Ranking the Top 10 Prospects Trying to Follow in MLB Fathers' Footsteps

From Nick Gordon to Raul Adalberto Mondesi, the minor leagues are littered with prominent prospects trying to follow the same paths of their famous fathers.

While Gordon and Mondesi are among the most gifted of all the legacy prospects, the shortstops are far from the only farmhands with MLB bloodlines who are making their way to the majors. In the process of ranking the top 10 prospects who are trying to follow their dads in the family business, three primary factors were taken into consideration.

• Minor league, collegiate and high school track records
• Draft position
• The upside of a given player

Prospects at a variety of minor league levels landed a spot in the top 10 that follows, but the list is dominated by players selected in this month's draft.

Honorable Mention

The Legacy Prospect

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doesn't qualify for these rankings because he's yet to sign with a major league club, but the Dominican prospect is so good that he garners an honorable mention.

The son of the nine-time All-Star and 2004 American League MVP, Guerrero Jr. has an extremely bright future. According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, the outfielder "could be the best overall hitter in the [international prospect] class."

Guerrero Jr. is eligible to sign with a major league club starting July 2.

10. Hutton Moyer, 2B, Los Angeles Angels

The Legacy Prospect

Hutton Moyer is the first of a slew of 2015 draft picks to hit this top 10.

The son of longtime MLB starter Jamie Moyer, the switch-hitting second baseman offers a lot of pop at a position where power is difficult to come by. During his junior season at Pepperdine, Moyer crushed 14 home runs in 59 games.

What makes that output even more noteworthy is that Moyer didn't connect on a single homer during his sophomore season in the West Coast Conference. While he didn't go yard, he did show flashes of power potential, totaling 24 doubles and four triples in 2014.

9. Cam Gibson, CF, Detroit Tigers

The Legacy Prospect

After he spent three seasons at Michigan State, the Detroit Tigers picked Cam Gibson, the son of Kirk Gibson, with the club's fifth-round selection. While he hit .310 during his run with the Spartans, it's his wheels rather than his bat that are his most impressive tool.

"The main thing is the speed and the intensity," Tigers scout Clyde Weir said, via George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press. "And the whole combination of tools. He's got the chance to be a real exciting player. When he gets on base, he can really make things happen."

According to Weir, Gibson's speed also makes him a viable option to remain in center field as he progresses through Detroit's farm system.

8. Tate Matheny, CF, Boston Red Sox

The Legacy Prospect

After a highly successful three-year run at Missouri State, Tate Matheny, the son of St. Louis Cardinals skipper Mike Matheny, is now a member of the Boston Red Sox's organization. The American League East squad acquired the center fielder with its fourth-round pick in this month's draft.

The right-handed hitter never showed a ton of power during his time at college, as he topped out with nine home runs during his sophomore season. But Matheny always demonstrated a knack for hitting at a high clip (.319) and reaching base at an impressive rate (.411 OBP).

7. Mariano Rivera Jr., P, Washington Nationals

The Legacy Prospect

Thanks to a standout senior season at Iona College, Mariano Rivera Jr. drastically improved his stock in the run up to this month's draft.

One year after the New York Yankees selected the right-hander in the 29th round, the Washington Nationals ended up grabbing Rivera Jr. in the fourth round. As he proved over the past few moths, he's more than just the son of the Sandman.

Rivera Jr. was lights-out during his final season in the collegiate ranks, sporting a 2.65 ERA in 14 starts and punching out a school-record 113 batters in 85 frames.

6. Tyler Nevin, 3B, Colorado Rockies

The Legacy Prospect

The No. 38 selection earlier this month, Tyler Nevin couldn't quite match his father Phil, who was the No. 1 overall pick way back in 1992. Still, there's a lot to like about the Colorado Rockies' new prospect.

The right-handed hitter put up an impressive stat line during his senior season at Poway High School near San Diego, as he logged a .409 average in 36 contests. Plus, he knows full well what kind of road is ahead of him.

