PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – What if the Pirates didn't take either of the LSU players in the first round of the MLB Draft as most think they are choosing between, but instead took a high school outfielder?
It's been long thought Paul Skenes or Dylan Crews would be the Bucs first overall selection. Skenes called a generational pitcher and OF Crews the best hitter in college. Post-Gazette Pirates beat writer Jason Mackey told the Cook and Joe Show on Thursday what he's been hearing is high school outfielder Max Clark is one of the names being considered.
A left-handed hitter, Clark is ranked the fifth best overall prospect by MLB.com (top arm, great speed, plus-plus bat). The first sentence on the MLB scouting report 'Clark is the best prospect to come out of Indiana since Bryan Bullington went No. 1 overall in 2002'. The Pirates made Bullington that selection and the right-hander pitched in 26 career MLB games with a 5.62 ERA, considered one of the biggest busts over the last few decades.
Former Major League Baseball general manager Dan O'Dowd told Ron Cook and Joe Starkey on 93.7 The Fan he thinks the Pirates are growing and shouldn't pick this high again for a long time. He said Crews is a good choice, but said Skenes is a unicorn and is one of the best pitching prospects over the last few decades. O'Dowd said it would be a mistake for the Pirates to pass him up.
"I wouldn't screw around when this when that type of talent is available to you," O'Dowd told the Cook and Joe Show. "It almost impossible to have a draft that lines up when the best player on the board fits the need of the organization and it's a desperate need."
The now MLB Network analyst admits there are a few 'upper-level arms' in the Bucs organization, but no one who you would want starting a playoff game for you. The Rockies GM for 15 years, O'Dowd says the Pirates are in that market. He believes they are in a different part of their rebuild now. Their pitching in the system is lagging behind the hitting and they don't have the resources to add those types of pitchers.
O'Dowd tells 93.7 The Fan he understands the thought process of saving slot money to use throughout the draft to convince other players you like to sign. However, he says you don't need to do that every year and they are in a position now where one player than help them get over the top and that player is Skenes.
