Odds of Each 2015 MLB Draft Legacy Prospect Reaching MLB

Even for legacy prospects like Daz Cameron and Mariano Rivera Jr., the road from the 2015 MLB draft to the bigs is not an easy one.

It doesn't hurt that Cameron and Rivera have had an inside look at what it takes to hack it at the highest level, but ultimately, it's all about the results on the field, not the names on the back of their jerseys.

In the process of determining the odds of each legacy prospect reaching the majors, the most important factor taken into consideration was each player's track record. Three of the four players on this list were drafted right out of high school, which makes the projection process extra difficult, as they have so much climbing left to do.

While none of these prospects are guaranteed to make it to the majors, the odds are looking good, considering all four players were drafted in the top four rounds.

Mariano Rivera Jr., RHP, Washington Nationals

The Legacy

Mariano Rivera wasn't bummed out that his old club, the New York Yankees, passed up on the opportunity to draft his son, Mariano Rivera Jr.

“No disappointment. This is business,” Rivera said, per Daniel Popper of the New York Daily News after the Washington Nationals snagged his namesake in the fourth round (No. 134). “We treat it like that.”

The Yankees had actually selected Rivera Jr. in the 29th round in 2014, but the right-hander decided to turn the team down and return to Iona College. That turned out to be a brilliant decision.

In 2015, Rivera Jr. piled up a school-record 113 strikeouts in 86 innings. In college, the 21-year-old pitched out of the rotation. Now that he's a professional, a switch to the pen could be just the move to help the son of the Sandman catapult to the majors.

The Odds: 1 to 1

Tyler Nevin, 3B, Colorado Rockies

The Legacy

The son of former big leaguer Phil Nevin, Tyler Nevin can flat-out rake.

Just look at his numbers he put up in 2015 during his senior season. In 36 games, the 18-year-old hit .409 with 15 doubles and seven bombs.

Of course, crushing the competition while playing at Poway High School in California is a whole different story than excelling in the major leagues.

Like any other high school prospect, Nevin has a ton of climbing to do before he can even think about stepping onto a big league diamond. While he's still years out from a potential MLB debut, it sounds like there is an excellent chance the third baseman will sign a deal with the Rockies.

"I'm ready to play ball. I'm confident we can get something done," Nevin said, per John Maffei of the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I'd like to get out and start my career."

The Odds: 3 to 2

Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates

The Legacy

Ke'Bryan Hayes, who the Pittsburgh Pirates grabbed with the No. 32 overall pick, is the highest draft pick to make the legacy list.

The son of 14-year big league vet Charlie Hayes, the third baseman can do it all. In 2015, Hayes hit .436 for Concordia Lutheran High School in Texas while impressing with his glove at the hot corner. The 18-year-old also has a great mind for baseball.

“He plays pitch to pitch and he never shows any emotions regardless of the situation. It’s just pitch to pitch," Concordia Lutheran head coach Rick Lynch said, per Angel Verdejo Jr. of the Houston Chronicle. “He has the major league mentality already.”

With his impressive physical and mental skill sets and his big league pedigree, Hayes has all the traits required to rise through the ranks.

The Odds: 1 to 3

Daz Cameron, OF, Houston Astros

The Legacy

Mike Cameron was planning ahead when he named his son Daz.

"I didn't want him to have to bear my name if he ever decided to play baseball, because I know how hard it is already," Cameron explained, per Jerry Crasnick of ESPN. "We just wanted to give him his own identity, and sure enough he has his own identity."

Selected by the Houston Astros in with the No. 37 overall pick, the younger Cameron has certainly built his own identity. Still, when he steps onto the diamond, it's impossible not to notice that the outfielder has the same looping swing as his father.

The future looks awfully bright for Cameron. As Jaylon Thompson of the Houston Chronicle noted, the right-handed hitter would have been drafted even sooner if not for his "high contract demands."

Now, Cameron has the chance to make all those other clubs regret passing up on him in the opening round of the draft.

The Odds: 1 to 3

Note: All stats courtesy of TheBaseballCube.com and MaxPreps.com. All videos courtesy of MLB.com and YouTube.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.