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Family ties a big theme in first day of MLB Draft
Fort Cobb-Broxton's Eli Willits talks with Stillwater's Ethan Holliday during the high school baseball game between Fort Cobb-Broxton and Stillwater at Edmond Santa Fe High School in Edmond, Okla., Friday, April, 18, 2025. SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Family ties a big theme in first day of MLB Draft

While getting drafted to play professionally is already a major milestone for any player, the moment can sometimes be more meaningful when there is a family connection to the sport. Of course, sometimes those connections come with increased expectations. 

Several players selected on the first day of the 2025 MLB Draft have family ties to the sport. 

SS Eli Willits

OF Reggie Willits (dad)

Fort Cobb-Broxton's Eli Willits runs to first after hitting a fly ball during the high school baseball game between Fort Cobb-Broxton and Stillwater at Edmond Santa Fe High School in Edmond, Okla., Friday, April, 18, 2025. SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Initially drafted in the seventh round in 2003 out of the University of Oklahoma (where he's now a coach), Reggie spent parts of six seasons with the Angels. The speedy outfielder posted a 78 OPS+ and .258/.356/.302 line in just over 1,000 plate appearances. 

Eli was selected with the first overall pick by the Washington Nationals on Sunday. The 17-year-old is the youngest player to ever be taken with the first pick. 

SS/3B Ethan Holliday

OF Matt Holliday (dad); IF Jackson (brother)

Ethan Holliday, left, and Jackson Holliday stand during a Stillwater High School baseball game on April 30, 2022. BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

A seven-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Matt spent 15 years in the majors with four teams, batting .299/.379/.510 (132 OPS+) with 316 home runs. He was originally a seventh-round pick by the Rockies in the 1998 Draft. 

Jackson, the Orioles' second baseman, was the first-overall pick in 2022. Still just 21 years old, Jackson is hitting .259/.308/.414 (104 OPS+) this year for Baltimore, entering play on Monday. 

Ethan, who some scouts think could be an even better hitter than his brother, was selected fourth overall by the Rockies. 

SS JoJo Parker

OF Jacob Parker (brother)

JoJo was selected eighth overall by the Blue Jays. His twin brother, Jacob, is expected to be picked when the draft continues on Monday. 

RHP Kyson Witherspoon

RHP Malachi Witherspoon (brother)

May 21, 2025; Hoover, AL, USA; Oklahoma pitcher Kyson Witherspoon (26) pitches against Georgia in the second round of the SEC Baseball Tournament at the Hoover Met. Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The second set of twins in this year's draft class, but both Witherspoon brothers were selected on the first day of the draft. Kyson went 15th overall to the Red Sox. Malachi was selected 62nd by the Tigers. 

SS Tate Southisene

IF Ty Southisene (brother)

A fourth-round pick by the Cubs in 2024, Ty is currently playing at Class-A, where he's hitting just .174/.340/.181 through 195 PA. 

Tate was selected 22nd overall by the Braves. 

3B Brady Ebel

Base Coach Dino Ebel (dad)

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) is congratulated by third base coach Dino Ebel (91) after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

One of the most respected base coaches in the sport, Dino has worked for the Dodgers since 2019, where he's won two World Series rings. He also served as the third base coach for Team USA in the last World Baseball Classic. 

Brady was selected 32nd overall by the Brewers. 

3B/OF Quentin Young

OF Dmitri Young (uncle); OF Delmon Young (uncle)

Oaks Christian shortstop Quentin Young JUAN CARLO/THE STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Dmitri was the No. 4 pick in 1991 by the Tigers. Delmon was the first overall pick in 2003 by the Rays. The brothers each spent more than a decade in the major leagues, collecting more than 1,000 hits and 100 home runs. 

Quentin was selected 54th overall by the Twins. 

SS Alex Lodise

SS Kyle Lodise (cousin)

Florida St. infielder Alex Lodise (1) reacts to his double at second base during the first inning of an NCAA college baseball matchup Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at VyStar Ballpark in Jacksonville, Fla. FSU rallied to defeat UF 8-4 off a walk-off grand slam from Alex Lodise in the ninth inning. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Two sets of twins were drafted. A pair of same-age cousins was also picked. Alex was selected 60th overall by the Braves. Kyle was taken 76th overall by the White Sox. 

LHP Cade Obermueller

RHP Wes Obermueller (dad)

A second-round pick in 1999 by the Royals, Obermueller was 11-22 with a 5.82 ERA (75 ERA+) over 315.1 IP. 

Cade was selected 63rd overall by the Phillies. 

RHP Cam Leiter

RHP Kurt (dad); RHP Al (uncle), RHP Mark (uncle), RHP Jack (cousin), RHP Mark Jr. (cousin)

The Clemson Tigers faced the Florida State University Seminoles in college baseball at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson on March 23, 2024. The Tigers won the first game of the doubleheader 15-5. Florida State University pitcher Cam Leiter (30) on the mound. ALEX HICKS JR./STAFF / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Leiters are a true baseball family. Kurt's career never got out of the minor leagues, but each of the other four arms in the family reached the sport's highest level. Jack is currently with the Rangers, while Mark Jr. is a Yankee. Al had the longest career by far, spending 18 years in the major leagues, going to a pair of All-Star Games and winning two World Series. 

Cam was selected 65th overall by the Dodgers. 

SS Josh Owens

OF Jeremy Owens (dad)

An eighth-round pick by the Padres in 1998, Jeremy spent a decade in the minor leagues without reaching the big show. He then spent eight more seasons playing in the independent Atlantic League. 

Josh was selected 84th overall by the Rangers. 

OF R.J. Austin

OF Jay Austin (cousin)

Houston drafted Jay in the second round in 2008. He spent five seasons in the minor leagues, batting .249/.312/.353, before playing in the independent leagues and Mexico. 

R.J. was selected 93rd overall by the Orioles. 

IF Kaeden Kent

2B Jeff Kent (dad)

August 14, 2008: Los Angeles, CA, USA: Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent (12) hits a single in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

A 20th-round pick by the Blue Jays in 1989, Jeff developed into one of the best second basemen the game has seen in the last 50 years. Jeff spent 17 years in the majors, batting .290/.356/.500 (123 OPS+) with 377 home runs and 1,518 RBI. A five-time All-Star, Jeff won the NL Most Valuable Player Award in 2000. 

Kaeden, a shortstop who will likely end up moving to second base, was selected 103rd overall by the Yankees. 

Aaron Somers

Aaron Somers has more than a decade of experience writing about sports and has been published in numerous outlets, but baseball is and has always been his biggest passion. You can follow him on BlueSky, @AaronJSomers.

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