Blue Jays could add to their collection of second generation big leaguers

The Blue Jays have plenty of second generation big leaguers in their organization, and there are plenty of big names in this year’s draft if they want more.

The young core of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Bo Bichette, and Cavan Biggio of the Toronto Blue Jays are already very well known around MLB circles because of their talent, and the impact they made last season as first year players. However, their names carried a fair bit of weight before they ever played their first game.

Of course, that’s because two of the three are sons of MLB Hall of Famers, and the third’s Dad was an excellent player in his own right. Vladimir Guerrero (Sr.), Craig Biggio, and Dante Bichette were all players that I grew up watching, which is part of what makes this generation of the Blue Jays even more fun. And if the front office is digging the theme, this year’s draft presents an opportunity to add to it even more.

Over at MLB.com, Andrew Simon published an article yesterday talking about the 2nd generation players that will available in next month’s draft, and there certainly some familiar names. For Blue Jays fans there are a few in particular I wanted to make note of.

More from Jays Journal

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

Last month I had the opportunity to talk with former Blue Jays second baseman Homer Bush, and it was clear that he’s a proud father of his son Homer Bush Jr. At the moment Bush Jr. has committed to playing at Grand Canyon University for next season, but if he ends up being picked in the first (and only) five rounds this year, that could change his plans. Secondly would be Trei Cruz, the son of former Blue Jays outfielder Jose Cruz Jr., who played in Toronto for six seasons. Trei is ranked as the 127th prospect at MLB.com, projecting to be drafted this year.

There are some other pretty big baseball names to have a look at as well in Peyton Glavine (son of Brave’s legend Tom Glavine), Darren Baker (son of Astros’ current manager, Dusty Baker), Jake Boone (Bret Boone‘s son, and obviously coming from a long baseball lineage), Dante Girardi (son of Joe Girardi), for one more Blue Jays connection, Mariano Ricciardi, son of former Blue Jays GM J.P. RIcciradi. That’s not even close to an exhaustive list of 2nd generation players available either, and for a full read be sure to have a look at Simon’s piece at MLB.com.

As for the Blue Jays, we’ll see if any of these players end up on their draft boards this year. With there only being five rounds instead of the usual 40, a lot of good players are going to miss out on being selected this year, likely including some of the names I’ve listed above. It’s another unfortunate side effect of this whole Covid-19 pandemic, but hopefully life, and baseball, will be able to get back to normal sooner than later.

For now, at least we have the draft to look forward to, and who knows, maybe the Blue Jays will add to their stockpile of 2nd generation big leaguers.