Sons Follow The Fathers

At the turn of this century, the Montreal Expos featured two of the best prospects in baseball—a pair of excellent hitters with plenty of power potential as well.

But first, they had to master potty training.

While Vladimir Guerrero and Fernando Tatis played for the Expos, their sons Vladimir Jr. and Fernando Jr. were running around the clubhouse.

Tatis Jr. was born in January 1999 and Guerrero Jr. followed two months later in March 1999. Guerrero and Tatis played together with the Expos from 2001-03, so the two sons were around each other during their toddler and preschool years. Now they are two of the top prospects in baseball, and they faced off against each other in the low Class A Midwest League and the winter Dominican League.

“We’re about the same age,” Tatis Jr. said. “Now Vladdy Jr. and I are playing together. It’s a small world, and it’s crazy.”

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Tatis Jr. and Guerrero Jr. are just part of a wave of highly touted sons of former professional players.

No. 1 prospect Ronald Acuna Jr. is the son of ex-Mets minor league outfielder Ronald Acuna. Guerrero’s teammate Bo Bichette (No. 8 on the Top 100 Prospects) is the son of Rockies outfielder Dante Bichette. Padres righthander Cal Quantrill (No. 52) is the son of long-time big league reliever Paul Quantrill, and Twins shortstop Nick Gordon (No. 93) is the son of closer Tom Gordon—and the half-brother of Mariners center fielder Dee Gordon.