When the Houston Astros enjoyed the longest stretch of consistent success in franchise history, the names that were on the edge of everyone’s tongue were Clemens, Pettitte, Biggio and Bagwell. Now, with the Astros struggling mightily during their first season in the American League, they are positioned for plenty of high draft picks in the coming years. It wouldn’t even be a surprise if a few of them had similar last names to those great Astros of the 2000s.
That’s because the sons of Clemens, Pettitte and Biggio are all excelling at Houston-area schools, leading their teams to the state playoffs. As reported by Hosuton ABC affiliate KTRK, all three of their respective squads emerged victorious from first round playoff contests over the weekend and all of the teenagers involved were quick to heap praise on their counterparts, friends from their time together when their fathers starred at Minute Maid Park.
"All the time, when I would get out of school, we would go," Biggio's son Cavan told KTRK. "My mom would let me go with my dad. We would go, just hang out on the field, just go hangout in the clubhouse the entire time; play catch and watch them do everything."
Now, more than a decade later, Cavan Biggio, Kacy and Kody Clemens and Josh Pettitte are bona fide baseball stars in their own right. Cavan Biggio is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior who has signed to play baseball at Notre Dame, but is also a likely MLB draft pick. The son of Craig Biggio, arguably the most revered Astros position player in franchise history, Biggio is considered one of the better hitters in the nation among the Class of 2013.
Kacy and Kody Clemens, meanwhile, are stars for Houston (Texas) Memorial High. Kacy is the team’s ace, a senior signee for the University of Texas who, like the younger Biggio, could find his name called during the MLB draft. Meanwhile, Kody Clemens surprised by earning a starting spot at shortstop while still a sophomore at the school. With two years still left in his high school career, Kody is also seen as a high upside prospect with major Division I or even MLB potential.
As for Josh Pettitte, his prior success has already landed him on the pages of Prep Rally in the past. The Baylor signee tossed a no-hitter earlier in his senior season at Deer Park (Texas) High and quickly earned attention from his father’s Yankees teammates like C.C. Sabathia, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain.
As for which of the teenagers’ three current teams has the best chance of earning a state crown, none of the longtime friends is overly competitive with one another about their squad’s chances. Rather, they seem happy to congratulate each other whenever another reaches a landmark accomplishment.
"You know, it's cool to check Twitter," Kacy Clemens told KTRK. "Cavan hit a bomb; Josh [Pettitte] is doing great."
Added Kacy Clemens: "We separated after my dad stop playing and Craig stopped playing, but it's so cool to see how everyone is doing.”
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