Skip to main content

Cousins’ cousin drafted, other familiar family names join Nationals

WASHINGTON — If you’ve followed the Nationals at all over the past few years, you may have noticed their propensity for making draft picks that cause double-takes. The organization is back at it again this year, selecting a relative of another D.C. sports star, as well as a player with a name nearly identical to one of their own big league stars. On Wednesday, the Nats snagged Jake Cousins, a right-handed pitcher out of the University of Pennsylvania, in the 20th round. Cousins is the cousin of Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins — yes, he’s Cousins’ cousin.

Tuesday, the club selected Missouri State University right-hander Trey Turner, no relation to current starting shortstop Trea Turner of the same pronunciation. This follows a long tradition for the club. In 2007, the year after Ryan Zimmerman finished in second place in National League Rookie of the Year voting, Washington selected Jordan Zimmermann in the second round. In 2012 — Gio Gonzalez’s first season with the Nats, when he won a career-high 21 games — the club took Lucas Giolito in the first round. One year after taking infielder Anthony Rendon in the first round in 2011, Washington drafted infielder Tony Renda in the second round. In the offseason between Denard Span’s first and second years in D.C., the Nats traded for Tampa Bay Rays minor league pitcher Matthew Spann. They’ve also drafted other legacy athletes, like Cal Ripken’s son Ryan in 2014. And in keeping with this preference for familiar family names, the Nationals just drafted Dusty Baker’s son Darren — a University of California, Berkeley commit — in the 27th round.

WATCH: Nats celebrate World Series with parade ahead of Spring Training opener in Florida

The Washington Nationals showed off their trophy from winning the 2019 World Series in front of their local fans in South Florida during a parade on Thursday, February 20. Spring Training kicked off recently, and the first preseason game is Saturday, February 22, against the Houston Astros, the team they defeated in the World Series. Before the parade started, Michael A. Taylor and Sean Doolittle mingled with fans, some of whom were wearing hats supporting the local Miami Marlins. However, the West Palm Beach fans showed their support, as players like Kurt Suzuki, Trea Turner and Howie Kendrick rode in cars and buses through the main streets of Clemantis.
Read Next Story