Druw Jones among rising class of second-generation MLB prospects

Druw Jones, the son of former Atlanta Braves star Andruw Jones, is widely regarded as a highly touted prospect in the 2022 MLB draft.

In addition to Jones, there are also other prospects. They include Jackson Holliday, son of the former All-Star Matt Holliday, and Cam Collier, the son of former major leaguer Lou Collier, who could be next on the list.

Justin Crawford, the son of former Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford, was selected a little later in the first round after Elijah Green, the son of former NFL star Eric Green.

Jones was four years old when his father, who helped him formed his major-league debut at the age of 19, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2007 season.

When Jones' father, who made his major league debut at the age of 19, left the Atlanta Braves to sign with the Dodgers after the 2007 campaign, he was only 4 years old.

Nicole Jones, Jones' mother, said he was on a baseball team in Georgia at the time, but his parents didn't force him to play. According to her, Jones expressed his interest on his own.

“Before he could talk, he held a water bottle by the neck, swaying it around, like he was getting ready to hit,” she remarked.

“He put ping-pong balls on bottles to hit off like a tee. He had a pacifier and a diaper on. He would scoot down the way and do it himself,” she said.

While his father was away to play in the major leagues, Nicole and her father directed Jones' burgeoning baseball career.

From kindergarten to high school, he attended the same school in Georgia. He has committed to play at Vanderbilt but is expected to sign with the squad that drafts him on Sunday, following in the footsteps of his father.

Druw to join Gwynn Jr.

Jones will be one of the most well-known second-generation examples, alongside Gwynn Jr. His father was a San Diego Padres first-ballot Hall of Famer. Chris, his uncle, also made it to the big leagues.

After the school year ended, he spent his childhood going to his father's house every day, but only once he was old enough to catch a major-league flyball.

“My dad was pretty serious about if I was going to come to the field with him,” Gwynn Jr. observed.

“I needed to understand that, although it was a game to me, it was a job and a livelihood for all these men. And I needed to be able to protect myself,” he added.

Gwynn Jr. claims he never missed a day at the ballpark during those summers. He used to take groundballs and hacks as a kid.

The Gwynns were not the first major league family with multiple generations. Three generations of the Boones and Hairstons have played in the major leagues.

Ken Griffey Jr. made his major league debut as his father's team member in 1990. While Jose Cruz Sr. and Jr. had great careers, Cal Ripken Sr. oversaw his sons, Cal Jr. and Billy, in Baltimore.