MLB family ties strong among Draft prospects

Relatives of former Major Leaguers hope to be selected this week

June 7th, 2016

The sons of two current National League managers, a Hall of Famer, a 500 Home Run Club member, a 354-game winner, a former NBA big man, two top college baseball coaches and one key participant in a classic Major League Baseball moment will be among the annual long list of legacies waiting to be chosen when the 2016 MLB Draft gets started on Thursday.
Here's a look at some familiar names expected to be called in coming days:
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Mickey Moniak(OF, La Costa Canyon, Calif., HS, No. 5)
Son of former San Diego State player Matt Moniak. Grandson of Bill Moniak, who was signed to a $25,000 bonus in 1958 by the Red Sox before playing five years professionally under the hitting instruction of Ted Williams.
Matt Manning(RHP, Sheldon, Calif., HS, No. 11)
Son of former NBA player Rich Manning.
Joshua Lowe (3B, Pope HS, Atlanta area, No. 17)
Son of former pitcher David Lowe, who was drafted in the fifth round (115th overall) by Seattle in 1986 but accepted an appointment instead to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he played baseball and football. Younger brother of Mississippi State junior first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who is projected to be drafted in the first five rounds and has a team-best 49 RBIs and a .358 average entering the NCAA super regionals.
Jordan Sheffield (RHP, Vanderbilt, No. 19)
Brother of Justus Sheffield, a left-hander who was drafted by Cleveland in the first round (31st overall) in 2014 and currently pitches for the Indians' Lynchburg affiliate in the Class A Advanced Carolina League. Not related to Gary Sheffield.

Cal Quantrill(RHP, Stanford, No. 22)
Son of Paul Quantrill, a durable righty for 14 seasons in the Majors. Paul's otherwise solid work for the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series was marred by one historic moment: a two-run walk-off homer by David Ortiz that he allowed in the 12th inning of Game 4 for Boston to start "The Comeback." In fact, this will mark the second year in a row that a Yankees reliever who broke down late in that pivotal game has a son drafted, following Washington's selection last year of Mariano Rivera Jr.
Gavin Lux(SS, Indian Trail Academy, Wis., No. 33)
Nephew of Augie Schmidt, the No. 2 overall pick (by Toronto) and Golden Spikes Award winner in 1982 who is currently the head coach at NCAA Division III Carthage (Wis.).

Zack Burdi(RHP, Louisville, No. 41)
Oldest brother Drew played quarterback at Western Michigan and middle brother Nick regularly hit 100 mph with his fastball at Louisville before the Twins took him in the second round of the 2014 Draft.
Carter Kieboom (3B, Walton, Ga., HS, No. 45)
Youngest of three baseball-playing brothers, following Spencer (a catcher in the Nationals system) and Trevor (a third baseman at Georgia).
Hunter Bishop (OF, Junipero Serra, Calif., HS, No. 71)
Younger brother of Braden Bishop, the Mariners' third-round pick in 2015 and their No. 9 prospect.
Conner Capel (OF, Seven Lakes, Texas, HS, No. 73)
Son of former Major League pitcher Mike Capel, remembered most for being part of the 1983 national champion Texas Longhorns' all-drafted rotation that also included Roger Clemens, Calvin Schiraldi and Kirk Killingsworth. Conner also is committed to the 'Horns but could be his state's top prep player drafted.

Bo Bichette (2B, Lakewood, Fla., HS, No. 90)
Son of former Major League outfielder Dante Bichette and brother of Dante Bichette Jr., currently a third baseman for the Yankees' Trenton affiliate in the Double-A Eastern League.
Nick Quintana (2B/C, Arbor View, Nev., HS, No. 107)
Younger brother of Zach Quintana, currently pitching for the Danville Braves in the Rookie Appalachian League.
Tyler Fitzgerald (SS, Rochester, Ill., HS, No. 133)
Son of Mike Fitzgerald, a two-time first-round pick (in the 1983 January and '84 June secondary Drafts) who had a cup of coffee at first base for the Cardinals in 1988. (Not to be confused with the other Mike Fitzgerald, who caught and played outfield, mostly with Montreal, from 1983-92.)
Bo Weiss (RHP, Regis Jesuit, Colo., HS, No. 156)
Son of Rockies manager Walt Weiss, a 1985 first-rounder and '88 AL Rookie of the Year. Committed to North Carolina, which his dad attended.

