2013 Draft produces many 'familiar' names
Prospects may be unknown, but their family members are part of baseball history
Sometimes, the sport really is in the blood.
And sometimes, a player's DNA and lineage are actually important parts of his baseball makeup. It's always been a family affair when it comes to the First-Year Player Draft, and this year was not any different.
The three-day 2013 First-Year Player Draft wrapped up Saturday, but also marked the beginning of the careers of a whole new generation of players with family ties and last names that every baseball fan has come to know.
There was another Biggio (Cavan), Clemens (Kacy), Sheffield (Jordan), and another Torii Hunter (Jr.) selected this week. The list also includes a catcher from Citadel named Joe Jackson, who shares the same name as his great-great uncle. There was Luke Farrell, the son of Red Sox manager John Farrell, Josh Pettitte, the son of Yankees great Andy Pettitte, and many more.
Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, and Cody Yount, the nephew of Robin Yount, have Hall of Fame pedigrees behind them and a bright future ahead of them.
There are no stronger ties than baseball and family. Here's a look at some of the Draft-eligible players with MLB bloodlines, as well as those from other professional sports, selected in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.
Jonah Arenado (3B, El Toro HS)
Brother of Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, selected in the 16th round (492nd overall) by the Giants.
Cody Bellinger (1B, Hamilton HS)
Son of former Major League player Clay Bellinger, selected in the fourth round (124th pick overall) by the Dodgers
Michael Benjamin (3B, Arizona St.)
Son of former Major League infielder Mike Benjamin, selected in the 13th round (379th overall pick) by the Rockies.
Cavan Biggio (2B, St. Thomas HS)
Son of former Major League infielder/outfielder Craig Biggio, selected in the 29th round (871st pick overall) by the Phillies.
Hunter Brothers (RHP, Lipscomb Univ.)
Brother of Rockies pitcher Rex Brothers, selected in the 24th round (709th pick overall) by the Rockies.
Kacy Clemens (RHP, Memorial HS)
Son of former Major League pitcher Roger Clemens, selected in the 35th round (1,037th pick overall) by the Astros.
J.P. Crawford (SS, Lakewood HS) -- No. 19 on MLB.com's Top 100 Draft Prospects list
Cousin of Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford, selected in the first round (16th overall) by the Phillies
Carson Cross (RHP, Connecticut)
Son of former NBA player Jeff Cross, selected in the 24th round (719th overall pick) by the Pirates.
Cody Dent (SS, Florida)
Son of former Major League infielder Bucky Dent, selected in the 22nd round (676th pick overall) by the Nationals.
Edwin Diaz (SS, Ladislao Martinez HS)
Son of former Major League infielder Edwin Diaz, selected in the 15th round (461st overall pick) by the A's.
Ryan Eades (RHP, LSU)
Son of former Minor League player Ned Eades, selected in the second round (43rd pick) by the Twins
Luke Farrell (RHP, Northwestern)
Son of Red Sox manager John Farrell, selected in the sixth round (174th pick overall) by the Royals
Ronnie Gideon (3B, Hallsville HS)
Son of Rockies field coordinator Ron Gideon, selected in the 35th round (1,039th overall pick) by the Rockies.
Aaron Griffin (RHP, Loyola Marymount)
Brother of A's right-hander A.J. Griffin, selected in 10th round (308th overall pick) by the Rays.
Hunter Harvey (RHP, Bandys HS) -- No. 22 on MLB.com's Top 100 Draft Prospects list
Son of former Major League pitcher Bryan Harvey and brother of Minor Leaguer Kris Harvey, selected in the first round (22nd overall) by the Orioles
Blake Hennessey (SS, Arlington Country Day)
Son of Dodgers scout Scott Hennessey selected in the 19th round (574th pick overall) by the Dodgers.
Jacob Heyward (LF, Eagle's Landing Christian Academy)
Brother of Atlanta outfielder Jason Heyward, selected in the 38th round (1,153rd overall pick) by the Braves.
Torii Hunter Jr. (OF, Prosper HS)
Son of Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter Sr., selected in the 36th round (1,086th overall pick) by the Tigers.
Joe Jackson (C, Citadel)
Great-great nephew of former Major League player Joe Jackson, selected in the fifth round (160th pick overall) by the Rangers
Ricky Knapp (RHP, Florida Gulf Coast Univ.)
Son of Dodgers pitching coordinator Rick Knapp, selected in the eighth round (236th pick overall) by the Mets
Adam Law (2B, Brigham Young)
Son of former Major League outfielder Vance Law and grandson of Vern Law, selected in the 12th round (364th pick overall) by the Dodgers.
Mark Leiter Jr. (RHP, NJ Institute of Technology)
Son of former Major League pitcher Mark Leiter and nephew of former Major League pitcher Al Leiter, selected in the 22nd round (661st pick overall) by the Phillies.
