Concordia Lutheran’s Shane Baz goes to Pirates.
Shane Baz, the state’s top prospect, was picked 12th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night in the first round of the MLB draft.
The Concordia Lutheran righthander becomes the seventh Houston-area product since 2009 to be drafted in the opening round, and first since former teammate Ke’Bryan Hayes, also taken by Pittsburgh in 2015.
“It’s an indescribable feeling that (the Pirates) think you’re the 12th-best guy that can make a difference at the next level,” Baz told KRIV-TV. “I’m just blessed to have this opportunity and thankful.”
Baz learned the news surrounded by family and friends at a watch party in his hometown of Cypress.
The first-round selection comes seven months after Baz and his family celebrated the remission of his mother Tammy’s breast cancer. She was the first person he embraced after MLB commissioner Robert Manfred read the pick on national television at approximately 7:20 p.m.
“(Getting drafted) means everything,” Baz said in a conference call with the media Monday. “Not just to me, but to my family and friends. It means the world.”
Baz finished his senior season in May with a 6-2 record, posting a 0.93 ERA with 96 strikeouts and adding .431 batting average.
The 6-3 ace, who turns 18 years old Saturday, signed with TCU as a two-way player in November. When he’s not on the mound, he plays third base and outfield.
Heading into Monday, it was unclear whether Baz would forgo his “dream school” collegiate commitment to turn pro.
“(My decision) is just going to be based on an opportunity I can’t pass up,” Baz said Friday. “I really want to go to TCU, they have an unbelievable baseball program, but there might be some circumstances where I would have to think about it. I just have to wait and see.”
Baz said he’s still unsure of what his next step will be.
“I haven’t gotten there yet,” Baz said on the call. “I’m just enjoying this for now.”
The slot value of the No. 12 pick was $4,032,000, part of the Pirates’ overall pool of $10,135,900, and the seventh-highest figure in the 2017 draft.
Concordia Lutheran coach Rick Lynch, who said Baz’s four-seamer touched 99 mph at times this spring, believes the all-district first-teamer has tremendous potential in the big leagues.
“He’s a super-athlete,” Lynch said. “He’s truly got a chance, barring injury, to be a star in the MLB.”
Baz, known for his blistering fastball and deep off-speed arsenal, was the second righthanded prep pitcher to come off the board behind only Hunter Greene, taken second overall by the Cincinnati Reds.
Fellow Houston-area product Jameson Taillon was the last high school pitcher selected by the Pirates in the first round, picked second overall in 2010. Taillon, a product of The Woodlands, made his major league debut last season with Pittsburgh.