It can be difficult to excel in high school baseball. In addition, he carries a famous surname as the son or nephew of a current or former professional athlete.
But these current players have found a way to make a name for themselves with impressive stat lines, championships and national rankings.
The list includes former athletes and celebrities. Additions or corrections? Email thomas.frey@playonsports.com.
Wyatt Barmes, Berthoud (Cologne)
Father: Clint Barmes. 932 career hits from 2003-15, mostly with the Rockies.
Son: The senior batted .362 with 10 RBIs and .375 in his career.
Rocko Clapp, Oakwood (North Hollywood, California)
Father: Johnny Knoxville. Star Jackass played high school baseball himself at Tennessee and was an All-Knoxville selection along with Todd Helton.
Son: As a sophomore, he has a 0.77 ERA in 27.1 innings pitched for the postseason-bound Owls.
Joseph Contreras, Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.)
Father: Jose Contreras. Since joining the MLB in 2003, he has won 78 games. It was one of the most heralded international signings in MLB history.
Son: Senior pitched for Brazil in the World Baseball Classic and hit a double play off Aaron Judge. The 2025 Perfect Game All-American could be a first-round pick in this summer’s MLB Draft.
Casey Cuddyer, Grand Bridge (Chesapeake, Va.)
Father: Michael Cuddyer. The No. 9 pick in the 1997 MLB Draft was a two-time All-Star and won a batting title with the Rockies in 2013.
Son: The North Carolina senior is dominating with a .525 batting average for the No. 25 out-of-state team.
Shoei Darvish, Catholic Cathedral (San Diego, California)
Father: Yu Darvish. He was a two-time Cy Young runner-up and won 115 games from 2012-25.
Son: The UCSD-leading senior has a 6-0 record with a 1.24 ERA and 36 strikeouts.
Evan DePodestaCatholic Cathedral
Father: Paul DePodesta. President of baseball operations with the Colorado Rockies.
Son: A no-brainer for a staff that had a 2.15 ERA as a team.
Casey Dunn, Second Baptist (Houston, Texas)
Father: Adam Dunn. 462 career home runs with 1,162 RBI from 2001-14. He committed to Texas as a high school player before signing with the Reds.
Son: The sophomore has a .375 on-base percentage and has scored a team-high 11 runs in the postseason. Also an all-region quarterback who completed 61 percent of his passes in the fall.
Trey Ebel, Corona (California)
Father: Dino Ebel. He won three World Series as the third base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Son: The 2025 Perfect Game All-American scored a career-high 418 points. The Texas A&M signee also has six home runs.
Dre Ethier, Brophy College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Father: Andre Ethier. Hit 162 career home runs in 12 years with the Dodgers.
Son: Hit .326 as a junior for the Broncos. He hit for the era and threw 1.1 innings against rival Hamilton last month.
Retton EthierBrophy College Prep
Father: Andre Ethier. He was an All-Star in 2010 and 2011, hitting .292 each season.
Son: The 6-foot-3 freshman has a 1.40 ERA this season and was hitless against Notre Dame Prep while striking out seven.
Barrett Grieve, Bishop (La Jolla, California)
Father: Ben Grieve. The second overall pick in the 1994 MLB Draft had 118 career home runs in nine MLB seasons.
Son: Batted .269 with two home runs as a freshman for the Knights.
Jayce Grilli, Pine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.)
Father: Jason Grilli. Drafted No. 4 in 1997 and had a career ERA of 4.22 over 15 years.
Son: The senior has a 3.94 ERA and the St. Committed to Vincent College.
Drake Hawpe, Liberty Christian (Argyle, Texas)
Father: Brad Hawpe. He won the 2007 World Series. He had 124 career bombs over his nine-year career.
Son: The junior hit .517 with 11 doubles, five triples and four home runs for a team that won 70 percent of its games. The LSU commit also pitches and maintains a 2.47 ERA.
Brady Holliday, Stillwater, Okla.
uncle: Matt Holliday. He was a seven-time All-Star World Series winner and hit 316 career home runs from 2004-18.
nephew: Along with his cousin Jackson and Ethan, he has the same powers as his uncle.
Father: Rob Johnson. He played catcher for seven MLB seasons with the Mariners, Padres, Mets and Cardinals. He hit two of his home runs against four-time All-Star Ben Sheets.
Son: The powerful junior helped the Chaparrals advance to the regional semifinals throughout the postseason. The three-year varsity starter has a 1.155 OPS in 18 games this season.
Josiah Kemp, Choctaw, Okla.
uncle: Matt Kemp. The three-time All-Star hit 287 career home runs and hit the first home run in San Diego Padres history.
nephew: The Oklahoma-bound bats .491 with six home runs for the 22-9 squad.
Hunter Klesko, Coffee (Douglas, Ga.)
Father: Ryan Klesko. During his 16-year career, he hit 279 home runs and won a World Series.
Son: The junior has power and had two big hits for the Trojans this season.
Owen Konerko, Cactus Shades (Cave Creek, Ariz.)
Father: Paul Konerko. The six-time All-Star had 2,340 hits and 439 home runs over his 18-year career.
Son: Batted .348 as a rookie with six doubles and three home runs for a 20-game winning streak.
Trey KotsayCatholic Cathedral
Father: Mark Kotsay. Had 1,784 career hits and 127 home runs in 17 MLB seasons. Now he is the manager of Athletics.
Son: The Princeton signee is hitting .438 with 17 RBIs for the Dons as a senior.
Jorvorskie Lane Jr., Grapevine (Grapevine, Texas)
Father: Jorvorskie Lane Sr. Played as a defender in 41 NFL games and scored three touchdowns.
