Orioles Draft Carl Yastrzemski’s Grandson in 14th Round

Baseball is not a fairy tale. The sport’s lineage springs from a long line of tobacco spitting, cursing, spike sharpening country boys, college graduates and inner city (at least through the 70s when cities still had the space and invested in baseball) toughs.

May 25, 2013; Hoover, AL, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores outfielder Mike Yastrzemski (18) celebrates his run scored with teammate Zander Wiel (43) against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the SEC baseball tournament at the Hoover Met. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

If baseball were a fairy tale, the grandson of Carl Yastrzemski would not have been drafted out of Vanderbilt in the 14th round by the Baltimore Orioles.  Mike Yastrzemski would have been drafted by the Red Sox and after a short stint in the minors would have displayed the freakish talent of his Hall of Fame grandfather and gone on to do great things in Boston. Then I woke up.

A product of St. John’s Pep in Danvers, MA, Yastrzemski has been tutored by his famous grandfather throughout his high school and college career at Vanderbilt. Yaz stepped in after his son and Mike’s dad, also named Mike, died at age 44 in 2004 from a heart attack after hip surgery.

The young Yastrzemski has amassed statistics and awards during his college career worthy of his draft placement. “I think he’s got a chance [to eventually play in the majors],” Yaz told Globe sports writer Stan Grossfeld. “He can hit. He’s a good outfielder, he runs well, and he’s got a strong arm. He’s come a long way.” Grossfeld’s entire piece can be found here.

Mike Yastrzemski is among a bumper crop of famous 2013 draftees, including Cody Yount (Robin), Kacy Clemens (Roger), Cavan Biggio (Craig) Josh Pettitte (Andy). Yastrzemski was drafted by the Red Sox in 2009 and the Seattle Mariners in 2012 but both times decided to finish his career at Vanderbilt.