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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Thursday, June 9, 2005

Several sons of former big leaguers are drafted

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 •  A-Rod powers Yankees' rout

By Dennis Waszak Jr.
Associated Press

NEW YORK — Jose Mesa might play with his son in the majors some day. Ron Gardenhire and Mike Hargrove could get the chance to manage theirs.

The sons of all three former big leaguers were among the handful of familiar names taken yesterday during the final day of the baseball draft.

Juan Mesa, the 20-year-old son of Pittsburgh's closer, was drafted by the Pirates in the 23rd round.

"I'm proud, because my dream was for him to be a ballplayer and to see what he could do, to see if he can sign as a ballplayer," said the elder Mesa, who recently turned 39. "He'd better make it quick, because I'm not going to stick around forever — he's got to make it in one or two years."

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Mesa was expected to be assigned to Pittsburgh's rookie team in Bradenton. The outfielder impressed Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon during a workout out at PNC Park last summer.

"He had a little juice in the bat, and he's a strong kid," McClendon said. "I liked his size, the agility and the bat speed. I think he's got a chance."

The Seattle Mariners took their manager's son, Kent State first baseman Andrew Hargrove, in the 47th round. Hargrove hit .271 with three homers and 24 RBIs in 46 games for the Golden Flashes.

"He's got good power," said Bob Fontaine, Seattle's vice president of scouting. "He's following in big footsteps because his dad was a good hitter."

The Mariners also drafted Southern California right-hander Brett Bannister, the son of former star lefty Floyd Bannister, in the 19th round.

Minnesota took Illinois shortstop Toby Gardenhire, the son of the Twins' skipper, in the 41st round. He hit .246 with one homer and 33 RBIs for the Illini.

Also selected during the draft's second day were the sons of Tim Wallach, John Shelby and Astros third-base coach Doug Mansolino.

In the 23rd round, St. Louis took Kansas first baseman A.J. Van Slyke, the second of Andy Van Slyke's sons to be drafted. The Los Angeles Dodgers picked Missouri high school outfielder Scott Van Slyke in the 14th round.

St. Louis brought back a great name from the franchise's past, taking Old Dominion second baseman Jesse Schoendienst, the great-nephew of Hall of Fame infielder and former Cardinals manager Red Schoendienst, in the 40th round.

The sons of Roger Clemens, John Mayberry, Carney Lansford, Garth Iorg, Ivan DeJesus and Bryan Harvey were among those selected on the draft's first day.

In baseball's version of "Mr. Irrelevant," the New York Yankees took Grayson Community College catcher Blake Heym with the final pick of the draft — No. 1,501.