’ hitting program. The LSU commit is part of a stacked Corona team that won USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational this past spring.

Evan Hankins, 1B/LHP, Miller School of Albemarle (Va.)
A legitimate two-way player who can crank his fastball up into the low 90s, Hankins’ true calling card is his raw power from the left side of the plate. The Tennessee recruit just transferred to a bigger school in Charlottesville to face better competition next spring.

Josiah Hartshorn, OF, Orange Lutheran High School (Calif.)
After a huge summer last year, Hartshorn struggled a bit this past spring because of injuries, though he did have a big opposite-field double to put Orange Lutheran ahead in its first NHSI game in March. When he’s healthy, he shows the potential to hit for both average and power, and the Derby could be a way for the Texas A&M recruit to put his name on the map.

Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater High School (Okla.)
Some think Holliday has the chance to be better than his older brother, Jackson, who is currently ranked as MLB's No. 1 prospect. Ethan has gotten taller and added even more strength, showing more physicality than some players in the upper levels of the Minors. Committed to Oklahoma State, his ability to hit for average and power comes with ease, with many evaluators thinking he is the top overall player in the 2025 Draft class.

Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon High School (Wash.)
The top player in the Pacific Northwest, Neyens has had one of the best summers so far of any prepster in the 2025 class. He’s hit for power everywhere he’s been and reminds some of a left-handed-hitting Austin Riley. The Oregon State recruit is also up to 95 mph off the mound.

Sebastian Norman, 3B, Glendale High School (Mo.)
Norman is built like a linebacker -- strong, physical and athletic. He’s an explosive athlete who is still learning how to tap in his power. The Oklahoma State recruit might be a bit raw, but his power can match up with anyone in this group.

Jacob Parker, OF/3B, Purvis High School (Miss.)
Parker’s twin brother, JoJo, is also a solid prospect. Jacob has easy loft to his left-handed swing and the power plays. His strong performance on the summer showcase circuit has really put the Mississippi State recruit on the map.

Quentin Young, 3B/OF, Oaks Christian HS (Calif.)
Young has a strong MLB lineage as the nephew of Dmitri and Delmon Young and was originally slated to be in the Class of 2026 before he reclassified. His defensive home is a little unclear, but that matters not in a Home Run Derby. And the Breakthrough Series participant’s calling card is his power.