MLB draft: Three area players join the Detroit Tigers, among others locals picked

Bonner-Prendergast shortstop Kevin McGonigle was the only area player selected in the first round of the MLB draft (37th overall) by the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

“He is one of the best pure high school hitters in the class,” Tigers scouting director Mark Conner told MLB.com.

The left-handed hitter, who committed to play college baseball for Auburn, struck out twice in 25 games during his senior year. He batted .530 with eight doubles, four triples, six homers, and 22 RBIs, which earned him the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year.

But what made him a fitting prospect for Detroit, MLB.com reported, is McGonigle’s consistency at-bat.

“I mean, his bat-to-ball skills are up there with probably anybody in the class based on the evaluations of our staff,” Conner said. “He hit on Team USA and hit throughout the summer. Every time that our scouts went in this spring, he continued to hit.”

Day three of the draft wrapped up Tuesday with more locals picked. Here’s a look at who they are and where they’re going.

» READ MORE: Bonner-Prendergast’s Kevin McGonigle is drafted by the Detroit Tigers

Harvard’s Clark, who attended the Haverford School, was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the fifth round with the 147th overall pick.

The right-handed pitcher had a 4.93 ERA this year. He led the Ivy League with 93 strikeouts, while ranking sixth in innings pitched (65⅔) to close out his junior season. During the MLB Draft Arizona event, the Wayne native threw 98.5 mph, the second-fastest recorded pitch.

Clark could not compete in his senior year of high school because of the COVID-19 pandemic but was still ranked as the 14th-best prospect in Pennsylvania in the class of 2020 by Perfect Game. He also lost the 2021 season with the Ivy League shutting down all sports and returned for his sophomore season as a reliever.

Right-handed pitcher Pecko was selected as the last pick in the sixth round (194th overall) by the Astros.

The Ridley High School graduate played two seasons at Towson University. He transferred into the program in 2022 after attending La Salle University until the baseball program was cut in 2021.

After dealing with a number of injuries, Pecko had a healthy season this year. He had a 3.21 ERA and struck out 48 batters in 42 innings over 11 starts.

Philly native Scott Bandura, a graduate of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, was selected by the San Francisco Giants with their seventh-round pick (210th overall).

The junior outfielder out of Princeton University, who grew up in Mount Airy, led the Tigers in runs (46), triples (three), slugging percentage, stolen bases (15), total bases (121), and on-base percentage, leading him to be named first-team All-Ivy League this season.

He dealt with hamstring injury that limited him to just eight games in 2022. He then had a breakout season this year, where he hit .363/.454/.655 with 12 home runs and nearly as many walks (31) as strikeouts (36) in 219 plate appearances.

Bandura’s father, Steve, started the Anderson Monarchs in the 1990s at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center in Point Breeze. He later played with Monarchs and was Mo’ne Davis’ catcher on the Taney Dragons, who reached the U.S. semifinal of the 2014 Little League World Series.

» READ MORE: Why one of college baseball’s top hitters plays with Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 tattooed on his arm

St. Joseph’s University’s Callahan, an outfielder, was selected by the Tigers in the 13th round with the No. 380 overall pick on Day 3 of the draft.

The junior from Newark, Del., appeared in every game this season, hitting .342 with 11 home runs, 30 walks, and 34 strikeouts, which earned him an All-Atlantic-10 first-team selection. He led the Hawks in runs, home runs, and triples and tied for the team lead in RBIs.

The Tigers also selected UConn’s Smith, a graduate of Perkiomen School, in the 14th round with the No. 410 overall pick.

Smith, an outfielder, finished with 62 career stolen bases, which ranked sixth in program history and tied for third nationally. The Collegeville native hit .304 with 72 hits, including 19 doubles, two triples, five home runs, and 36 RBIs.

He spent his freshman season at La Salle and transferred after learning the program would be discontinued. Smith wasn’t eligible to compete in the 2021 season, but he started the next year on a nine-game hitting streak.

At Perkiomen School, Smith hit .432 with five homers, seven doubles, and three triples in his senior year, helping the team to the 2019 PAISAA final.

The Marlins selected left-handed pitcher Dietrich in the 18th round with the 533rd pick.

Dietrich, a recent graduate of Owen J. Roberts High near Pottstown, was planning to compete at Florida International University. He’s ranked No. 11 in the state, according to Perfect Game, and had a 2.04 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 24 innings this season.

The Cubs drafted left-hander Dean from the University of Maryland and Bensalem in the 19th round with the 556th overall pick.

The senior had a career 4.44 ERA with 219 strikeouts, which ranks eighth in school history, in 231 innings. He helped Bensalem High to a 23-4 record and a district championship in his junior year.

Maryland’s Kane, a graduate of Cardinal O’Hara High, was selected by the Giants in the 19th round (570th overall).

The left-hander was limited because of an injury and appeared in 17 games with 29 strikeouts in 28⅓ innings this season.

He previously played two seasons at Rowan College South Jersey, where he made 10 appearances including six starts in his sophomore year and pitched 40⅓ innings with a 1.12 ERA as a freshman.