Bobby Witt Jr. and his father make draft history as high picks

Bobby Witt Jr., a Texas high school shortstop, drafted second overall by the Kansas City Royals, joining his father as a top-three pick

Bobby Witt Jr. is about to make his own name in professional baseball, but before him there was Bobby Witt Sr.

When Witt Jr. was selected second overall by the Kansas City Royals on Monday, he and his father became the first father-son duo to be picked in the top-three of the MLB Draft. Witt Sr. was picked third overall in 1985 by the Texas Rangers and went on to a 16-year career in the Majors, going 142-157 in 397 starts with a 4.83 ERA.

His son, who turns 19 in 11 days, is a talented shortstop from Colleyville Heritage High School in Texas. Witt Jr. was the second-ranked prospect going into the draft after a remarkable high school career. He won the High School Home Run Derby at the MLB All-Star Game in Washington last year and was named Gatorade National Player of the Year and MVP of the Pan-American Championships. In his senior year, he’s hitting .489 with more more home runs (15) than strikeouts (11).

Witt Jr., 6-foot-0 and 180 pounds, is described as a five-tool shortstop who has an aggressive approach at the plate. MLB Pipeline projects him as a potential 20-20 player in the big leagues. With Adalberto Mondesi blossoming into an All-Star at shortstop for the Royals, Witt Jr. could potentially move to the outfield when he reaches the big leagues. Should he pass up signing with the Royals, Witt is committed to play for Oklahoma, his father’s alma mater.

The Witt’s are the seventh father-son duo to each be drafted in the first round. Tom and Ben Grieve, drafted sixth and second, respectively, previously had the lowest combined pick number.

Witt Jr. is the highest draft pick for the Royals since they took Mike Moustakas with the second overall pick in 2007.