The 2025 MLB Draft features eight prospects with famous fathers who previously played in the big leagues, highlighting a generational connection in baseball.
It may also highlight our age, seeing a list that features sons of great players like Mark McGwire and Manny Ramirez, whose careers defined the 1990s and 2000s.
It’s a gentle reminder of how much time has passed since those stars dominated baseball. Let’s check out the list!
Max McGwire
Max McGwire, a first baseman and outfielder, played college baseball at Saint Louis University last season, batting .235 with seven home runs. He’ll have a long way to go to match his father’s power.
Mark McGwire had a 16-year MLB career, primarily with the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals, hitting 583 home runs and setting a then-record 70 homers in 1998 during an iconic home run chase with Sammy Sosa. The steroid controversy later tainted his legacy, as he admitted in 2010 to using performance-enhancing drugs during his career.
Kaeden Kent
Kaeden Kent, a versatile infielder for Texas A&M, played three seasons in college, slashing .290/.389/.494 with 18 home runs and 100 RBIs across 135 games. He earned 2024 College World Series All-Tournament Team honors. Kent was a third-round selection by the New York Yankees in the 2025 MLB Draft.
Jeff Kent played 17 seasons in MLB (1992–2008) mostly with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, amassing 2,461 hits, 377 home runs, and a .290 batting average, earning the 2000 NL MVP. He holds the record for most home runs by a second baseman.
Manny Ramirez Jr.
Manny Ramirez Jr. played college baseball at the University of San Francisco from 2015-2017, appearing in nearly 100 games, primarily as a designated hitter. He hit .267 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in his senior year. Ramirez Jr. has been playing ball with the Brockton Rox, a collegiate summer baseball team based in Massachusetts, with the sons of Pedro Martinez and David ‘Big Papi’ Ortiz.
Manny Ramirez Sr., a dominant outfielder, played 19 MLB seasons (1993–2011), including with the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox, hitting .312 with 555 home runs and 1,831 RBIs. Ramirez earned 12 All-Star selections and two World Series titles (2004, 2007). Multiple suspensions for performance-enhancing drug use marred his career in 2009 and 2011, tainting his legacy and impacting his Hall of Fame candidacy.
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Ethan Holliday
Ethan Holliday was drafted fourth overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2025 MLB Draft and is expected to pursue a professional career instead of attending Oklahoma State University, where he had committed. Why? Because his high school career was stellar.
Holliday, a standout infielder at Stillwater High School, dominated his senior season in 2025 with a .611 batting average, 19 home runs, and 64 RBIs in 33 games, earning him the Baseball America High School Player of the Year award and the Gatorade Oklahoma Baseball Player of the Year honor.
Matt Holliday played 15 MLB seasons (2004–2018), primarily with the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals, hitting .299 with 316 home runs and 1,220 RBIs, earning seven All-Star selections, four Silver Slugger awards, and a 2007 NLCS MVP award. He won a World Series title with the Cardinals in 2011.
Austin Pierzynski
Austin Pierzynski, a standout catcher at The First Academy in Orlando, hit .371 with 25 RBIs and 29 runs in his senior year.
His father, A.J. Pierzynski, was a catcher known for his competitive edge and colorful personality. He played 19 MLB seasons (1998–2016) across seven teams, hitting .280 with 2,043 hits, 188 home runs, and 909 RBIs. Pierzynski earned two All-Star selections, a Silver Slugger Award, and a 2005 World Series title.
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Brady Counsell
Infielder Brady Counsell played three seasons at the University of Minnesota before transferring to Kansas for his senior year in 2025, where he hit .259 with 12 home runs and earned a Rawlings Gold Glove at third base. The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted him in the 10th round (No. 303 overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft.
His father, Craig Counsell, played 16 MLB seasons (1995–2011) primarily with the Florida Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers. He won two World Series titles (1997, 2001) and earned the 2001 ALCS MVP award. Counsell was known for his gritty play and distinctive batting stance. He currently manages the Chicago Cubs.
Jake Casey
Jake Casey, an outfielder for Kent State University, had a standout 2025 season, batting .356 with 17 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases, earning first-team All-MAC honors. The Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 15th round of the 2025 MLB Draft.
Sean Casey was a three-time All-Star who played 12 MLB seasons (1997–2008) as a first baseman predominantly for the Cincinnati Reds. Casey hit .302 with 130 home runs and 735 RBIs and later became a respected MLB Network broadcaster and New York Yankees hitting coach in 2023. He is a member of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
Carsten Sabathia
Carsten Sabathia, a slugging first baseman from Bergen Catholic High School, played his junior season with the University of Houston.
Two weeks after the 2025 MLB Draft, his father, C.C. Sabathia, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Sabathia was a dominant left-handed pitcher, compiling a 251-161 record with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts. He won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award and a 2009 World Series title with the New York Yankees.