Ryan Lidge (C, Barrington HS)
Cousin of former Major League pitcher Brad Lidge, selected in the 40th round (1,193rd overall pick) by the Red Sox.
Dylan Manwaring (3B, Horseheads HS)
Son of former Major League catcher Kirt Manwaring, selected in the ninth round (283rd pick overall) by the Braves
Jacob May (LF, Coastal Carolina Univ.)
Grandson of former Major League outfielder Lee May and son of Mariners hitting coordinator Lee May Jr., selected by the White Sox in the third round (91st overall)
L.J. Mazzilli (2B/SS, Connecticut)
Son of former Major League player Lee Mazzilli, selected in the fourth round (116th pick overall) by the Mets
Colin Moran (3B, UNC Chapel Hill) -- No. 6 on MLB.com's Top 100 Draft Prospects list
Brother of Mariners pitching prospect Brian Moran and nephew of former Major League outfielder B.J. Surhoff, selected in the first round (sixth overall) by the Marlins
Dillon Moyer (SS, UC San Diego)
Son of former Major League pitcher Jamie Moyer, selected in the 38th round (1,144th pick overall) by the Dodgers.
Trey Nielsen (RHP, Univ. Utah)
Son of former Major Leaguer Scott Nielsen, selected in the 30th round (905th pick overall) by the Cardinals.
Mike O'Neill (RF, Michigan)
Nephew of former Major Leaguer Paul O'Neill, selected in the third round (103rd pick overall) by the Yankees
Josh Pettitte (RHP, Deer Park HS)
Son of Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, selected in the 37th round (1,124th pick overall) by the Yankees.
Cal Quantrill (RHP, Trinity College School)
Son of former Major League pitcher Paul Quantrill, selected in the 26th round (794th pick overall) by the Yankees.
Lukas Schiraldi (RHP, Navarro College)
Son of former Major League pitcher Calvin Schiraldi, selected in the 35th round (1,066th overall pick) by the Nationals.
Travis Seabrooke (LHP, Cestwood SS)
Son of former NHL player Glen Seabrooke, selected in the fifth round (159th pick overall) by the Orioles
Justin Seager (1B, UNC Charlotte)
Brother of Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager and Dodgers Minor Leauge shortstop Corey Seager, selected by Seattle in the 12th round (357th pick overall).
Jordan Sheffield (RHP, Tullahoma HS)
Nephew of former Major League outfielder Gary Sheffield was selected in the 13th round (383rd pick overall) by the Red Sox.
Gabe Speier (LHP, Dos Pueblos HS)
Nephew of former Major League player Chris Speier, selected in the 19th round (563rd overall pick) by the Red Sox.
Ian Stiffler (RHP, Somerset Senior HS)
Grandson of former Major League player Tom Qualters, selected in the seventh round (223rd pick overall) by the Braves
Taylor Terrasas (SS, La. Tech)
Son of Mets pro scout Rudy Terrasas was selected in the 30th round (915th pick overall) by the Reds.
Riley Unroe (SS, Desert Ridge HS) -- No. 92 on MLB.com's Top 100 Draft Prospects list
Son of former Major League player Tim Unroe, selected in the second round (60th overall) by the Rays
Ben Verlander (OF, Old Dominion)
Brother of Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander selected in the 14th round (426th pick overall) by the Tigers.
Chad Wallach (C, Cal State Fullerton)
Son of former Major Leaguer and current Dodgers third-base coach Tim Wallach, selected in the fifth round (142nd pick overall) by the Marlins
Brodie Weiss (SS, Regis Jesuit HS)
Son of Rockies manager Walt Weiss, selected in the 22nd round (649th pick overall) by the Rockies.
Erich Weiss (3B, Univ. Texas)
Son of former Major League player Gary Weiss, selected in the 11th round (329th pick overall) by the Pirates.
Trey Williams (3B, College of the Canyons)
Son of former Major League infielder Ed Williams, selected in the seventh round (211th pick overall) by the Phillies
Kean Wong (C, Waiakea HS)
Brother of Cardinals No. 3 prospect Kolten Wong, selected in the fourth round (128th pick overall) by the Rays
Kyle Wren (LF, Georgia Tech)
Son of Atlanta general manager Frank Wren, selected in the eighth round (253rd pick) by the Braves
Mike Yastrzemski (RF, Vanderbilt)
Grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski was selected in the 14th round (429th pick overall) by the Orioles.
Cody Yount (OF, Virginia Commonwealth)
Son of former Major League pitcher Larry Young and nephew of Hall of Famer Robin Yount, selected in the 37th round (1,113 overall pick) by the White Sox.