Phil Niekro’s Son John Picked by Braves in Baseball Draft

John Niekro, a right-handed pitcher like his father, Phil Niekro of the Cleveland Indians, has been drafted by the Atlanta Braves. John Niekro played at Shiloh High School in Liburn, Ga.

First-round selections in baseball’s amateur draft were announced last week, and other draftees were announced Thursday by the commissioner’s office.

In all, a record 1,263 amateur free agents were chosen. The previous record was 1,162 in 1967. The Kansas City Royals made the most selections, 74 in the 75 rounds. Next were the Toronto Blue Jays with 71, the New York Mets and the Cincinnati Reds with 61 each, and the Seattle Mariners with 55.

First baseman Billy Gardner, son of Royal Manager Billy Gardner, was drafted by his father’s team; outfielder Richard Aldrete, brother of San Francisco outfielder Mike Aldrete, was drafted by the Giants; Bret Boone, a shortstop at El Dorado High School and son of Angels catcher Bob Boone, was selected by Minnesota; pitcher Jeff Darwin, brother of Houston pitcher Danny Darwin, was selected by Seattle, and pitcher Brian Wilkinson, brother of Seattle pitcher Bill Wilkinson, also was drafted by the Mariners.

Terry Bross, who plays center for the St. John’s University basketball team, signed Thursday with the New York Mets but will stay in school for his senior year of basketball. Bross, a 6-foot 9-inch, right-handed pitcher whose fastball has been clocked at more than 90 miles per hour, was selected by the Mets in the 13th round.