Like Father Like Son (2006 Edition)
2006 Edition
Carrying on the legacy of one's father can be an inspired and sometimes daunting task. In baseball, bloodlines have always proven helpful in procurring an opportunity to play professionally. While the sons of ex-major leaguers may grab a scouts attention more easily than most, they also have the burden of living up to a very high standard of success. In the end, every ballplayer will be judged on the fruits of his own labor. A last name might get you to A-ball, but no major league team is going to give you a job just because your last name is Rose, Clemens, or Griffey.
Here is a list of the children of present and ex-major leaguers playing minor league ball today. I've also included the sons of major league general managers (GM) and a couple of other interesting kin that you should know about.
By clicking on a son's name you can see where he is playing and follow along statistically as the 2006 season progresses. By clicking on a father's name you can see his career statistics.
The children's ages are in ( ) next to their names. The minor league level they are playing at currently is in ( ) next to the major league team they are affiliated with. There is a key at the bottom of this page that explains the minor league levels' abbreviations if you are unfamiliar with them. If you are aware of a player I have missed, you can e-mail me here at Inside Pitch at cshimkin@yahoo.com and I will add him to the list.
*This is the original research of sports writer and researcher Carl Shimkin (the author of this blog)
Son Org/Level Father
Solid Potential
3B Koby Clemens (19) Astros (A) Roger Clemens
OF John Mayberry Jr. (22) Rangers (A) John Mayberry
OF William Venable (23) Padres (A) Max Venable
OF Anthony Gwynn Jr. (23) Brewers (AAA/ML) Tony Gwynn
OF Eli Iorg (23) Astros (A) Garth Iorg
OF Kris Harvey (22) Marlins (A) Bryan Harvey
SS Ivan De Jesus (19) Dodgers (A) Ivan De Jesus
P Cody Smith (24) Royals (AA) Bryn Smith
C Brandon Snyder (19) Orioles (A) Brian Snyder
A Cup Of Coffee
3B Aaron Herr (25) Reds (AA) Tommy Herr
OF Joe Gaetti (24) Rockies (AA) Gary Gaetti
1B Fernando Valenzuela Jr. (23) White Sox (A) Fernando Valenzuela
SS Tony Pena Jr. (25) Braves (AAA) Tony Pena
IF Kyle Reynolds (22) Cubs (A) Craig Reynolds
2B Jose Enrique Cruz (24) Mets (A-ADV) Jose Cruz
2B Eric Young Jr. (21) Rockies (A) Eric Young
1B Ned Yost IV (24) Brewers (A) Ned Yost
IF Tim Hulett Jr. (23) Rangers (A-ADV) Tim Hulett
SS Brandon Fahey (25) Orioles (AAA/ML) Bill Fahey
1B Dustin Yount (23) Orioles (AA) Robin Yount
Been Around The Block
OF Tim Raines Jr. (26) Nationals (AA) Tim Raines
3B Sean Burroughs (25) Devil Rays (AAA) Jeff Burroughs
C David Parrish (27) Pirates (AA) Lance Parrish
OF Scott Hairston (26) Diamondbacks (AAA/ML) Jerry Hairston
P Mike Bacsik (28) Diamondbacks (AAA) Mike Bacsik
OF Justin Singleton (27) Blue Jays (AAA) Ken Singleton
SS Brad Hassey (26) Blue Jays (AA) Ron Hassey
OF Jim Essian III (26) Tigers (ADV-A) Jim Essian
Too Early To Tell
1B Andrew Hargrove (24) Cubs (A) Mike Hargrove
C Ryan Spilman (21) Indians (A-SS) Harry Spilman
