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Codey Gauff wants to be known as more than Coco's little brother.
His 22-year-old sister is a star on the world tennis stage — a two-time Grand Slam champion who's currently ranked No. 7 — so it's only natural that people hear the name "Gauff" and want to know if he's related.
But Codey, four years younger, is forging his own path in a different sport. A switch-hitting catcher who played at the Elite Squad Baseball Academy in Delray Beach, Codey was invited to the MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix in late June, and there's a chance his name could be called July 11 or 12 when the teams make their selections.
That would add another chapter to the sports legacy of a family whose Palm Beach County roots go back more than a half-century.
While Codey hasn't made the kind of international splash that Coco did at age 15, when she defeated Venus Williams at Wimbledon, baseball people have known about him for years.
He earned league MVP honors with an on-base average approaching .500 this season. He's played for top travel teams, including the San Diego Padres scout team, and appeared in national showcases. Scouting reports cite his "impressive raw bat speed and aggressive intent," his elite speed (6.6 seconds in the 60-yard dash) and "a premium arm that clocks a 79 mph catcher velocity ... making him a major threat to control the running game."
Photos: Coco Gauff competing at Wimbledon 2026
Sean Burnett, a former MLB pitcher who coaches the Wellington Sports Academy's top team, got a firsthand look at Gauff this season when the Gators faced Elite Squad in home-and-home series.
"Really good hitter, tough out, good athlete," Burnett said. "(Defensively), he blocks everything. He can shut down the running game."
Gauff attracted interest from a number of Division I schools and committed to Missouri. When he announced the decision on National Signing Day, his family was in attendance and his sister shared her pride on social media.
“That's kind of our bond,” he told MLB.com. “It doesn't matter how many followers she has or how much fame I have, that's just how close we’ve been since we were young. We were taught to be your siblings' biggest supporter. So that's what we do.”
More: Baseball players from Florida who were top 10 picks in the MLB Draft
For Gauff, sports runs in the family. His grandfather, Eddie “Red” Odom Jr., played three seasons of minor league baseball and later started a Little League for Black children in Delray Beach during segregation. His father, Corey, played basketball at Georgia State and his mother, Candi, was a track athlete at Florida State. Coco and Codey have a 13-year-old brother, Cameron, who excels in football.
Codey prides himself on being a “blue-collar guy” and “one of the hardest-working guys in the draft.” And he takes his cue from his famous sister, citing "how hard (Coco) works, goes day in and day out, and conducts herself like a professional athlete."
“She wants me to go as far as I can,” he told The Athletic. “It’s a blessing to have siblings playing at the next level and striving for the same dreams. A lot of guys don’t have the same opportunity as their siblings. We’re both striving to be something great.”
Coco said she is one of Codey's biggest fans, although not necessarily a baseball fan.
"I go to his games when I'm in town," she told The Associated Press. "It is a bit of a slower, more boring sport. ... I definitely think he gets more enjoyment watching tennis than I do watching baseball. If he wasn't playing, I don't think I would be watching as much."
Coco has openly discussed how she has leaned on Codey for support over the years. When she was on the verge of winning her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 U.S. Open, she said a pep talk from her brother helped her achieve her lifelong dream.
Codey said his plan to attend Missouri could take a detour if his name is called in the draft. “I want to play in the big leagues, whichever route that takes me,” he said.
In the meantime, he'll continue to hear the perpetual question from players, scouts and team officials: Are you related to Coco Gauff?
“At the end of the day, I’m myself,” he said. “I want to keep doing my name for myself. She’s worldwide, so obviously people are going to ask. I’m not ashamed of it or anything. If anything, it’s just being the next up in the family.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Coco Gauff's brother Codey forging own path as MLB Draft prospect
Continue reading...
His 22-year-old sister is a star on the world tennis stage — a two-time Grand Slam champion who's currently ranked No. 7 — so it's only natural that people hear the name "Gauff" and want to know if he's related.
But Codey, four years younger, is forging his own path in a different sport. A switch-hitting catcher who played at the Elite Squad Baseball Academy in Delray Beach, Codey was invited to the MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix in late June, and there's a chance his name could be called July 11 or 12 when the teams make their selections.
That would add another chapter to the sports legacy of a family whose Palm Beach County roots go back more than a half-century.
While Codey hasn't made the kind of international splash that Coco did at age 15, when she defeated Venus Williams at Wimbledon, baseball people have known about him for years.
He earned league MVP honors with an on-base average approaching .500 this season. He's played for top travel teams, including the San Diego Padres scout team, and appeared in national showcases. Scouting reports cite his "impressive raw bat speed and aggressive intent," his elite speed (6.6 seconds in the 60-yard dash) and "a premium arm that clocks a 79 mph catcher velocity ... making him a major threat to control the running game."
Photos: Coco Gauff competing at Wimbledon 2026
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Sean Burnett, a former MLB pitcher who coaches the Wellington Sports Academy's top team, got a firsthand look at Gauff this season when the Gators faced Elite Squad in home-and-home series.
"Really good hitter, tough out, good athlete," Burnett said. "(Defensively), he blocks everything. He can shut down the running game."
Gauff attracted interest from a number of Division I schools and committed to Missouri. When he announced the decision on National Signing Day, his family was in attendance and his sister shared her pride on social media.
“That's kind of our bond,” he told MLB.com. “It doesn't matter how many followers she has or how much fame I have, that's just how close we’ve been since we were young. We were taught to be your siblings' biggest supporter. So that's what we do.”
More: Baseball players from Florida who were top 10 picks in the MLB Draft
For Gauff, sports runs in the family. His grandfather, Eddie “Red” Odom Jr., played three seasons of minor league baseball and later started a Little League for Black children in Delray Beach during segregation. His father, Corey, played basketball at Georgia State and his mother, Candi, was a track athlete at Florida State. Coco and Codey have a 13-year-old brother, Cameron, who excels in football.
Codey prides himself on being a “blue-collar guy” and “one of the hardest-working guys in the draft.” And he takes his cue from his famous sister, citing "how hard (Coco) works, goes day in and day out, and conducts herself like a professional athlete."
“She wants me to go as far as I can,” he told The Athletic. “It’s a blessing to have siblings playing at the next level and striving for the same dreams. A lot of guys don’t have the same opportunity as their siblings. We’re both striving to be something great.”
Coco said she is one of Codey's biggest fans, although not necessarily a baseball fan.
"I go to his games when I'm in town," she told The Associated Press. "It is a bit of a slower, more boring sport. ... I definitely think he gets more enjoyment watching tennis than I do watching baseball. If he wasn't playing, I don't think I would be watching as much."
Coco has openly discussed how she has leaned on Codey for support over the years. When she was on the verge of winning her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 U.S. Open, she said a pep talk from her brother helped her achieve her lifelong dream.
Codey said his plan to attend Missouri could take a detour if his name is called in the draft. “I want to play in the big leagues, whichever route that takes me,” he said.
In the meantime, he'll continue to hear the perpetual question from players, scouts and team officials: Are you related to Coco Gauff?
“At the end of the day, I’m myself,” he said. “I want to keep doing my name for myself. She’s worldwide, so obviously people are going to ask. I’m not ashamed of it or anything. If anything, it’s just being the next up in the family.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Coco Gauff's brother Codey forging own path as MLB Draft prospect
Continue reading...
