MLB Draft Preview: Top Pick, Druw Jones, Looks to Follow in Father’s Footsteps
With the Major League Baseball Draft just a few days away, some sports analysts are predicting Druw Jones, son of MLB slugger, Andruw Jones, could be the first overall pick.
Regarding drafts, the Major League Baseball one is likely considered the least popular of the four major sports. It’s likely because these players, in some cases, haven’t even reached college, so they are much younger and therefore less developed than a player entering the NFL draft, who will come into the lineup after two years and make an immediate impact.
But the MLB draft is looking to create a bigger splash this year. With odds being available to bet on players and where they will be picked, it’s creating a bigger interest in Monday’s festivities. And even more interesting, several top picks are looking to follow in their famous parents’ footsteps.
Here’s a look at the top potential picks.
To be the 1st overall pick (odds courtesy: Draftkings)
Druw Jones – 145
Termarr Johnson +250
Jackson Holliday +400
Elijah Green +2000
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Druw Jones
The odds-on favorite to be the first overall pick is the son of former big-league All-star Andruw Jones. Druw Jones is -145 to be the first pick taken by the Baltimore Orioles.
Druw’s father won 10 Gold Gloves during his illustrious career while smacking 434 home runs, leaving scouts and general managers drooling over the fact that Druw could be the second coming of Andruw.
According to The Gwinnett Daily Post, last year at Georgia’s Wesleyan High School, he hit .445 with 16 home runs, 39 RBIs, 58 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. And while he is committed to Vanderbilt next season, he expects to sign on in the major leagues.
2. Termarr Johnson
The thing potentially holding back Jones from being more than -145 to go first overall is that Termarr Johnson (+250) is right behind him.
Johnson has also been described as one of the most dangerous hitters in this draft.
Johnson graduated from Mays High in Georgia, but like Jones, he has too committed to a college. The difference is that in saying yes to going to Arizona State, he is also hopeful of fulfilling his promise to his mother and grandparents that he would get a degree in business management.
So would Johnson want to go to college for four years, potentially deterring a team from selecting him? (Maybe a draft day dilemma).
3. Jackson Holliday
Like Jones, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in the case of Jackson Holliday. Holliday’s father, Matt, had over 7,000 big league at-bats with 316 home runs.
Jackson, a potential major league shortstop or center fielder, had 89 hits in 41 games last season while having an on-base percentage of .685.
Jackson has recently graduated from Stillwater High School in Oklahoma, and at Oklahoma State, his uncle Josh is the head coach, and his father is a volunteer assistant coach.
However, it is unlikely that Jackson will follow the family to Oklahoma State. It’s more likely that Arizona could select or more likely that he will go to Texas and become a Ranger.
4. Elijah Green
Also following the sports legacy theme is Elijah Green. Elijah Green is the son of former NFL Pro Bowl Tight End Eric Green.
Green, an Outfielder from the IMG Academy in Florida, stands at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. His rugged frame is what you notice first about Green but combined with his elite speed. The hitting is where Green’s downside compared to the others ahead of him may come into play, but as far as raw talent goes, Green is Gold.
So which son with be first picked? Well, with the rich history of last names and the hopes of glowing futures ahead, these stars of tomorrow are about to find out.
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