3B Wally Backman II (20) Rangers (R-AZL) Wally Backman
P Frank Viola Jr. (22) White Sox (R) Frank Viola
OF Michael Brantley (19) Brewers (A) Mickey Brantley
SS Andrew Thompson (19) Twins (A) Bobby Thompson
OF Juan Mesa (21) Pirates (R-GCL) Jose Mesa
C Andrew Butera (22) Mets (A) Sal Butera
SS Toby Gardenhire (23) Twins (A) Ron Gardenhire
IF Anthony Manuel (23) Mets (A) Jerry Manuel
2B Joshua Johnson (20) Royals (A) Larry Johnson
P Chris Kelly (24) Devil Rays (A) Pat Kelly
Just Drafted (2006)
P Kyle Drabek (18) Phillies (1st Rd.) Doug Drabek
SS Preston Mattingly (18) Dodgers (Sandwich) Don Mattingly
C Chad Tracy (21) Rangers (3rd. Rd.) Jim Tracy
SS Marcus Lemon (18) Rangers (4th Rd.) Chet Lemon
P Glenn Gibson (18) Nationals (4th Rd.) Paul Gibson
2B John Shelby Jr. (20) White Sox (5th Rd.) John Shelby
OF Jeremy Barfield (18) Mets (9th Rd.) Jesse Barfield
P Josh Roenicke (23) Reds (10th Rd.) Gary Roenicke
2B Kurt Bradley (18) Dodgers (33rd Rd.) Phil Bradley
OF Trent Henderson (18) Astros (37th Rd.) Dave Henderson
OF Riley Etchebarren (18) Diamondbacks (39th Rd.) Andy Etchebarren
2B David Cash III (18) Orioles (40th Rd.) Dave Cash
OF Candy Maldonado (18) Devil Rays (46th Rd.) Candy Maldonado
2B Kyle Williams (17) White Sox (47th Rd.) Kenny Williams
SS Jonathan Fernandez (18) Blue Jays (48th Rd.) Tony Fernandez
Say Uncle
P Edgar Alfonzo (21) Mets (A-ADV) Edgardo Alfonzo
1B Freddie Thon (22) Rangers (A) Dickie Thon
3B Jared Sandberg (28) Astros (AA) Ryan Sandberg
OF Yusuf Carter (21) Cubs (A) Joe Carter
C Matt Pagnozzi (23) Cardinals (A-ADV) Tom Pagnozzi
C Kevin Gossage (19) Rangers (R) Rich "Goose" Gossage
2B Jesse Schoendienst (24) Cardinals (R) Red Schoendienst
(Great Uncle)
Two's A Charm
P Brian Bannister (25) Mets (AAA) Floyd Bannister
P Brett Bannister (23) Mariners (R-AZL)
2B Derek Wathan (29) Cardinals (AAA) John Wathan
C Dusty Wathan (32) Phillies (AAA)
1B A.J. Van Slyke (22) Cardinals (A) Andy Van Slyke
OF Scott Van Slyke (19) Dodgers (R-GCL)
OF Chris Duncan (25) Cardinals (AAA/ML) Dave Duncan
1B Shelley Duncan (26) Yankees (AA)
P Jared Lansford (19) Athletics (A) Carney Lansford
SS Josh Lansford (22) Cubs (A-SS)
Dad's Got Connections
(Sons of Former and Present GM)
2B Jonathan Schuerholz (26) Braves (AAA) John Schuerholz
2B Josh Bonifay (27) Astros (AA) Cam Bonifay
South Of The Border
P Mario Mendoza Jr. (27) Mexican Mario Mendoza
On The Air
(Grandson of Hall of Fame Baseball Announcer)
IF John Wolff (22) White Sox (R) Bob Wolff
'No Mas'
(Nephew of Hall of Fame Boxer)
SS German Duran (21) Rangers (A-ADV) Roberto Duran
Happy As A Clown
(Grandson of Bob Bell aka Bozo The Clown)
P Trevor Bell (19) Angels (R-AZL) Bozo The Clown
Minor Leagues' Abbreviation Key
AAA Triple A-ball
AA Double A-ball
A-ADV Single A-ball (advanced)
A Single A-ball
A-SS Single A-ball (short season)
R Rookie League
GCL Gulf Coast League
AZL Arizona League
ML Spent time in the Major Leagues this season
*Mexican League is not affiliated with any specific Major League team
**A Sandwich Pick in the draft is a compensatory pick between the 1st & 2nd rounds.
Carl the Cabbie
Hey Cabbie,
Good story!
