All in family: Giants draft Barry Bonds' nephew, Peyton, in third round

All in family: Giants draft Barry Bonds’ nephew, Peyton, in third round originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The San Francisco Giants added to their family legacy Saturday. 

By drafting Peyton Bonds in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft, the organization added the third member of the Bonds clan to join the franchise.

The younger Bonds, 20, was selected with the No. 90 overall pick and has a lot to play up to. He is the nephew of Barry Bonds, the all-time home run champion who spent 15 of 22 MLB seasons with Giants (1993-2007), and grandson to Bobby Bonds, who spent seven of 14 seasons with the organization (1968-74). His father, Bobby Bonds Jr., spent 11 seasons in the minor leagues.

Listed at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Peyton Bonds started his college career at Cambell University in 2024 before transferring to the Scarlet Knights’ program.

“Anytime you get a guy named Bonds, you’re crazy if you don’t get excited,” Giants manager Tony Vitello, as reported by MLB.com. “I think the physical stature or skill set will stick out to everybody when they take their first look, or probably even in the scouting department. But, in my limited knowledge, just from watching and a littel bit of research, he seems to have incredible instincts fo the game, so it will be exciting to see that as well.”

Giants keep draft in family with Peyton Bonds third-round selection

A right-handed hitter, Bonds appeared in 36 games for the Big Ten squad, slashing .352/.436/.535 with six home runs, 29 RBI and 13 stolen bases. An April hamstring injury cut his campaign short. An elite defender, Bonds is expected to start his professional career as a strong-armed center fielder.

His 12.7 percent strikeout rate could translate to high in-zone contact skills.

“We drafted him because of his ability and what we believe in him,” Giants senior director of amateur scouting Michael Holmes said. “Just a real unique talent.

“Super strong, athletic, super high exit velocities off the bat.”

All in the family.

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