Giants Draft Peyton Bonds And Revive One Of Franchise History's Biggest Names

The San Francisco Giants strengthen familial ties by drafting Peyton Bonds, bringing the celebrated Bonds legacy back to the franchise.

The Giants leaned into a familiar name on Saturday, using the No. 90 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Peyton Bonds and extending a family line that already runs deep through San Francisco.

Peyton Bonds, 20, becomes the third member of the Bonds family to land with the organization. He is the nephew of Barry Bonds, the all-time home run champion who spent 15 of his 22 MLB seasons with the Giants from 1993-2007, and the grandson of Bobby Bonds, who played seven of his 14 seasons in San Francisco from 1968-74. His father, Bobby Bonds Jr., spent 11 seasons in the minor leagues.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Peyton Bonds began his college career at Campbell University in 2024 before moving on to the Scarlet Knights' program.

"Anytime you get a guy named Bonds, you're crazy if you don't get excited," Giants manager Tony Vitello, as reported by MLB.com. "I think the physical stature or skill set will stick out to everybody when they take their first look, or probably even in the scouting department. But, in my limited knowledge, just from watching and a littel bit of research, he seems to have incredible instincts fo the game, so it will be exciting to see that as well."

Bonds hit from the right side and played in 36 games for the Big Ten squad, putting up a .352/.436/.535 line with six home runs, 29 RBI and 13 stolen bases. His season ended early because of an April hamstring injury. Defensively, he is viewed as an elite glove, and his pro future is expected to begin in center field with a strong arm.

His 12.7 percent strikeout rate also points to the kind of in-zone contact ability that could play at the next level.

"We drafted him because of his ability and what we believe in him," Giants senior director of amateur scouting Michael Holmes said. "Just a real unique talent.

"Super strong, athletic, super high exit velocities off the bat."

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