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New York Post
19 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Two Yankees draft picks following MLB fathers' footsteps: ‘That's an advantage'
Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free Drafting prospects with big league pedigrees has fostered numerous success stories over the years. The Yankees added a couple of players whose fathers enjoyed accomplished careers in MLB during this year's draft. Infielder Kaeden Kent, the son of former NL MVP Jeff Kent, was taken in the third round (103rd overall) out of Texas A&M. The Yanks later tabbed infielder Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, whose father, Mark, spent 15 seasons in the majors, in the 20th round out of USC. 'Being raised in a major league house, we do know that's an advantage and they have some knowledge of what they need to do,' Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees' vice president of domestic amateur scouting, said Tuesday on a conference call. 'It does help a lot.' George Lombard Jr., the Yankees' first-rounder in 2023 and now their top-ranked prospect by also is the son of a former major leaguer. Oppenheimer said he only spoke with Jeff Kent once before the draft, and it was a chance encounter while scouting Kaeden at a Cape Cod League game. But former Giants GM Brian Sabean, who serves as an executive advisor to GM Brian Cashman, certainly is familiar with the elder Kent's legendary competitiveness. The Yankees tabbed infielder Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, whose father, Mark, spent 15 seasons in the majors, in the 20th round out of USC. Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images 'Jeff wasn't one who made it like it was about him, or the guy who needed to be talked to or seen. I think he let his kid do the talking on the field,' Oppenheimer said. 'Obviously, with Brian Sabean working for us, we had a lot of knowledge of the intensity of Jeff Kent. 'Once we met with the kid more than once, we kind of realized that this kid is his own kid. … But you learn from being around a competitor like his dad was.' The Yankees' top selection also profiles as a middle infielder; high school shortstop Dax Kilby was chosen with the No. 38 pick out of Newnan High School in Georgia. Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images 'We were really excited about that,' Oppenheimer said. 'We had one team call after we took him that night that was picking in the 20s that said he was gonna be their guy, but was one short. … So we were holding our breath that it was gonna be Dax on our board.' All but Kilby among their 19 selections were college players, and 10 of those were pitchers. Locally, the Yanks also drafted Bronx product Richie Bonomolo Jr., an outfielder from Alabama (and Cardinal Hayes HS) in the seventh round.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giants legend Jeff Kent's son is in the 2025 MLB Draft
Jeff Kent was one of the more underrated hitters in the last quarter-century of baseball. He even won the NL MVP for the San Francisco Giants in 2000. Now, his son is trying to follow in his footsteps. Kaeden Kent is draft eligible. The shortstop at Texas A&M could be chosen in the draft that gets underway on Sunday. Advertisement The 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior started every game at shortstop for the Aggies this season. He's a legitimate prospect, having batted .279 with 13 doubles, 13 homers and 49 RBI. He had 19 multi-hit games this spring. He also hit a walk-off grand slam against South Carolina. MORE: Mariners' switch-pitcher shows off both arms at Futures Game Kent will surely be drafted. The only question is whether he signs or goes back to school for one more year. That'll depend likely on the money on the table, the team that takes him and what he feels he'd be going back to in the collegiate ranks. Advertisement But don't be surprised to hear about this Kent rising through the minor leagues soon enough. MORE MLB NEWS:
