The Pittsburgh Pirates have drafted center fielder Clark Eagan out of the University of Arkansas in the ninth round of the 2016 draft. He is 21 years old, a 6’1″, 195 pound junior, who will likely end up as either a corner outfielder or a first baseman in the pros. Most of his college time has been spent in center field, with games at third base and first base as well.
He hit .298/.370/.444 this season, with seven homers and a 22:37 BB/K ratio in 225 AB. He went 5-for-6 in steals. Eagan batted .288/.364/.406 in 229 at-bats last year, collecting 19 extra-base hits. He started 31 games as a freshman and had an .809 OPS. Out of high school, Baseball America rated him as the fourth best player in Wisconsin.
Aaron Fitt from D1 Baseball called Eagan athletic and versatile, and a “quality line drive hitter, with occasional pop and solid speed”.
Following his freshman season, he played college summer ball in the Northwoods League, where he ranked as the 61st best prospect (on the top 200 list). Scouts praised his hand-eye coordination, calling him a doubles hitter who had the ability to hit almost any pitch.