SYDNEY, July 31 AAP - The Chappell sporting dynasty has been reborn, albeit in another sport, with the announcement today that Greg's son Jon is to become a professional baseballer in North America.

The strapping 22-year-old has signed a six-year deal as a catcher for Major League team the Toronto Blue Jays, a move which rekindles his family's long-standing passion for the sport.

Standing 190cm and weighing in a shade under 100 kilos, the latest Chappell slugger continues a long attachment to the sport as Jon's grandfather, father - former Australian cricket captain, Greg - and test cricketing uncles, Ian and Trevor, all played baseball at representative level.

"He (Greg) let me choose myself, he was happy with whatever I chose because he played baseball as a kid and so did his brothers," said Jon, whose great-grandfather, Vic Richardson, also captained the Australian cricket team.

"So it's been in the family a while."

Even though he was just five when his dad retired from cricket, Jon still possesses a passion for the game.

"I love watching Test matches, they're bloody awesome but baseball is what I enjoy playing more," he said.

While he has played much of his career as a hard-hitting third baseman, Jon was transformed, fortuitously as it turned out, into a catcher when he returned to the Major League Baseball Australian Academy on the Gold Coast last month.

"I guess they (Academy coaches) feel that there's something about me that suits catching a lot better," said Chappell, who has recently returned from four years study at a US university.

"As a third basemen I wouldn't have had as good a shot at getting the contract.

"I'm overjoyed to have been given the opportunity."

Having a father and uncle with reputations of being two of Australia's toughest cricketers had also been helpful. "Every time I talk to them I get some tips and some comments, they're all good," he said.

"He's (Greg) got a lot of good advice, some of it applies and some doesn't."

He admits the similarities between cricket and baseball don't just end with bats and balls, there is also the issue of, as Steve Waugh calls it, `mental disintegration' - or sledging.

"I'm sure the situation will come along where I might have to say something," he said.

"Of course, he's (Greg) done some sledging in his time but he knows that I can take care of myself."

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.