Major Leagues
Bobby Witt and Son, Bobby Witt Jr., Become Highest Father-Son Draft Picks
Witt Jr picked at #2 while dad was #3 in 1985.
In 1985, the Texas Rangers drafted right handed pitcher Bobby Witt in the 1st Round (3rd Overall) of the MLB Amateur Draft out of Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, NJ.
Witt went on to pitch 16 years in the majors with seven different teams, but spent 11 seasons with the Rangers during two different sets of years, first from 1986 to 1992, then again from 1995 to 1998. He won 142 games, with a high of 17 in 1990 with the Rangers, then 16 in 1996 again with Texas. Witt started 397 games, while recording 1955 strike outs.
He pitched in five postseason games and was a part of the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks team that beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series.
In all the glory that Witt had the on the field, there probably was much more joy when he sat with his son Bobby Witt Jr. on Monday night at their home waiting for the call to come that could take his son on the same journey that he experienced for over 16 years in the game.
With the 2nd pick of the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, the Kansas City Royals selected Bobby Witt Jr., a shortstop out of Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, TX. After the pick became a reality, the Witt family became the highest drafted Father-Son duo. Previous high belonged to Tom Grieve (#6, 1966) and Ben Grieve (#2, 1994).
Both Witt’s were drafted out of High School, but the younger Witt went one draft pick higher then his dad, but just thinking about that makes you realize the talent in the family.
The Royals #2 overall pick played on the High School Varsity Baseball team as a sophomore during the 2016-2017 season and batted .500 (17 for 34) in 11 games, hitting two home runs.
In the 2018-2019 season, as a senior, he played in 39 games, batting .496 (64 for 129), with 63 runs scored, 14 doubles, nine triples, launched 15 home runs and 55 RBIs.
Witt Jr. was on the roster for the 2018 Perfect Game All-American Classic and was rated through Perfect Game as an outstanding defensive shortstop who can really hit.
At Colleyville Heritage High School, Witt Jr.’s varsity team went 30-2, winning the 2019 District Championship. The team won their Regional Final game and will play in the State Championship game from June 5-8.
Since 2000, when Witt Jr. was born, there have been some big names selected with the 2nd overall draft pick, who have made a career in the majors, like Mark Prior (2001), Melvin Upton Jr. (2002), Rickie Weeks Jr. (2003), Justin Verlander (2004), Alex Gordon (2005), Mike Moustakas (2007), Pedro Alvarez (2008), Byron Buxton (2012), Kris Bryant (2013), and Alex Bregman (2015).
With the family genes and also the pure talent, in time Witt Jr. should have his name up in lights in Kansas City.
Congrats to Bobby Witt Jr and the Witt family on being selected by the Royals as the 2nd overall pick in the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft.
David Conde
David is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Legends On Deck®, as well as a Co-Host on Legends On Deck Podcast. David was a Senior Editor for MetsMerizedOnline.com, MetsMinors.net and Contributor for Hardballchat.com that spanned from 2010 to 2014. David made his MLB Debut as a writer in June 2014, while covering the NY Mets at Citi Field, for MetsmerizedOnline.com. David also coaches baseball for ages 13-15, a Babe Ruth League team in his local community. David's passion is coaching the game he loves to the future Legends of Tomorrow as well as making available a website that people can have fun sharing and reading. David is also passionate about his career as a Mortgage Loan Officer which allows him to help many families reach their dreams of owning a home. Connect with David via his Social Media pages as he loves to chat all about baseball.
