Many Pirates fans wanted to see West Allegheny high school slugger Austin Hendrick suit up in the black and gold.
Instead, they'll have to settle for red ... the Cincinnati Reds, to be exact.
With the No. 12 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft — five selections after the Pirates went with Nick Gonzales at No. 7 — the Reds took the power-hitting outfielder Hendrick, adding a little piece of Western Pennsylvania to their system.
“It was an awesome moment,” Hendrick told Cincinnati reporters of being selected. “It's something you work for. For me, it's just a start. I'm ready to get out there and prove what I can do.”
The Reds' front office said they had Hendricks higher than 12th.
the Reds had him higher than No. 12 on their board.
“We just really liked what he could be and what his potential is,” Cincinnati general manager Nick Krall said. “We just felt comfortable that, look, ‘This isn’t about what you did right now. It’s about what you can become.' We think he can become a solid major-league player.”
Hendrick was widely regarded as one of the top 10 or so best draft prospects this year, so his draft placement is no surprise. His elite bat speed generates a great amount of power, making him one of the best high-school talents available.
“The 6-foot-1, 205-pound outfielder has the quickest pure bat speed in the class and complements it with light tower raw power, giving him arguably the best power/hit combo of any high school hitter,” Baseball America‘s scouting report on Hendrick reads.
Hendrick did some slight mechanical changes to that swing last year, eliminating a toe tap and widening his stance.
“He was a very good player before, but now that he’s changed to a more traditional swing, it’s something they [scouts] are really excited about,” West Allegheny coach Bryan Cornell told DK Pittsburgh Sports.
Hendrick was the third high school player taken in the draft, with Robert Hassell going eighth to the Padres and Zac Veen going to the Rockies at No. 9. All three players are outfielders.
He is committed to play for Mississippi State, but he is expected to sign.
Hendrick is the highest-drafted player from the WPIAL since Neil Walker was taken 11th overall out of Pine-Richland in 2004.
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