List of second-generation Major League Baseball players

In 1992, Bret Boone became the first third-generation MLB player.

There are 5 third-generation MLB-player families:

• The Bells (Gus, Buddy, David, Mike)
• The Boones (Ray, Bob, Bret, Aaron)
• The Colemans (Joe, Joe Jr., Casey)
• The Hairstons (Sammy, Jerry, Johnny, Jerry Jr., Scott)
• The Schofield/Werths (Ducky Schofield, Dick Schofield, and Jayson Werth). Werth is the grandson of Ducky Schofield and nephew of Dick Schofield, and also the stepson of Dennis Werth.

In addition to the pairs listed above, there have been 21 other pairs of grandfathers and grandsons who played Major League Baseball. Two of the grandsons are well-known current players: Rick Porcello's maternal grandfather was Sam Dente, and Mike Yastrzemski's paternal grandfather is Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski.

There are four third-generation families affiliated with MLB in roles other than team player:

• The Runges (Ed, Paul, Brian) are a family of MLB Umpires.
• The Carays (Harry, Skip, Chip) are a family of MLB Broadcasters.
• The DeWitts (brothers Bill DeWitt and Charlie: GM/owners of St. Louis Browns; William DeWitt Jr.: principal owner/managing partner of St. Louis Cardinals; Bill DeWitt III: St. Louis Cardinals President) are a family of MLB executives.
• The Veecks (William Veeck Sr.: Chicago Cubs President; Bill Veeck: Cleveland Indians Owner, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago White Sox; Mike Veeck: owner of independent minor-league St. Paul Saints) are a family of MLB executives.

As of 2020, there has never been a fourth-generation major league player. However, two potential fourth-generation players have been drafted and/or signed to minor-league contracts.

In 2017, Jake Boone was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 38^th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, but did not sign.[4] Jake's father is Bret Boone; his grandfather is Bob Boone; and his great-grandfather was the late Ray Boone. (Also, Aaron Boone is his uncle.) Jake played college baseball at Princeton University for three seasons before signing a free-agent contract with the Nationals in July 2020. He was unable to play professional ball immediately after signing his contract because Minor League Baseball canceled its 2020 season.[5] [6]

Luke Bell was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 34th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. His father Mike Bell was a 13-season minor leaguer who played briefly for the Cincinnati Reds in 2000 and is currently the vice president of player development for the Diamondbacks.[7] Luke Bell's uncle is David Bell; his grandfather is Buddy Bell; and his great-grandfather was the late Gus Bell. Luke Bell opted not to play Minor League Baseball in 2019 after he was drafted, and in 2020 he made 5 appearances as a pitcher for Chandler-Gilbert Community College before the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are three known cases of a great-grandson following in his great-grandfather's footsteps to play Major League Baseball. Bill Wilkinson played for the Seattle Mariners from 1985 to 1988; his great-grandfather, Jim Bluejacket played for Brooklyn in the Federal League in 1914-15 and for the Cincinnati Reds in 1916. More recently, current player Drew Pomeranz of the San Diego Padres and six other teams, as well as his brother Stu Pomeranz who played briefly in 2012, both followed in the footsteps of their grand-grandfather Garland Buckeye who was a regular starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians for three years in the mid-1920s and also appeared in one game each with two other teams.

The MacPhail family is the first family known to have four generations affiliated with Major League Baseball in roles other than as players. Larry[8] was the general manager of the Reds and Dodgers as well as the president, general manager, and co-owner of the Yankees. Larry's son, Lee[9], was president and general manager of the Orioles, executive vice president and general manager of the Yankees, and president of the American League. Larry and Lee are also the only father-and-son duo to have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame[10]. The MacPhails became baseball's first three-generation family when Lee MacPhail III became an executive with the Reading Phillies of the Eastern League. Lee II's other son, Andy[11], is the president of the Phillies and was previously general manager of the Twins, president and chief executive officer of the Cubs, and president of baseball operations for the Orioles. The family became baseball's first four-generation family with Lee MacPhail III's son, Lee MacPhail IV, who has served as director of scouting for the Indians, Expos, Nationals, and Orioles.

• Baseball Almanac
• Major League Umpires All-time Roster. MLB.com