Family ties: History made with top two picks

July 19th, 2022

When the Orioles and D-backs took Jackson Holliday -- the son of Matt Holliday -- and Druw Jones -- the son of Andruw Jones -- with the first two picks on Sunday, it marked the first time in MLB Draft history that two sons of former Major Leaguers went 1-2. But they were far from the only players taken with a famous relative.

Here's a look at the 2022 draftees with legacies in baseball or elsewhere, in order of when they were selected.

DAY 1 (SUNDAY)

Player: Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater (Okla.) HS (No. 2 prospect)
Drafted: No. 1 overall, Orioles
Relative: Matt Holliday (father, 15 MLB seasons)
Jackson’s dad, Matt, was a seven-time All-Star, the 2007 NL batting champion, the MVP of the ’07 NL Championship Series for the Rockies, and won a World Series ring with the Cardinals in ’11. He belted 316 homers over a 15-year MLB career and has not just one son, but two -- Jackson’s younger brother, Ethan, is one of the elite high school prospects in the nation -- rising toward the professional baseball ranks.

Player: Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan (Ga.) HS (No. 1 prospect)
Drafted: No. 2 overall, D-backs
Relative: Andruw Jones (father, 17 MLB seasons)
His father was a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner in center field and hit 434 home runs over a stellar 17-year Major League career. And Druw has the talent to potentially give his dad a run for his money when it’s all said and done, with tremendous power from the right side of the plate and great defensive instincts in center field.

Player: Kumar Rocker, RHP, No School (No. 38 prospect)
Drafted: No. 3 overall, Rangers
Relative: Tracy Rocker (father, NFL player)
Kumar gets his athleticism from dad Tracy, who is in the College Football Hall of Fame and played two NFL seasons before settling into a coaching career. He currently serves as the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive line coach.

Player: Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy (No. 3 prospect)
Drafted: No. 5 overall, Nationals
Relative: Eric Green (father, NFL player)
This year’s Draft is filled with the sons of former MLB All-Stars, but Elijah’s father Eric was a standout in another sport. The elder Green played a decade in the NFL as a tight end. He made two Pro Bowls as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1993 and ‘94 and he was named to the 1990 All-Rookie team.

Player: Jacob Berry, 3B/OF, LSU (No. 7 prospect)
Drafted: No. 6 overall, Marlins
Relative: Perry Berry (father, 4 MiLB seasons)
Perry, an infielder out of Louisiana at Lafayette, was taken in the fourth round of the 1990 Draft by the Astros and spent four seasons in their system.

Player: Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly (No. 5 prospect)
Drafted: No. 8 overall, Twins
Relatives: Larry Lee (father, Cal Poly head coach); Terry and Mike Lee (uncles); Tom Lee (grandfather, Cal Poly HoF coach)
Baseball is a generational love for the Lee family. Brooks played for his father, Larry, who has been Cal Poly baseball’s head coach since 2003. Uncle Terry was a first-round Draft pick of the Giants in 1974 and also played in the Brewers’ system. Uncle Mike was a Giants Minor Leaguer from 1974-75.

Player: Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech (No. 10 prospect)
Drafted: No. 9 overall, Royals
Relative: Adam Cross (father, 3 MiLB seasons)
Adam Cross spent his brief career as an infielder with the Braves and Padres, though he never rose past A-ball.

Player: Gabe Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga (No. 26 prospect)
Drafted: No. 10 overall, Rockies
Relative: Donald Hughes (grandfather, 3 MiLB seasons)
Donald played in the Cubs and Tigers systems from 1960-62, before Major League Baseball had even instituted the Amateur Draft.

Player: Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech (No. 9 prospect)
Drafted: No. 12 overall, Tigers
Relative: Josh Jung (brother, Rangers prospect)
Josh Jung also attended Texas Tech and was selected by the Rangers with the No. 8 pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. Left shoulder surgery this past February delayed his arrival to the Majors, but Josh is MLB’s No. 30 prospect.

