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Sons of MLB Legends Headline 2025 Draft Class: Holliday, McGwire, Ramirez, and More

The 2025 MLB Draft features a star-studded next generation, including the sons of Matt Holliday, Mark McGwire, Jeff Kent, and C.C. Sabathia

Gary Adornato

Carsten Sabathia (left) is set to follow in the MLB footsteps of his father, CC Sabathia (right), beginning with the 2025 MLB Draft next week.
Carsten Sabathia (left) is set to follow in the MLB footsteps of his father, CC Sabathia (right), beginning with the 2025 MLB Draft next week. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Baseball’s Next Generation Takes the Spotlight in 2025 MLB Draft

The 2025 MLB Draft is shaping up to be a family affair. In a recent article, For The Win / USA Today, took a look at the members of this year's MLB draft class who are the sons of Major League legends—many of whom fans cheered on in the ‘90s and early 2000s.

Leading the list is Ethan Holliday, the top overall prospect and younger brother of Orioles star Jackson Holliday. The Stillwater High School shortstop boasts elite power from the left side and is projected to shift to third base as a pro.

Cam Leiter, nephew of Al and Mark Leiter, brings a 98-mph fastball from Florida State, while Kaeden Kent, son of five-time All-Star Jeff Kent, is turning heads after a strong career at Texas A&M.

Fans of classic power hitting will recognize Max McGwire, son of home run icon Mark McGwire, and Manny Ramirez Jr., whose father was a 12-time All-Star. Meanwhile, Brady Counsell (son of Cubs manager Craig Counsell), Austin Pierzynski, Jake Casey, and Carsten Sabathia—son of soon-to-be Hall of Famer C.C. Sabathia—round out this remarkable class of legacy talent.

These rising stars are writing the next chapter of baseball history. With familiar names and fresh potential, the 2025 MLB Draft promises to be a bridge from the past to the future.

📰 Full story via For The Win / USA Today:

Mark McGwire, Jeff Kent and 7 more baseball stars with sons in the 2025 MLB Draft

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Gary Adornato
GARY ADORNATO

Gary Adornato is the Senior VP of Content for High School On SI and SBLive Sports. He began covering high school sports with the Baltimore Sun in 1982, while still a mass communications major at Towson University. In 2003 became one of the first journalists to cover high school sports online while operating MIAASports.com, the official website of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association. Later, Adornato pioneered market-wide coverage of high school sports with DigitalSports.com, introducing video highlights and player interviews while assembling an award-winning editorial staff. In 2010, he launched VarsitySportsNetwork.com which became the premier source of high school media coverage in the state of Maryland. In 2022, he sold VSN to The Baltimore Banner and joined SBLive Sports as the company's East Coast Managing Editor.

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