What about Cecil and Prince Fielder? He's currently playing for the Brewers.
Also, did you sell your Bonds' story yet? Just wondering.
In Philly for the Mets' series and watching Juan "Gone" play. What an arm he has!
Anyway, take care.
Joe
http://dugoutdiary.mlblogs.com
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Hey Joe,
I'm just recording the kids who are in the Minor Leagues. I id write about Prince Fielder last year when he was in the minors. You can read about him in my WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN PLAYING category.
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Nicely done. I love the links and minor league affiliation. Maybe next you can figure out how I am connected via a six degrees of Kevin Bacon kind of method because my weekend softball numbers are off the chart. Oh and Jonathan Schuerholz is one lucky son of a #$@!
Tony
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This is a monumental piece of work, and you are the man. There's really nothing else that needs to be said.
-The Baseball Collector
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Great display of professional analysis and communicative skills. Why someone hasn't grabbed you for real professional work such as in Sports Illusted Etc..is beyond me. Keep up the good work.
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...and the list keeps growing...
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Interesting research, entertaining delivery.
Congratulations on the USA Today link; well deserved!
http://azdiamondhacks.mlblogs.com/
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I remember reading somewhere, but can't find now, that Chris Kelly, son of Pat Kelly (1980 Toronto) is playing in the Minors. Maybe I am wrong...
Bill
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Stephen Figueroa son of Bien now playing in GCL can be added...and the beat goes on.
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Great article... I did notice that you didn't include Taylor Mattingly eldest son of Don Mattingly, who is currently with the GCL Yanks. To answer cksabattus@aol.com, yes, Chris Kelly is playing in the minors for SW Michigan Devil Rays. Also, I believe that Andrew Thompson is actually the son of former Giants second baseman, Robby Thompson, not Bobby. Just to let you know, mlb.com posts a relatives list after each year's draft, which includes, not only father-son combos, but brothers, cousins, uncles, etc. and not just of former baseball players but other famous relatives, such as Jimmy Burt, son of NY Giants D-lineman Jim Burt, etc.
2005 Relatives List: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/content/printer_friendly/mlb/y2005/m06/d08/c1081928.jsp
2006 Relatives List: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/content/printer_friendly/mlb/y2006/m06/d07/c1493943.jsp
Info on Drew Thompson: http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050607&content_id=1080710&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf
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Thanks for the the comment and the links. I am aware of MLBs list after the drafts. It's been very helpful to me. The thing about this list is it doesn't just mention who has recently been drafted but lists almost (Thanks for the heads up on the Robby Thompson correction) all the kids of ex and present major leaguers CURRENTLY playing in the minors and where they are currently playing. As you know many of the kids drafted never sign and others are signed as free-agents.Others have been around long before MLB started doing its draft lists. I have about 16 more names that I recently gathered that will be added soon. I was thinking of putting Burt and Nettles kids on the list but doing the independent leagues opens another can of worms. I was debating Taylor cause he hasn't played all season even though he's on the roster. Since you mentioned him I'll probably add him into the twos a charm category with his bro.
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Carl... glad to see that you take comments well. :) I do appreciate the article as I had been trying to find confirmation that Jim Essian III was in fact the son of Jim Essian the former Major Leaguer (I just got a bat from him the other day and wanted to make sure I had labeled it correctly) and your article helped me to confirm it. I was wondering if you knew whether Ron Davenport is any relation to former Giants infielder and manager Jim Davenport. I thought that he was Jim's son until the other day, I got an autograph from him and it looks like it says Ron Davenport, Jr. Any help would be appreciated.
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I have an answer to my own question. I asked Ron directly last night if there was any relation between him and Jim Davenport... he stated that when he was younger he used to tell people that Jim was his uncle, but the truth is, they are not related. Mystery solved.
P.S. Congrats on the game winning RBI last night Ron.
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Thanks for doing the research!
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Great article last year. Hope it can be matched this season. Any idea when?
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