Mariners use 24th round pick to honor Ken Griffey Jr.
After three days, 40 rounds and 1,216 names were called, the 2016 MLB Draft is officially complete.
As always, the draft featured plenty of familiar names this year, which is one of the main reasons to pay attention after Day 1. Some of those names represent a prominent connection to MLB’s past and present, with the most notable this year being Trey Griffey, the son of MLB Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.
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The Seattle Mariners selected Griffey in the 24th round in a decision that wasn’t driven by baseball. Trey Griffey has not played baseball in several years. Instead, he’s focused on football at the University of Arizona, where he contributed last season and hopes to continue growing this fall. The Mariners decision was driven by their desire to honor the legacy Ken Griffey Jr. left behind in Seattle.
The round is significant too. Grifffey Jr. proudly wore the No. 24 throughout his entire Mariners’ tenure, and will soon sport their cap in Cooperstown.
Some might say Round 24 is too early for an honorary selection. The Mariners obviously didn’t agree, instead opting to put the Griffey family’s legacy first. It’s a pretty cool gesture, and sure we’re Ken Griffey Jr. appreciated the nod.
Now, here are a few other names with MLB connections that have been creating some buzz this weekend.
Los Angeles Angels selected Torri Hunter Jr., outfielder, Notre Dame (Round 23, Pick 696): Hunter’s future appears to be in football as well. He’ll return to Notre Dame this fall as the team’s leading receiver after hauling in 28 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns in 2015. He was used sparingly by Notre Dame’s baseball team, appearing in 19 games mainly as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement. He hit .182 with a .308 on-base percentage.
The most memorable part of Hunter’s selection was that his father, Torri Hunter, who spent a few years with the Angels, announced the pick.
San Francisco Giants selected Jacob Heyward, outfielder, University of Miami (Round 18, Pick 545): While he doesn’t possess the same upside as Jason Heyward, his older brother, Jacob Heyward is still looked upon as a legitmite prospect. That’s because he boasts outstanding athleticism and has the ability to play everywhere in the outfield and can even hit 94 mph on the pitching mound. Teams love getting those talents an opportunity, and the Giants may be a good landing spot given their track record of developing prospects.
Baltimore Orioles selected Preston Palmeiro, first baseman, N.C. State (Round 7, Pick 211): The son of Rafael Palmeiro, Preston Palmeiro joins the organization where his father’s career ended in 2005. We wrote more about his selection right here.
[Elsewhere: Buster Posey’s bat had to be rescued from the protective netting]
Toronto Blue Jays selected Cavan Biggio, infielder, Notre Dame (Round 5, Pick 162): He’s the son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, and he seems to have a bright future. We wrote about his baseball prospects and the special moment he shared with his brother, Conor Biggio, on Friday:
Chicago Cubs selected Chad Hockin, pitcher, Cal State Fullerton (Round 6, Pick 194): The name may not immediate jump out, but Hockin is the grandson of Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-hander will join a Cubs team that’s deep throughout the organization, but his time at Cal State Fullerton seems to have prepared him for the challenges ahead. He’s a name to watch.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
