It's all relative: Sons of Ripken, Mariano drafted

NEW YORK -- A number of familiar names were called this weekend at the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, where the next generation of some of the more legendary baseball families was on full display.

The first two days had their share of draftees with Major League ties, but the final day of the Draft contained the selections with possibly the most recognizable baseball names of the weekend. Ryan Ripken, the son of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, was drafted in the 15th round by the Nationals, and Mariano Rivera Jr., the son of all-time saves leader Mariano Rivera, was selected by his father's former team, the Yankees, in the 29th round.

Two years ago, the Orioles drafted the younger Ripken in the 20th round, but he instead opted to honor his commitment to the University of South Carolina. On Saturday, it was Baltimore's Battle of the Beltways rivals, the Washington Nationals, that selected Ripken's son -- and it came five rounds earlier this time around.

Ripken, a left-handed first baseman, ultimately transferred from South Carolina to Indian River State College after not making the Gamecocks' 35-man roster as a freshman. He hit .321 with a home run and 24 RBIs for the Pioneers this season before the Nats called his name -- one of the most recognizable in this year's Draft.

As for Rivera Jr., the junior right-hander out of Iona was taken 872nd overall by the team with which his father spent his entire 19-year career before retiring this past offseason.

Another name that might ring a bell for fans is Bonilla -- as in 25th-round pick Brandon Bonilla, the son of six-time All-Star Bobby Bonilla and godson of seven-time MVP Barry Bonds. Brandon, a left-handed pitcher out of Grand Canyon University, was drafted by Ripken Jr.s' former Orioles team with the 751st overall pick.

Ripken and Bonilla were just two of many ballplayers drafted this weekend who already have Major League ties. Prior to Ripken being taken off the board on Saturday, the Phillies selected shortstop Drew Stankiewicz, the son of former Major Leaguer Andy Stankiewicz, in the 11th round, and the D-backs drafted first baseman Kevin Cron in the 14th round. Cron is the son of former big leaguer and current D-backs Minor League hitting coordinator Chris Cron and the brother of Angels designated hitter C.J. Cron.

As is the case with any other year, the 2014 Draft class boasts a number of ballplayers with Major League roots. In addition to those selected on Saturday, a batch of familiar names was also taken in the first 10 rounds on Thursday and Friday.

Nick Gordon, the fifth overall pick, is the younger brother of Dodgers second baseman Dee and the son of former Major Leaguer Tom, while the 20th overall pick, Casey Gillaspie, is the brother of White Sox infielder Conor. A pair of other first-round picks, right-hander Aaron Nola (seventh overall) and outfielder Bradley Zimmer (21st overall), will join their older brothers in the Minor Leagues. Zimmer's older brother, Kyle, is the Royals' No. 1 overall prospect.

The Indians' second-round pick, Grant Hockin, also has history on his side. The right-hander is the grandson of Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.

Here's a look at some of the more prominent players selected in the Draft with family ties to the big leagues:

Max Bartlett (SS, Gulf Coast CC)
Son of Indians area supervisor Chuck Bartlett, selected in the 36th round (1,088th overall) by the Indians.

Evan Beal (RHP, South Carolina)
Brother of current Minor Leaguer Jesse Beal, selected in the 21st round (633rd overall) by the Royals.

Cody Blueburg (RHP, Nevada)
Son of scout Jim Blueburg, selected in the 24th round (717th overall) by the Padres.

Cliff Brantley (OF, Adelphi)
Son of former big league pitcher Cliff Brantley, selected in the 19th round (564th overall) by the Blue Jays.

Hunter Brothers (RHP, Lipscomb)
Brother of Rockies reliever Rex Brothers, selected in the 30th round (893rd overall) by the Rockies.

Hunter Bross (CF, Notre Dame HS)
Son of former Major League pitcher Terry Bross, selected in the 34th round (1,029th overall) by the Dodgers.

Logan Browning (LHP, Lakeland Christian HS)
Son of former Major League All-Star pitcher Tim Browning, selected in the 36th round (1,085th overall) by the Reds.

Robert Byckowski (3B, Blythe Academy)
Son of Reds crosschecker Bill Byckowski, selected in the 22nd round (664th overall) by the Reds.

Grayson Byrd (SS, King's Ridge Christian School)
Son of former All-Star pitcher Paul Byrd, selected in the 39th round (1,183rd overall) by the Braves.

Elliot Cary (OF, Clackamas HS)
Son of former Major League pitcher Chuck Cary, selected in the 32nd round (964th overall) by the Nationals.

Garret Christman (SS, Noblesville HS)
Son of Giants scout Kevin Christman, selected in the 37th round (1,108th overall) by the Giants.

Jake Cosart (RHP, Seminole State Community College)
Brother of Astros right-hander Jarred Cosart, selected in the third round (103rd overall) by the Red Sox.

Luke Dykstra (SS, Westlake HS)
Son of former All-Star outfielder Lenny Dykstra, selected in the seventh round (223rd overall) by the Braves.

Michael Fitzgerald (C, Indiana St)
Son of former Major League first baseman Mike Fitzgerald, selected in the 27th round (807th overall) by the Padres.

Tom Flacco (OF, Eastern HS)
Brother of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and former Minor Leaguer Mike Flacco, selected in the 32nd round (952nd overall) by the Phillies.

Diego Francisco (2B, Beach Central HS)
Son of Royals assistant to the general manager for international operations Rene Francisco, selected in the 40th round (1,203 overall) by the Royals.

J.J. Franco (2B, Brown)
Son of four-time All-Star pitcher John Franco, selected in the 38th round (1,153rd overall) by the Braves.