Player: Justin Crawford, OF, Bishop Gorman (Nev.) HS (No. 13 prospect)
Drafted: No. 17 overall, Phillies
Relative: Carl Crawford (father, 15 MLB seasons)
Justin’s dad, Carl, made four All-Star teams -- winning the 2009 All-Star Game MVP Award -- and led the AL in steals four times during nine seasons with Tampa Bay. Like his dad, Justin is an athletic outfielder and left-handed hitter with plus-plus speed.

Player: Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola (Fla.) College (No. 8 prospect)
Drafted: No. 18 overall, Reds
Relative: Lou Collier (father, 8 MLB seasons / Royals pro scout)
While Lou never got much playing time -- he appeared in 315 games over his eight seasons – he’s found more success in retirement, currently working as a Royals scout.

Player: Daniel Susac, C, Arizona (No. 12 prospect)
Drafted: A's, No. 19 overall
Relative: Andrew Susac (brother, 6 MLB seasons)
Andrew Susac was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Also a catcher, Andrew served as Buster Posey’s backup during the Giants’ 2014 World Series run.

Player: Robert Moore, 2B, Arkansas (No. 108 prospect)
Drafted: Round CB-B (No. 72 overall), Brewers
Relative: Dayton Moore (father, Royals president of baseball operations)
Dayton Moore has been at the helm in Kansas City since 2006, when his son was just 4 years old. Sixteen years, two American League pennants and a World Series championship later, Robert is preparing to build his own legacy in professional baseball.

Player: Tucker Toman, 3B, Hammond (S.C.) HS (No. 35 prospect)
Drafted: 2C (No. 77 overall), Blue Jays
Relative: Jim Toman (father, Middle Tennessee head coach)
Jim Toman has served as the head coach for Middle Tennessee baseball since 2019, and previously spent nine seasons (2008-16) coaching at Liberty University.

DAY 2 (MONDAY)

Player: Silas Ardoin, C, Texas (No. 146 prospect)
Drafted: Round 4 (No. 107 overall), Orioles
Relative: Danny Ardoin (father, 5 MLB seasons)
Danny, also a catcher, spent his Major League career with the Twins, Rangers, Rockies, Orioles and Dodgers.

Player: Jacob Watters, RHP, West Virginia (No. 154 prospect)
Drafted: Round 4 (No. 124 overall), A's
Relative: Jason Michaels (cousin, 11 MLB seasons)
Michaels, an outfielder, was a fourth-round pick in 1998 and spent time with the Phillies, Indians, Pirates and Astros.

Player: Cade Hunter, C, Virginia Tech (No. 145 prospect)
Drafted: Round 5 (No. 153 overall), Reds
Relative: Scott Hunter (father, Mariners scouting director)
As Seattle’s scouting director, Scott Hunter knows a strong prospect when he sees one -- so it’s only fitting that his son, Cade, is a highly touted catcher.

Player: Sean McLain, SS, Arizona State (No. 161 prospect)
Drafted: Round 5 (No. 165 overall), Dodgers
Relatives: Matt and Nick McLain (brothers, Reds’ No. 3 prospect; plays baseball at UCLA)
Older brother Matt, who is primarily a shortstop, was the Reds’ first-round pick in 2021. That same year, younger brother Nick was a ranked high school prospect before deciding to attend UCLA.

Player: Douglas Hodo, OF, Texas (No. 223 prospect)
Drafted: Round 6 (No. 167 overall), Orioles
Relative: Doug Hodo (father, member of Texas’ 1983 CWS team)
Like his son, Doug Hodo played baseball at Texas in his younger days, where he was a member of the Longhorns’ 1983 championship team. One of Doug’s teammates that season was Roger Clemens, who himself has had three sons drafted by Major League clubs.

Player: Mason McGwire, RHP, Capistrano Valley (Calif.) HS
Drafted: Round 8 (No. 233 overall)
Relative: Mark McGwire (father, 16 MLB seasons)
McGwire's father, Mark, was a 12-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, the 1987 AL Rookie of the Year and the 1990 AL Gold Glove winner at first base. His 583 career home runs are the 11th most in Major League history, and he at one point held the all-time single-season home-run record after launching 70 in 1998. Unlike his father, Mason will look to make a name for himself on the mound.

