Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr.’s son, Ryan, is drafted by Nationals

Cal Ripken Jr. is one of the biggest icons to ever play baseball.

Will his son follow in his footsteps? It’s obviously quite a challenge, but at least Ryan Ripken will have a chance.

The 6-foot-6, 230-pound first baseman out of Indian River State College in Florida was picked by the Washington Nationals on Saturday in the 15th round of the Major League Baseball draft.

It may seem kind of strange to see the younger Ripken go to the regional rival of the Baltimore Orioles, the team with which his father spent his entire 21-year career. A then-2-year-old Ryan Ripken was right there at Camden Yards in 1995 when his dad broke Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played.

But Cal Ripken Jr. is said to be friends with Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo and reportedly was considered for the team’s managing vacancy during the off-season.

And it’s not like the Orioles weren’t interested. Back in 2012, they used their 20th-round pick on Ryan Ripken, who chose instead to attend South Carolina. He didn’t make the playing roster for the Gamecocks and was redshirted his freshman year.

Last year, he transferred to Indian River State, a top junior college where he batted .321 with 18 runs scored and 24 RBIs in 42 games.

The Orioles were said to be one of several teams interested in the son of their legendary shortstop this time around too, but the Nationals got to him first.