"It is, in fact, a grind," Nevin said, via Nick Groke of the Denver Post. "It's not easy. Just day in and day out, dealing with your struggles, the high times and the low times. It's how you bounce back. There's always a game tomorrow night."

On the days he's having a difficult time bouncing back, Nevin can call on his dad, who is now manager for the Diamondbacks' Triple-A club.

5. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates

The Legacy Prospect

Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the No. 32 pick in the 2015 draft, Ke'Bryan Hayes is wasting no time getting down to business.

According to Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the 18-year-old has already inked a deal with the Bucs. As he embarks upon his professional career, the third baseman thinks it can only help that he had the chance to watch his father, Charlie, play in the bigs.

“Having my dad playing 14 years in the majors and having my brother play in the minors, I understand the daily grind of the minors, and everything they taught me I have soaked it in, and I am ready for the challenge," Hayes said, per Zeise.

There are plenty of challenges ahead for Hayes. According to Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington, the first will be a stint with the Gulf Coast League Pirates.

4. Daz Cameron, CF, Houston Astros

The Legacy Prospect

The Houston Astros just might have landed a monster steal by selecting Daz Cameron with the No. 37 selection in this month's draft.

The outfielder likely would have gone even higher if not for his "high contract demands," as Jaylon Thompson of the Houston Chronicle put it. It's easy enough to see why Cameron is looking to cash in. The son of the former MLB outfielder Mike Cameron has the skills required to become a triple-threat on the big league stage.

During his senior season at Eagles Landing Christian Academy in Georgia, Cameron did damage at the plate, covered all sorts of ground in center field and was a menace on the basepaths. In 25 games, the right-handed hitter cracked eight home runs and swiped 17 bags.

3. Hunter Harvey, SP, Baltimore Orioles

Rob Carr/Getty Images

The Legacy Prospect

The No. 22 overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft, Hunter Harvey has the talent to land even higher in the rankings.

Unfortunately for the Baltimore Orioles, the son of the former big league reliever Bryan Harvey is currently on the shelf with an elbow issue.

Harvey hasn't throw a pitch yet in 2015, and he received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow back in May, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. The O's hope the injection will help Harvey avoid surgery.

When the right-hander has been on the mound, the results have been highly promising. In 25 starts in the minors, Harvey has reeled off a 2.87 ERA and a 10.9 K/9 ratio. Elbow injuries are always scary for a pitcher, but Baltimore has the luxury of being patient with the pitcher who is still 20 years old.

2. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals

The Legacy Prospect

Only 19 years old, Raul Adalberto Mondesi has already caught the eye of Kansas City Royals skipper Ned Yost.

"Everything jumps out," Yost said of the son of former major league outfielder Raul Mondesi, via Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. "He's that kind of guy. He just stands out a little bit. He's going to be a special player."

Yost made those comments back at the beginning of spring training, and since then, Mondesi's stats haven't exactly jumped off the page. The switch-hitter is batting .266 in 30 Double-A contests, but it's worth putting those numbers into context.

While playing for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Mondesi is 5.4 years younger than the average player in the Texas League, per Baseball-Reference.com. At the current rate he's rising through the system, Mondesi should arrive at Kauffman Stadium before his 21st birthday.

1. Nick Gordon, SS, Minnesota Twins

The Legacy Prospect

Checking in at the No. 28 spot in MLB.com's list of the top 100 farmhands, Nick Gordon isn't just the best legacy prospect in the game—he's one of the best prospects in all the minor leagues.

The Minnesota Twins snagged the shortstop with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2014 draft. Gordon is already climbing his way through the ranks, as the left-handed batter currently plays for Minnesota's Low-A affiliate, the Cedar Rapids Kernals.

Just 19 years old, Gordon is 2.4 years younger than the average player in the circuit, per Baseball-Reference.com.

As he climbs up the ladder, the speedy infielder will not only be able to call on his father—the former big league reliever Tom Gordon—for advice, but also his brother Dee Gordon, the spark plug for the Miami Marlins.

Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, MLB.com, 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.