DAY 3 (TUESDAY)

Player: Caden Dana, RHP, Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) (No. 119 prospect)
Drafted: Round 11 (No. 328 overall), Angels
Relatives: Cullen and Casey Dana (brothers, 2 MiLB seasons; Angels' 16th-round pick)
Cullen Dana, the oldest in the family, was drafted in 2018 by the Padres and released in March 2022 due to injuries. Casey, meanwhile, a grad student at UConn, was also selected by the Halos on Tuesday, in the 16th round.

Player: Kyle Nevin, OF, Baylor
Drafted: Round 11 (No. 345 overall), Dodgers
Relative: Phil Nevin (father, Angels manager/12 MLB seasons); Tyler Nevin (brother, Orioles third baseman)
Kyle’s dad, a longtime coach recently promoted to interim manager in Anaheim, was previously most famous for being the player drafted five spots above Derek Jeter in 1992. Big brother Tyler was a 2015 first-rounder who debuted in 2021.

Player: Caden Marcum, RHP, Paola (Kan.) HS
Drafted: Round 13 (No. 379 overall), Rangers
Relative: Shaun Marcum (uncle, 9 MLB seasons)
Shaun had his best years on the mound in Toronto and Milwaukee, and in his heyday from 2008-12, pitched to a 3.57 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 671 1/3 innings.

Player: Marquis Grissom Jr., RHP, Georgia Tech
Drafted: Round 13 (No. 381 overall), Nationals
Relative: Marquis Grissom (father, 17 MLB seasons)
The elder Grissom, who spent time with the Expos, Braves, Indians, Brewers, Dodgers and Giants, was selected to two NL All-Star teams and twice led baseball in stolen bases.

Player: Gavin Kilen, SS, Milton (Wis.) HS (No. 100 prospect)
Drafted: Round 13 (No. 399 overall), Red Sox
Relative: Chris Kilen (father, Twins Draft pick)
Chris was a 58th-round pick by the Twins in 1993, although he never appeared in a game.

Player: Jackson Jaha, INF/RHP, Clackamas (Ore.) HS
Drafted: Round 15 (No. 449 overall), Mets
Relative: John Jaha (father, 10 MLB seasons)
John had two 30-HR, 100-RBI seasons to his name, and even participated in the 1999 Home Run Derby, although he hit just one home run.

Player: Casey Dana, OF, Connecticut
Drafted: Round 16 (No. 478 overall), Angels
Relatives: Cullen and Caden Dana (brothers, 2 MiLB seasons; Angels' 11th-round pick)
Cullen Dana, the oldest in the family, was drafted in 2018 by the Padres and released in March 2022 due to injuries. Casey, meanwhile, a right-handed pitcher out of Don Bosco Prep (N.J.), was also selected by the Halos on Tuesday, in the 11th round.

Player: Jared Karros, RHP, UCLA
Drafted: Round 16 (No. 495 overall), Dodgers
Relative: Eric Karros (father, 14 MLB seasons)
Though he’s currently best known for his work as a broadcaster, Eric also manned first base for the Dodgers for 12 seasons and was the 1992 NL Rookie of the Year.

Player: Gavin Turley, OF, Hamilton (Ariz.) HS (No. 107 prospect)
Drafted: Round 19 (No. 558 overall), D-backs
Relative: Jason Turley (father, 2 MiLB seasons)
Jason, a right-handed reliever, was a 21st-round pick in 1993 by the Astros who pitched in Rookie and Single-A ball.

Player: Austin Charles, SS/RHP, Stockdale (Calif.) HS (No. 109 prospect)
Drafted: Round 20 (No. 595 overall), Royals
Relative: Art Charles (brother, 7 MiLB seasons)
Twelve years ago, Austin’s older brother was drafted by the Blue Jays. Art, a first baseman, spent parts of seven seasons in the Blue Jays, Phillies and Brewers systems. He has since played in the independent Canadian-American Association and several leagues in Mexico.