Deer Park's Josh Pettitte among sons of Major Leaguers likely to be selected in 2013 MLB Draft

It's going to be a remarkable 48 hours for Deer Park (Texas) senior pitcher Josh Pettitte, whether he gets drafted high or not.

The son of Yankees hurler Andy Pettitte graduates from school Thursday night — with his dad in attendance.

View a slideshow of Josh Pettitte pitching for Deer Park

Then, on Friday, he's accompanying pops on a flight to Seattle where the Yankees face the Mariners for a four-game series. Andy Pettitte is scheduled to start on Saturday.



"I won't be able to watch it (the draft) or follow it very closely," he said. "Maybe I'll find out during a layover."

Josh is one of many sons of famous major leaguers — past and present — who figure to get drafted.

Among them are Manny Ramirez Jr. of IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Hunter Harvey of Bandys (Catawba, N.C.) and Torii Hunter Jr. of Prosper (Texas).

Hunter Harvey, who is expected to be drafted in the first two rounds, is the son of former MLB reliever Bryan Harvey.

Two more chips off the baseball blocks are Cavan Biggio of St. Thomas Catholic (Houston) and Kacy Clemens of Memorial (Houston), sons of Craig Biggio and Roger Clemens. Cavan, an infielder, is projected to go in the first two rounds, and Clemens, a pitcher and first baseman, to go among the top five.

Josh Pettitte, a Baylor commit, figures to go in the top 10 rounds. Cavan and Kacy have committed to Notre Dame and Texas, respectively.



Josh is good friends with Cavan and Kacy largely because of his dad's close ties with their fathers, and because all three are prep baseball stars in the Houston area.

Pettitte, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound pitcher said the trio will always be connected because they came from a unique fraternity. Being the son of a famous athlete carries an extra burden and weight — none that Josh ever regrets or resents — but it's not always relatable.

"It's sort of hard for anyone to understand my life. Not that I'm complaining at all, it's just different," he said. "But with Kacy and Cavan they can relate. They've lived a similar life and it's refreshing to be able to share with them. We'll always have a special bond."

Josh only once played against Kacy, he recalled, as 13-year-olds in the summer.

"I struck him out the first time and he got a double off me the second," Josh said. "I guess we're pretty equal. … He's a great kid. I always knew he'd be something special."

Josh says his bond with his father is as it should be: tight, hearty and sincere.



"From day one, my dad told me I didn't have to be a baseball player," Josh said. "He wanted to make sure I didn't play it just because he did. But it's always been a dream of mine to play at a professional level."

So does that mean he's more likely to sign if drafted? That's always the million dollar question for prep standouts. With a scholarship to Baylor secured, will franchises go high and hard after Pettitte, who sported a nifty 11-0 record with a 0.65 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 79 innings this season at Deer Park?

He completed all 11 games he started.

Clearly, Pettitte did everything he could to attract major league scouts. Even increased his velocity, from 83 miles per hour as a junior to topping out at 90 as a senior.

"To be honest, I don't have a number (money or draft round) in mind," he said. "I'm open to everything. If I end up in the top 10 rounds, it will be a huge honor and we'll make a decision from there. Either way it's an exciting time."

Dad, and others, have warned him about the minor-league life. Andy Pettitte was picked by New York in the 22nd round of the 1990 draft.



He enrolled in a junior college rather than a four-year school and the Yankees retained him the following year, signing him with an $80,000 bonus. He spent four years in the minors before being called up to the Yankees, where he won five World Series titles and recorded the most postseason wins in major league history with 19.

"(The minors) is no fun," Josh Pettitte said. "The double-headers, the heat, the bus travel, the brutal hotels. But everyone has to deal with it. If you want to make it to the highest level, that's what you have to do."

Josh is no stranger to hard work. He said he got that gene from his dad, "the hardest working man I know. Nothing was ever given to him."

Describing himself as short (5-7) and chubby, Josh spent the first two years at Deer Park on the school's JV team. It wasn't until he grew into his body and worked on weights and pitching that his prep potential was realized.

His dream college was TCU, but they told him he didn't throw hard enough. Many schools felt the same. "I don't blame them, but it kind of hurt," he said.

Heading into his senior year, Josh hit the weight room even harder and utilized a fascinating technique of simply holding a weighted baseball to increase his velocity. He also ramped up leg and core exercises.



At a fall camp in Florida, scouts clocked him at 89 miles per hour. Calls and texts filled his cell phone. On the spot.

"It was sort of amazing," Pettitte said. "I get back to the dugout and I have all these messages. Everyone suddenly was interested."

Including TCU. But by that time, Josh was enamored with Baylor, a rising program only a few hundred miles from Houston. "They were just so genuine and down to earth and welcoming," he said. "They weren't on my radar at first, but I couldn't pass it up.

"It's been a blessing to have all these opportunities."

It figures his three younger siblings — Jared (15), Lexy (12) and Luke (8) — will each have them too.

Jared, an incoming sophomore, is a 6-foot left-handed pitcher. Lexy is a star volleyball player and Luke does it all.



"Jared got that left gene," Josh said. "Lexy is the real one to watch. And Luke is going to be the best baseball player in the family."