

Ryan Ripken. (Baltimore Sun)

The Nationals used their 15th-round pick in the MLB draft to select a first baseman from Indian River State College, a choice that would have produced no ripples if not for the left-handed hitter’s relationship to the most beloved player in mid-Atlantic history.

The Nationals drafted Ryan Ripken, the son of Baltimore icon Cal Ripken, with the 454th overall pick. They had been connected to Ryan Ripken prior to the draft, and the Nationals ended up taking the 6-foot-6, 230-pound slugger. Ripken had transferred to Indian River State from South Carolina before this season.

The pick strengthened the burgeoning relationship between the Nationals and Ripken. Last year, Ripken sat with General Manager Mike Rizzo during a game. Ripken has had past conversations with Mark Lerner, and he said he respects Nationals ownership. The Nationals never interviewed Ripken for their managerial opening, but they considered it, and Jayson Werth stumped for him.

The Lerner family and Orioles owner Peter Angelos have an acrimonious relationship, stemming the open-ended dispute over their MASN contract. If the Orioles feel aggrieved by their regional rival nabbing Ripken’s son, the Nationals probably wouldn’t shed any tears.

The draft was completed Saturday, and below are all of the Nationals’ picks.