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All in the family Sons follow in fathers' major league footsteps
NEW YORK (CNNSI.com) -- The running theme for the 2000 amateur baseball draft was "Like Father, Like Son." Several former major leaguers celebrated the selection of their sons. Jason Fingers, the son of Hall of Fame reliever Rollie Fingers, went to Kansas City with the 284th pick. The right-hander from Arizona State doesn't share his father's famous handlebar mustache but has some of his pitching prowess, going 2-1 with one save and a 3.63 ERA for the Sun Devils. Former All-Stars Lance Parrish and Joe Niekro also had sons drafted. David Parrish was drafted by the New York Yankees with the 28th pick in the first round. Like his dad was during a 19-year major league career, Parrish is a solid two-way player behind the plate. He led Michigan in a number of offensive categories, including batting average (.356), home runs (11) and RBIs (41). Lance Niekro, an infielder from Division II Florida Southern, was the 61st pick by San Francisco. Niekro, a draft-eligible sophomore, was the Cape Cod League MVP last summer and hit .366 with seven homers and 63 RBIs for Florida Southern this season. Tony Gwynn's son, Anthony, a center fielder for Poway High School in California, was selected by Atlanta on the 33rd round with the 1,000th pick. Atlanta selected Pennsylvania high school shortstop Aaron Herr, son of former Cardinals second baseman Tom Herr, with the 40th pick. Herr hit .418 for Hempfield High School in Lancaster, Pa. San Francisco drafted Cuesta College right-hander Kyle Gross, son of infielder Wayne Gross, with the 151st selection. St. John's second baseman Matt Galante Jr., son of Houston Astros bench coach Matt Galante, was drafted in the 13th round by St. Louis. Toronto selected Triton (N.C.) High School left-hander Eric Stephenson, son of lefty Earl Stephenson, in the 15th round. Seattle picked Waco (Texas) High School left-hander John "Sam" Hays, grandson of former major leaguer pitcher Sid Hudson, with its first pick in the draft -- at No. 116. Sons of former big leaguers who had to wait until Tuesday to see if their names were called included North Carolina high school outfielder Joe Gaetti, son of third baseman Gary Gaetti; Texas high school shortstop Enrique Cruz, son of outfielder Jose Cruz and brother of Jose Jr.; and New Hampshire high school right-hander Chris Gale, son of pitcher Rich Gale. Florida selected first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, from Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, Calif., with the No. 1 pick.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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