Son: The senior is on the MaxPreps National Player of the Year watch list after finishing the season with a .380 batting average, 33 RBIs and 15 extra base hits.
Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep (Miami, Florida)
Father: George Lombard. Played in 144 career MLB games with Atlanta, Detroit, Tampa Bay and Washington.
Son: Hitting .500 with nine home runs as a senior. The 2025 Perfect Game All-American pick is a projected top 10 draft pick this summer.
Trent Maybin, Asheville (NC)
Father: Cameron Maybin. The 10th overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft had 72 home runs over his 15-year career.
Son: The Texas signee is hitting .400 with 20 RBIs and seven home runs for the 15-8 Cougars. More than half of his hits went for extra bases.
Dexter McCleon Jr., Buford (Ga.)
Father: Dexter McCleon Sr. The 10-year NFL veteran had 31 career interceptions, including a Super Bowl victory.
Son: One of the best second basemen in the country and a projected top pick in the 2028 MLB Draft.
John Molina, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
Father: Yadier Molina. The two-time World Series champion is one of the greatest hitters of all time and had 2,168 career hits spanning 19 seasons.
Son: Big goes to Texas-Arlington and is a hunter like his father. He is hitting .253 with 17 RBIs and five doubles.
Xavier Nady Jr.Catholic Cathedral
Father: Xavier Nady Sr. Had a .268 batting average in 12 MLB seasons from 2000-14.
Son: The senior has three hits and two RBIs this season.
Father: Lyle Overbay. He played 14 MLB seasons and led the National League with 53 doubles in 2004. He had two seasons in which he hit at least .300 and is currently the Tumwater head baseball coach.
Son: The junior is committed to Michigan for baseball and has helped the Thunderbirds to a 17-4 record this season. The multi-sport star also led the team in rebounds and blocks, helping the basketball team to a state title.
Anthony Pavano, Fairfield Prep (Fairfield, Conn.)
Father: Carl Pavano. During his 14-year MLB career, he won 108 games and one World Series.
Son: The junior has a 5-0 record with a 3.55 ERA and 1.33 strikeouts per inning.
Striker Pence, Santiago (Corona, California)
uncle: Hunter Pence. He won two World Series and was a four-time All-Star between 2007 and 2020.
nephew: One of the best players in 2028 has a 1.00 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 35 innings. Also lethal with the bat, Pence is hitting .443 with 10 doubles and five home runs.
Father: Chad Qualls. During his 14-year career, he participated in 844 games. In the 2005 World Series, the reliever pitched 5.1 innings over three games, allowing one earned run.
Son: A batting ace who can swing the bat like a youngster. Against Cedar Ridge in March, Qualls had a complete game victory.
Carter Sabathia, Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey)
Father: CC Sabathia. He won the MLB Hall of Fame Cy Young and was a six-time All-Star during his 251-win career.
Son: One of the top Class of 2029 prospects, Bergen dominates the freshman team with both bat and arm.
Brody Shumaker, Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, California)
Father: Skip Schumaker. 905 hits and won a World Series during his 11-year playing career. He is now the manager of the Texas Rangers.
Son: The shortstop is signed with TCU, but could hear his name called during the 2026 MLB Draft.
Miller sheets, Sterlington (La.)
Father: Ben Sheets. The four-time All-Star won 94 games in his career with the Brewers and Athletics from 2001-12.
Son: The 2025 Perfect Game All-American hit .421 with 11 doubles, three triples and five home runs. As a pitcher, the Baylor signee didn’t allow a run.
Christian Sheffield, Jesuit (Tampa, Florida)
Father: Gary Sheffield. A nine-time All-Star, he hit .292 and hit 509 home runs in his career.
Son: Batted .269 with 14 RBIs for the No. 19 team in the nation.
RJ Shields, Venice (Fla.)
Father: James Shields. The 2011 All-Star won 145 games as a starter from 2006-18.
Son: The junior allowed one earned run in 19.2 innings of work and is committed to Mississippi State.
Father: Huston Street. The 2005 American League Rookie of the Year recorded 324 saves over his 13-year MLB career. The two-time All-Star had a career ERA of 2.95.
Son: He starts at third base, where he is a defensive wizard. He also pitches for a squad in the third round of the postseason.
DJ SweeneyCatholic Cathedral
Father: Mike Sweeney. A five-time All-Star hit .297 during his 16-year MLB career.
Son: Pitches and hits for the top 100 teams in the country.
Frankie Thomas, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)
Father: Frank Thomas. The MLB Hall of Famer won two MVP awards and smashed 521 career bombs.
Son: The junior, committed to Auburn, hit .405 with three home runs for the nation’s No. 10 team.
Landon Thome, Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park, Ill.)
Father: Jim Thome. The MLB Hall of Famer hit 612 career home runs between 1991 and 2012.
Son: The Florida State signee is hitting .526 as a senior for the Roadrunners.
Keaton the Owl, Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.)
Father: Dan Uggla. The three-time All-Star hit 235 home runs over his 10-year career.
Son: Bats .349 with 21 RBI and heads to Pellissippi State Community College for baseball.
Kaden WaechterJesuit
Father: Doug Waechter. Appeared in 113 games from 2003-09 with Tampa Bay, Florida and Kansas City.
Son: A projected first-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, he has a 5-2 record with a 1.04 ERA for No. 4 Florida State.
Wagner’s share, Albemarle Miller School (Charlottesville, Va.)
Father: Billy Wagner. The MLB Hall of Famer was a seven-time All-Star with 422 career saves.
Son: Coastal Carolina bats .475 and has a 2.43 ERA on the mound for the No. 4 team in Virginia.
