Pittsburgh Pirates

West Allegheny’s Austin Hendrick selected 12th overall in MLB Draft by Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, Ohio — The Pittsburgh Pirates will see a lot of the nation’s top high school hitter, as West Allegheny’s Austin Hendrick was drafted 12th overall by the Reds.

The senior had been touted as one of the top high school prospects since his freshman year with the Indians. Known for his elite bat speed and quick hands, Hendrick garnered national attention throughout his high school career.

Baseball America’s scouting report describes Hendrick as having “the quickest pure bat speed in the class and complements it with light tower raw power, giving him arguable the best power/hit combo of any high school hitter.”

The 6-1, 205 pound outfielder is a Mississippi St. recruit. Hendrick was also the only player from Pennsylvania to be selected to the U18 Baseball World Classic.

Hendrick becomes the second player from the WPIAL drafted out of high school in the last five years, joining Plum’s Alex Kirilloff.