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PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 10, 2026: Peyton Bonds #25 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights bats during the third inning against the UCLA Bruins at Bainton Field on April 10, 2026 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The good stories just keep coming for the San Francisco Giants in the 2026 MLB Draft. In the first round, with the fourth pick, they took UC Santa Barbara pitcher Jackson Flora, a Bay Area native who grew up rooting for the Giants and who starred at the same high school as Brandon Crawford. And in the third round, with the No. 90 pick? They took outfielder Peyton Bonds from Rutgers.
Bonds does more than just share a name with one of the greatest players in Giants history. He also shares a bloodline. The right-handed hitter, who turns 21 next week, is the son of Bobby Bonds Jr., making him the nephew of Barry Bonds and the grandson of Bobby Bonds.
But teams don’t draft players in the third round just for the stories or to appease retired legends. And so it needs to be noted that Peyton is a tremendous baseball player, and one who was ranked No. 81 on the big board at MLB Pipeline, No. 109 at Baseball America, and No. 118 at ESPN.
Famous name aside, Bonds has been an interesting player for scouts to figure out. He doesn’t have a ton of speed, yet he’s a fantastic defensive player, including in center field, where his instincts and fundamentals shine. But what will really be interesting to watch is how his bat develops: at 6’5 and 230 pounds, Bonds is built like someone who could chase some of his uncle’s records, and he has the the exit velocities to allow you to dream on huge power numbers. Yet to this point in his career, that hasn’t translated into a ton of power, as he had just six home runs in 36 games last year, en route to hitting .352/.436/.535. But his contact skills — he struck out just 12.7% of the time — allow you to dream on what he could become if the power ever fully materializes.
Needless to say, I can’t wait to watch him wear a Giants jersey. What a story.
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