It is tonight, in Los Angeles, that the first round of the major league baseball draft takes place. The 20 rounds of the repechage will take place over three days.
For the occasion, the MLB is out of its famous studio and the draft takes place outside.
The first choice, however, was not on site. He was at home with his father, former Major League player Matt Holliday.
Because yes, his son Jackson Holliday, a shortstop, is the first overall pick from the Baltimore Orioles.
The Orioles are building a mean club, though.
Ken Griffey Jr. is the only other first overall pick whose father played in the Majors. So it’s pretty special to see Holliday come out on top.
The father had a great career, but his son leaves with a head start at the same age. After all, the father was a seventh-round pick.
Holliday is a shortstop who, defensively, looks like Brandon Crawford. He has (a little) the speed of Trea Turner and offensively, he’s a little Corey Seager.
However, he is not the only “son of” to have been chosen at the start of the draft. Druw Jones, son of Andruw Jones, was chosen second overall.
He’s going to Arizona.
We are talking about a fairly complete outfielder who will undoubtedly have a fairly significant impact on his people the day he breaks through.
Then, afterwards, the rumor started to run: the Texas Rangers might go there with a surprise to draft Kumar Rocker. And it happened.
Kumar Rocker is the pitcher who was drafted 10th overall last year and was not signed by the club due to a health issue. It had caused a stir.
You might expect him to be picked late in the first round, but the Rangers (who drafted Jack Leiter, his friend he pitched with at Vanderbilt in the NCAA last year ranked second overall ) have chosen to take it now.
If all goes well for him, it’s not impossible to believe that he could start in the Majors this season. It’s unlikely, but not impossible.
Drafted by the Rockies in 2018 and the Mets in 2021, he pitched in the Frontier League to keep in shape. He should sign shortly and go to the minors.
Note that Scott Boras represents the first three choices.
For the other choices, This is where it happens. Note however that the Pirates have notably chosen a shortstop, Termarr Johnson, who claims to be the best player of his vintage.
And to complete the top-5, the Nationals went with a sportsman’s son, but this time from a former football player.
Outfielder Elijah Greene, son of former NFL player Eric Greene, is moving to Washington.
