The Northwest League's most famous major league offspring is doubtlessly Ken Griffey Jr., who roamed Bellingham's outfield in 1987.

The Seattle star isn't alone, however, as there are four players in the NWL this summer sporting familiar baseball names.

There's Felipe Alou Jr., an outfielder with Spokane, whose dad is manager of the Montreal Expos.

Ali Cepeda, an outfielder with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, whose father Orlando Cepeda will be inducted into the Hall of Fame later this summer.

Boise pitcher Mario Mendoza Jr.'s father's .215 career batting average was the inspiration for the Mendoza line.

A fourth major league progeny is 19-year-old Omar Moreno, center fielder for the Yakima Bears, who began a five-game series against Southern Oregon Wednesday night at Miles Field.

Moreno's dad was a member of the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates and 1985 Kansas City Royals World Series championship teams.

Moreno grew up watching his dad play big league baseball for his first 13 years before moving with his family to Panama after the elder Moreno retired.

"I lived with my dad at the ballpark and growing up in that environment I knew I wanted to be a baseball player when I was very young," the younger Moreno said prior to Wednesday's game.

"I liked playing shortstop, but I wanted to be like my dad and play in the majors. He told me it was easier for him to teach me to play center field. That's what I did. He practiced with me a lot."

Moreno signed with the Dodger organization in 1996, played in Venezuela in 1997 before moving on to Great Falls last summer.

"Great Falls was a lot of fun," he said. "Playing at night made it feel like the big leagues."

The young switch-hitter has struggled at the plate, entering Wednesday night's game with a .188 batting average. But he figures he's in the game for the long haul and the hitting will come around.

He keeps in close contact with his father, who follows his performance via the Internet.

"He calls every night," Moreno said. "If I have any questions, he's there for me."

Moreno said he hasn't spent much time with the other major league kids, but hopes to down the line.