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.
Congrats to my cousin, Jake, being drafted by the Washington Nationals today! There’s room for another Cousins in DC! pic.twitter.com/2beUJY6Hog
— Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8) June 14, 2017
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.