Juan Gomes (C, Odessa)
Brother of Indians catcher Yan Gomes, selected in the 37th round (1,118th overall) by the Indians.

Dalton Guthrie (SS, Venice HS)
Son of former Major League pitcher Mark Guthrie, selected in the 40th round (1,190th overall) by the Twins.

Scott Heineman (OF, Oregon)
Brother of current Minor Leaguer Tyler Heineman, selected in the 19th round (573rd overall) by the Royals.

Derek Hill (CF, Elk Grove HS)
Son of Dodgers scout Orsino Hill, selected in the first round (23rd overall) by the Tigers.

Dave Hollins (3B, Orchard Park HS)
Son of former Major League third baseman Dave Hollins, selected in the 35th round (1,060th overall) by the Tigers.

DJ Jauss (RHP, Massachusetts-Amherst)
Son of Pirates Major League coach Dave Jauss, selected in the 29th round (874th overall) by the Nationals.

Cobi Johnson (RHP, JW Mitchell HS)
Son of former Major Leaguer and current Blue Jays roving pitching coordinator Dane Johnson, selected in the 35th round (1,047th overall) by the Padres.

Dominic Jose (OF, Stanford)
Son of former All-Star outfielder Felix Jose, selected in the 24th round (722nd overall) by the Yankees.

Mitch Keller (RHP, Xavier HS)
Brother of Minor Leaguer Jon Keller, selected in the second round (64th overall) by the Pirates.

Brandon Leibrandt (LHP, Florida State)
Son of former Major League pitcher Charlie Leibrandt, selected in the sixth round (172nd overall) by the Phillies.

James Lynch (OF, Pima CC)
Son of former Major League pitcher and current Blue Jays scout Ed Lynch, selected in the 39th round (1,164th overall) by the Blue Jays.

Patrick Mahomes (RHP, Whitehouse HS)
Son of former Major League pitcher Pat Mahomes, selected in the 37th round (1,120th overall) by the Tigers.

Montrell Marshall (3B, South Gwinnett HS)
Cousin of three-time All-Star Brandon Phillips, selected in the 12th round (365th overall) by the Reds.

Derek Miller (OF, Texas-Arlington)
Son of Rangers executive vice president of enterprises Jay Miller, selected in the 23rd round (704th overall) by the Red Sox.

Mitch Morales (SS, Florida Atlantic)
Son of Nationals crosschecker Alex Morales, selected in the 29th round (867th overall) by the Padres.

Jay Muhammad (RHP, Coral Springs Christian Academy)
Brother of current Minor League pitcher El'Hajj Muhammad, selected in the 11th round (321st overall) by the Mariners.

Richard Negron (3B, Tallahassee CC)
Son of Ray Negron, special consultant for the Yankees and a former Minor League shortstop, selected in the 39th round (1,167th overall) by the Padres.

Magglio Ordonez Jr. (1B, American Heritage School)
Son of six-time All-Star Magglio Ordonez, selected in the 38th round (1,150th overall) by the Tigers.

Lawrence Pardo (LHP, South Florida)
Son of D-backs Minor League hitting coach Larry Pardo, selected in the 38th round (1,140th overall) by the D-backs.

Austin Pettibone (RHP, California-Santa Barbara)
Son of former Major League pitcher Jay Pettibone, selected in the 24th round (726th overall) by the Rangers.

Yan Rivera (SS, Colegio Catolico Notre Dame HS)
Son of former Major Leaguer and current Blue Jays coach Luis Rivera, selected in the 36th round (1,074th overall) by the Blue Jays.

Benito Santiago Jr. (C, Coral Springs Christian Academy)
Son of former All-Star catcher Benito Santiago, selected in the 38th round (1,138th overall) by the Giants.

Randy Santiesteban (2B, Peru St. College)
Son of Dominican Summer League Braves manager Francisco Santiesteban, selected in the 40th round (1,213th overall) by the Braves.

Lukas Schiraldi (RHP, Texas)
Son of former Major League pitcher Calvin Schiraldi, selected in the 15th round (441st overall) by the Mariners.

Gavin Sheets (1B, Gilman School)
Son of former Major League outfielder Larry Sheets, selected in the 37th round (1,123rd overall) by the Braves.

Cy Sneed (RHP, Dallas Baptist)
Brother of Royals pitching prospect Zeb Sneed, selected in the third round (85th overall) by the Brewers.

Jed Sprague (1B, St. Mary's HS)
Son of former All-Star infielder Ed Sprague and grandson of former pitcher Ed Sprague, selected in the 37th round (1,098th overall) by the White Sox.

Bo Tucker (LHP, Rome HS)
Stepson of Braves scout Brian Bridges, selected in the 38th round (1,145th overall) by the Reds.

Trey Vavra (1B, Florida Southern)
Son of Twins Major League coach Joe Vavra, selected in the 33rd round (980th overall) by the Twins.

Vance Vizcaino (3B, Glendale CC)
Son of Royals crosschecker Junior Vizcaino, selected in the 29th round (873rd overall) by the Royals.

Daniel Wasinger (C, Eastlake HS)
Son of former Major League infielder and current Red Sox scout Mark Wasinger, selected in the 38th round (1,129th overall) by the Cubs.

Tyler Watson (LHP, McLennan CC)
Son of Royals director of professional scouting Gene Watson, selected in the 38th round (1,139th overall) by the Angels.

Bradley Wilpon (RHP, Brunswick School)
Son of Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, selected in the 36th round (1,094th overall) by the Red Sox.

Shane Zeile (C, UCLA)
Nephew of former third baseman Todd Zeile, selected in the fifth round (160th overall) by the Tigers.