JaVon Shelby (3B, Kentucky, No. 158)
Son of John Shelby, who played 11 years in the big leagues and is a Triple-A hitting coach in the Rockies system. Cousin of Pirates All-Star infielder Josh Harrison. Brother of John Shelby III, who starred at Kentucky, reached Triple-A and now scouts for the Brewers. Brother of Jeremy, who played briefly in the Orioles system. Younger brother Jaren is the top prep position player in Kentucky this year, though scouts think he'd be best off following the path John III and JaVon took to the Wildcats.
Kyle Serrano (RHP, Tennessee, No. 161)
He went to Tennessee to play for father Dave, who has taken two programs to the College World Series (UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton).
Grae Kessinger (SS, Oxford, Miss., HS, No. 167)
Grandson of six-time All-Star Cubs shortstop Don Kessinger. Don starred for the University of Mississippi in baseball and basketball, and Grae's father Kevin and uncle Keith (a Reds shortstop in 1993) also played for Ole Miss. Will Grae -- one of the best defensive shortstops in the 2016 Draft -- follow family tradition and fulfill his college commitment or "rebel" by going straight to the pros?

Joshua Palacios (OF, Auburn, No. 169)
Nephew of former Royals utility man Rey Palacios.
Mikey York (RHP, JC of Southern Nevada, No. 173)
Son of former Major League pitcher Mike York.
Alek Manoah (RHP, South Dade, Fla., HS, No. 198)
Younger brother of Erik Manoah, a 2013 13th-round pick by the Mets.
Cavan Biggio (IF, Notre Dame)
Son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio.
Brandon Bonilla (LHP, Hawaii Pacific)
Son of five-time All-Star Bobby Bonilla.
Levi and Luke Borders (C, OF, South Florida)
Sons of former Major Leaguer Pat Borders.
Kacy Clemens (1B, Texas)
Son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens.
Jonathan Gettys (LHP, Gainesville, Ga., HS)
Younger brother of Padres outfield prospect Michael Gettys.
Jacob Heyward (OF, Miami)
Younger brother of Cubs All-Star outfielder Jason Heyward.
Chad Hockin (RHP, Cal State Fullerton)
Grandson of Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.
Torii Hunter Jr. (IF, Notre Dame)
Son of former Major Leaguer Torii Hunter.
Ryan Lidge (C, Notre Dame)
Cousin of former Major Leaguer Brad Lidge.
Nick Lovullo (IF, Holy Cross)
Son of former Major Leaguer Torey Lovullo.
Jacob Matheny (C, Westminster Christian Academy, St. Louis)
Son of Cardinals manager and former catcher Mike Matheny. Brother of Red Sox center field prospect Tate Matheny and Oklahoma State right-hander Luke Matheny.
Preston Palmeiro (1B, North Carolina State)
Son of Rafael Palmeiro, who hit 569 homers over a 20-year Major League career.
Zach Plesac (RHP, Ball State)
Nephew of former Major Leaguer and current MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac.
Ryan Reynolds (2B, Ouachita Christian HS, Monroe, LA)
Son of former Major League pitcher Shane Reynolds.
Clate Schmidt (RHP, Clemson)
Brother of South Carolina right-hander Clarke Schmidt. They have been key parts of a fabled college baseball rivalry, but off the field they have come closer together as a family than ever, as Clate has fought to overcome non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Jaren Shelby (CF, Tates Creek HS, Lexington, Ky.)
See "JaVon Shelby" above.
Nick Shumpert (SS, San Jacinto College North)
Son of former Major Leaguer Terry Shumpert and cousin of Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts.
Donnie Walton (SS, Oklahoma State)
Son of Oklahoma State head coach Rob Walton. For now, they are savoring their final days together after four seasons with the Cowboys still alive heading into the Super Regional.
MLB Network and MLB.com will have live coverage of the first night at this Draft, covering the first 77 picks, or through Round 2, starting at 7 p.m. ET. MLB.com will provide live pick-by-pick coverage of Rounds 3-10 on Day 2, starting at 1 p.m. ET. Then rounds 11-40 can be heard live on MLB.com on Saturday, beginning at noon ET.
Prior to the start of the Draft, MLB Network and MLB.com will air a Draft preview show starting at 6 ET. Of course, the previewing already is well underway. Go to MLB.com/draft to see the Top 100 Prospects list, projected top picks from MLB.com analysts Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, the 2016 order of selection and more. Follow @MLBDraft to see what Draft hopefuls, clubs and experts are saying.