What They’re Saying: Ethan Holliday, Billy Carlson, Gavin Fien

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Joe Doyle

February 25, 2025

It’s February. Most high school programs haven’t yet gotten going. But states like Florida, California, Texas and some others are full-go. Guys like Seth Hernandez, Billy Carlson and Gavin Fien have been playing for several weeks. Others like Sean Gamble, Kayson Cunningham and Tate Southisene are building baseball cards too.

With that, it’s time to re-evaluate how the top prep talent in the country is looking after winter training and strength gains.

What are scouts around the country saying in these early looks? And what can film tell us about the trajectory of some of the top high school bats in the country?

Top 300 Prospects

Billy Carlson, SS — Corona HS (Calif.)

There are those in the industry who believe Carlson is the top high school player in the country and in preseason play he’s backed that up at times. The official spring season for Corona just got underway this week but they never stop playing baseball in California.

Early looks from Carlson have been encouraging. While he hasn’t put on any weight (in an attempt “to stay lean and twitchy”), he’s still flashing traits in the box that let you dream on above average raw power once fully mature. Carlson is one of the only surefire shortstops in this class and he still looks the part. The 70-grade arm strength is still present and he’s once again up into the mid-90s on the mound.

Offensively scouts have said he has a tendency to drift and get out on his front side against spin. It’s limiting his in-game power output but the hit tool and barrel accuracy remains strong.

Given where we are in the scouting cycle, Carlson is unlikely to wow scouts with his game power this year. He’ll be a projection play in the draft. He’s a rangy, hit-first shortstop who profiles into something of Dansby Swanson at the next level.

This draft seems to lack a preemptive, consensus top prep talent. Carlson, along with a few others, has a good case as anybody.

Ethan Holliday, SS/3B — Stillwater HS (OK)

Holliday won’t officially get going until March 3 but scouts have been flocking in to see a packed scrimmage schedule this preseason. It’s hard to judge a player on swings he’s getting off in frigid temperatures in controlled scrimmages, but alas.

It’s a mixed bag for Holliday in early, abbreviated looks. The arm strength continues to trend up with some scouts slapping a 70 grade on it. He’s physically capable of playing shortstop and his arm strength more than makes up for whatever lack of range presently exists.

The hands are solid-average and Holliday gobbles up everything hit at him. When he’s challenged on balls in the hole to his right and left the skills necessary to play middle infield at the next level are tested. Run times for Holliday are coming in in the 40 and 45 range, however those could improve slightly in warmer weather.

Offensively, Holliday is still showcasing the considerable bat speed that has elevated his profile for years. Given the frame, pedigree and current physicality it’s not difficult to envision a trajectory where Holliday matures into 70-grade raw power. His swing is still long and steep into the zone requiring him to catch the ball out in front.

Holliday may still have a hole at the top of the zone against better velocity because of it. This version of Holliday’s swing is far from a the final product, but it’s what he’ll bring to the field this spring.

Holliday is a polarizing player who possesses physical tools very few do. There remain questions on the hit tool going forward, but it’s a profile with two potential 70-grade tools as well as the potential to grow into Gold Glove defense at the hot corner.

Gavin Fien, SS/3B, Great Oak HS (Calif.)

Fien has been a steady riser in this class going back to last summer with Team USA where he set the world on fire. He’s arguably the most potent right-handed bat in this class with some believing he’s a future 60 hit/60 power guy. But he has things to prove as the spring moves forward.

Fien is a bat-first prospect. It’s significant bat speed and he’s got feel for the barrel that can’t be taught. It’s present game power to the pull-side and to the opposite field. Fien can bang. But he’s been pressing at times this spring in the early going.

Fien is swinging the bat a lot. He’s trying to force things to happen rather than letting the game come to him and taking what the pitcher will give him. He’s receiving a huge helping of breaking balls early on and consistently seems to find himself lunging out over his front side. It can’t be overstated that this is extremely unlike Fien. He never chased bad pitches last summer and has long shown a patient approach. The lights are a bit bright right now with the heat currently in to see him on a nightly basis.

It’s safe to assume he’ll calm down in the box as the season progresses and gets back to his roots. He’s built too robust a resume to push scouts off the profile after a few games. He still projects a Top-20 pick.

Defensively reviews are mixed. Fien is playing shortstop for Great Oak, however he’s destined for third base. He’s a bigger-framed guy who struggles with the fluid fundamental footwork necessary to play the shortstop position at the next level.

When Fien is tasked with playing third base the internal clock improves and the arm strength plays more naturally. It’s a plus arm and Fien has all the components necessary to eventually blossom into an above average glove at the hot corner.

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