Genealogist says Mookie Betts, Meghan Markle are distant relatives

Mookie Betts may be MLB royalty, but a recently discovered distant relative will soon have him trumped.

Jim McNiff, an amateur genealogist, found a 150-year-old connection between Betts and famous actress and the future wife of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, according to an 1870 census.

"I saw on television that they were getting married," Betts told The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham of Markle and Harry, "but I had no idea we were related. That's not something you expect to hear, but it's interesting."

According to the documents from 1870, there were 22 adults and children living in Madison County, Ala., with the surname Betts. Joseph Betts, the great-great grandfather of Mookie, and Jacob Betts, the great-great-great grandfather of Markle, were among them. There's no conclusive evidence that Joseph and Jacob were related, but there's another connection linking the Boston Red Sox outfielder to Markle.

In early 1920, Katie Betts married Richard Betts in Ohio. Katie is Markle's great-great aunt, while Richard is Mookie's great uncle.

Next season, the Red Sox will take on the New York Yankees for a two-game series in London, England - the first MLB games to take place in Europe.

"That would be cool," Betts said of the prospect of meeting his distant relative and future Duchess. "I wonder if she's a baseball fan?"