Jordan Lawlar's headed to Pittsburgh.
No, not necessarily as the No. 1 overall pick in Major League Baseball's draft next week. But he is, a source with firsthand knowledge informed me this afternoon, flying from Dallas to meet with the Pirates' brass Tuesday at PNC Park.
What's that mean?
Well, clearly, Lawlar, a shortstop at Dallas Jesuit Prep in Texas, is in the mix to be the top pick, along with another high school shortstop, San Diego's Marcelo Mayer, and likely three or four others. When these meetings occur, the prospect's put through a tryout in addition to engaging in dialogue with team officials. The prospect's agent/advisor generally accompanies, as well.
Ben Cherington hasn't discussed any specific prospects, though he's said that he and his staff are down to a handful of possibilities at No. 1 and that no final decision has been made or is expected soon.
“I think we’ll use all the time we've got,” Cherington said last Thursday. “It’s a really important decision. I don’t know any reason why we’d make the decision sooner than we have to, because you just never know what you’ll learn until you have to make it."
Cherington's also acknowledged that he'll weigh signability in making the No. 1 pick. The Pirates plan to spend their full allotment of the $14 million-plus draft cap, but they'd prefer to spread it around, particularly since there isn't a consensus choice atop this class.
The first round of the draft will be Sunday.
Here's much more on Lawlar.
