Although some, due to their lineage, come with more expectations than others.

With the Williamsport Crosscutters hosting the Trenton Thunder in the first half, some last names may strike an air of familiarity.

Two last names in particular — Sabathia and Sheffield — have drawn much attention from fans and media alike, and it isn’t a coincidence. For the first-half season Carston Sabathia III, son of 19-year pro and 2007 Cy Young award winner CC Sabathia, and Jaden Sheffield, son of nine-time all-star and five-time Silver Slugger Gary Sheffield, have suited up for the Trenton Thunder in the first-half season.

And while Carsten has since taken his leave with Trenton for this year to prepare for the MLB Draft, Jaden Sheffield has stuck around to improve Trenton’s odds in the standings and improve his own stock in front of the scouts in a league that is quickly becoming the deepest in terms of talent among the summer leagues.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Carston Sabathia of the Trenton Thunder gets a single against the Williamsport Crosscutters at Bowman Field. Sabathia is the son of former 19-year pro and 2007 Cy Young winner CC sabathia.

After sticking as a utilityman through his underclassman years with Gerogetown, 2025 was a breakout one for Sheffield, playing a high 44 games with the Hoyas, mounting a .256 average with eight extra base hits and 23 runs batted in. Appropriately in similarity to the second half of his dad’s major league career, Jaden has made the outfield his home both in college and with Trenton in the MLB Draft League.

But against the toughest competition that the outfielder has seen in his career, the 22-year-old is still looking to find his way. In 19 appearances, Sheffield has batted .122, with five hits in 41 at bats in a MLB Draft League season that has been defined by its pitching.

Such struggles also plagued Sabathia III during his time with the Thunder that ended this week. Opposite of his dad’s career arc, Sabathia is sticking to the plate in his baseball career, being defined as a power hitting first baseman. Splitting his college years with Georgia Tech as an underclassman and with Houston his junior years, Sabthia has looked to carve his own path.

It was a career year collegiately with Houston in 2025, with the son of CC batting .235 with a pair of homeruns and 18 runs batted in across 27 games.

With 19 games played on the Trenton Thunder, Sabathia batted .180 with three doubles, one home run, and seven runs batted in in 50 at bats.

Carston Sabathia of the Trenton Thunder waits to bat against the Williamsport Crosscutters of the at Journey Bank Ballpark during a recent game. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Though Sabathia struggled in the MLB Draft League, the first baseman turned heads at the 2025 MLB Draft Combine, reaching exit velocities north of 100 miles per hour numerous times in front of scouts.

Overall, the noted struggles of Sheffield and Sabathia highlight both the growing prestige of the MLB Draft League, as well as the struggles that come with it.

With Sabathia’s case closed in the MLB Draft League this season, Sheffield will still have a point to prove for Trenton in the two-game series at Williamsport, which began on Tuesday evening.