Shawon Dunston Jr., the son of a former Major League stalwart, plays the outfield. His father Shawon Sr. was more famous for his work in the middle infield, though he did play some outfield.
Photo by Mark Bahrenfuss
The burden to bear is large for sons of former Major League Baseball players.
Especially when pops was the first pick in the 1982 Major League Draft. Especially when you carry the exact same name.
But
Shawon Dunston Jr. has never seen it that way. The
Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.) senior says it's all a blessing.
Shawon Dunston Jr. has the option togo play baseball at Vanderbilt ifthe MLB Draft doesn't work out.
Photo by Heston Quan
Rather than shrivel up to all the comparisons and spotlights and gawking, Dunston Jr. is an open bloom, a living, sprinting, charismatic shrine to his dad, an 18-year Major Leagues veteran and current special instructor for the San Francisco Giants.
"My dad taught me everything I know about baseball," Dunston Jr. said Tuesday. "He taught me how to apply it to life – how to push yourself every day and not let up because the competition keeps coming after you. My dad is definitely my role model. He made a living playing baseball for 18 years. That's just what I want to do."
Dunston Jr. has a legitimate shot at it, though he clearly won't be the top pick in June's amateur draft.
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound centerfielder has signed a letter of intent to Vanderbilt and last summer played in the Aflac All-American game in San Diego.
Blessed with great range, instincts and speed – he was timed at 3.8 from home to first (Ichiro Suzuki is 3.7) - the left-handed hitter will surely get drafted. But whether it will be high enough to sway him from a college education at the nation's current No. 7 team is difficult to say.
Heading into today's first-round Central Coast Section baseball playoff game with visiting Santa Clara, Dunston Jr. is hitting .295 with 19 runs, 16 RBIs and seven extra-base hits including three triples in 88 at-bats.
"It's a great education and a great program," said Dunston Jr., who picked Vanderbilt over Oregon, Oregon State, USC, Miami and LSU. "They've produced a lot of first-round picks."
Said Valley Christian coach John Diatte: "Personally, I'd like him to go to college. But he has a lot of potential. He's a great athlete with tools. If Shawon has the opportunity to be drafted he'll have a tough decision for sure."
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