Pittsburgh (93.7 The Fan) - The one and only time the Pittsburgh Pirates used their first-round draft pick on a western Pennsylvania player was 2004 when Neil Walker was selected out of Pine-Richland High School. They likely will have the opportunity to take a local product on Wednesday.
West Allegheny outfielder Austin Hendrick is rated among the top-20 draft prospects, and with the Pirates holding the seventh selection, he is expected to be on the board when their turn comes. Hendrick, who has signed to play at Mississippi State, is considered to be the second-best high school outfielder in the country behind Zac Veen of Port Orange, Florida, according to MLB Network draft analyst Jim Callis.
"He has the best power of anybody in the high school class, " Callis told 93.7 The Fan. "He has a real quick bat and loft, and he's strong. He did a lot of damage on the Showcase Circuit last summer. He's a definite first-round pick."
But will he be the Pirates choice? Callis believes it's doubtful.
"I think in all likelihood he goes in the teens somewhere," Callis said. "The Reds pick 12, and that will probably be the high end on Hendrick. Somewhere in the 12-to-19 range is probably where he goes."
Jonathan Mayo, who also covers the draft for MLB Network, additionally believes seventh would be a bit of a reach.
"I know people would love to see the Pirates take the hometown kid," Mayo said on The Fan. "I don't think that would a huge stretch, but I don't think he belongs there...quite." I don't see him as a top-ten type guy. I think he's more 11-to-15, which is splitting hairs".
This will be the first draft that Ben Cherington oversees as general manager. Veteran Pirates beat reporter John Perrotto doesn't believe he feels pressured to take Hendrick.
"I'm sure there will be some fans upset if the Pirates don't take him, but I do think Ben Cherington can make a justifiable argument if the Pirates don't," Perrotto said. "The one thing where the Pirates may not feel as much pressure to take him is that there was no high school season this year. I'm sure Cherington would want to put his eyes on this kid before taking him with the number seven overall pick. The scouts I talked to thought the lack of a high school season hurt him to an extent because he didn't have that chance for scouts to take one last look at him. Teams might be not so willing to invest big money to steer him away from Mississippi State and pay a big bonus without having seen him play since last summer."
The draft, which will last only five rounds this year, will begin Wednesday and conclude on Thursday.