Meet the players from famous families selected in 2026 MLB Draft, from Jim Thome's son to Barry Bonds' nephew

At least on the field, baseball isn't typically a sport that draws many allegations of nepotism.

With the skill and talent needed to even make a big-league roster, there's little room for an MLB franchise to utilize a draft pick on a player just because of their last name. But sometimes, as it turns out, that player comes from a well-known baseball family.

In the 2026 MLB Draft, there have been a collection of players with familial connections to past stars, active coaches and other top prospects.

Here's a full collection of the 2026 MLB draftees with some already well-known last names in the baseball world.

MORE: Full list of picks at the 2026 MLB Draft

Players from famous baseball families selected in 2026 MLB Draft

Jacob Lombard, George Lombard Jr.'s brother

• Draft pick: No. 14
• Team: Marlins

One of the top-ranked prospects in the 2026 class is related to one of MLB's top current prospects.

While infielder George Lombard Jr. is the Yankees' No. 1 prospect, MLB.com's No. 20 across the league, his brother will now become one of the Marlins' top youngsters. Three years ago, George went No. 26 overall to New York. Jacob Lombard now joins him in the minor leagues at No. 14 to Miami, allowing him to stay in his hometown state. On both sides of the ball, the younger Lombard's athleticism has shined.

The two brothers are also the son of former big leaguer George Lombard.

Jacob Lombard is no stranger to hitting at LoanDepot Park 👀 pic.twitter.com/dcnekjr1qS

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) July 11, 2026

Trey Ebel, Dino Ebel's son

• Draft pick: No. 25
• Team: Brewers

Milwaukee's first pick in the 2026 draft comes from a significant baseball family — and he'll be joining his brother.

Corona High School shortstop Trey Ebel joins last year's Brewers' first-round selection, Brady Ebel, in the same organization. Both are the sons of longtime Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel, who also coached Team USA in the 2023 and 2026 World Baseball Classics.

The Ebel brothers will now be two of the Brewers' top prospects.

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 11, 2026

Landon Thome, Jim Thome's son

• Draft pick: No. 34
• Team: White Sox

The White Sox were able to stack up a ton of premiere talent at this year's draft, owning three picks in the top 41. After landing Roch Cholowsky at No. 1, Chicago went for a player at No. 34 with ties to a past franchise star.

Hall of Fame slugger Jim Thome's son, Landon Thome, landed with the White Sox as one of the most well-regarded all-around hitters in the class. While his father went in the 13th round of the 1989 draft, the younger Thome went much higher.

The left-handed-hitting infielder will have big shoes to fill after his father swatted 612 big-league homers, but power and hitting ability were the appeal for Landon Thome as well.

— CHGO White Sox (@CHGO_WhiteSox) July 12, 2026

Peyton Bonds, Barry Bonds' nephew

• Draft pick: No. 90
• Team: Giants

The Thome family wasn't the only one to see a young star land with a familiar franchise. With their third-round pick, the Giants took the nephew of the greatest slugger not just in their franchise history, but MLB history.

Barry Bonds' nephew, Peyton Bonds, was an outfielder at Rutgers. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, the young Bonds has been praised for his bat-to-ball skills and defense in center field.

Now, Peyton Bonds, the son of Bobby Bonds Jr. — who played 11 seasons of professional baseball himself — will be looking to continue a family legacy in baseball that has also included Barry (uncle) and Bobby Bonds (grandfather).

Luke Pettitte, Andy Pettitte's son

• Draft pick: No. 248
• Team: Yankees

Another former star's relative landing with that player's former team? You bet. Luke Pettitte, the son of longtime Yankee Andy Pettitte, was drafted by New York in the eighth round.

A right-handed pitcher coming out of Dallas Baptist, Luke Pettitte is also considered a two-way player; he did not pitch this past season due to Tommy John surgery in 2025, but did hit, totaling 16 home runs in 42 games.

His father won five World Series with the Yankees, now with the chance to continue the Pettitte legacy in the organization.

— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) July 12, 2026

Jaxon Willits, Eli Willits' brother

• Draft pick: No. 141
• Team: Angels

When Eli Willits went No. 1 overall in the 2025 MLB Draft to the Nationals, that was not the end of his family's draft days.

Eli, now the No. 3-ranked prospect in baseball, has a brother Jaxon, who went No. 141 to the Angels this year. The Oklahoma shortstop has an all-around game and is known for his baseball IQ, switch-hitting ability and utility-type skill set.

Reggie Willits, Eli and Jaxon's father, also played parts of six seasons in MLB with the Angels and is currently the associate head coach at Oklahoma. 

STAY HOT SOONERS 🔥@JaxonWillits // 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/FeDxjQ9Lbl

— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) June 15, 2026

Luke Nixon, Trot Nixon's son

• Draft pick: No. 150
• Team: Giants

North Carolina State second baseman Luke Nixon went No. 150 to the Giants, and he'll look to follow in his father's shoes.

Over 12 major-league seasons, Trot Nixon had a career OPS of .828 and was a member of the 2004 World Series champion Red Sox.

Ethan Norby, Connor Norby's brother

• Draft pick: No. 122
• Team: Reds

East Carolina left-handed pitcher Ethan Norby landed with Cincinnati at pick No. 122, marking the second member of the Norby family to be drafted.

Ethan's older brother, Connor, was a second-round pick in 2021, and he's now in the Marlins organization after being a part of the Trevor Rogers trade with the Orioles.

The Reds' new arm had one of the best sliders in college baseball last season, including a 19-strikeout performance vs. Coastal Carolina in March.

Aidan Teel, Kyle Teel's brother

• Draft pick: No. 317
• Team: Twins

Current White Sox catcher Kyle Teel could have a brother in the big leagues a few years from now. Aidan Teel, an outfielder from Mississippi State, went to the Twins at No. 317 overall.

The outfielder hit .317 in 2025, scoring 51 runs with 41 RBIs. Kyle Teel, meanwhile, was a 2023 first-rounder by the White Sox who was a part of the 2024 Garrett Crochet deal.