AUSTIN McCLUNE
11/15/87; '06 7th; Edmond, OK (HS)
R/R; 6-2, 185
| Level |
BA |
OBP |
SA |
AB |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
K |
SB |
CS |
| 2006 R |
.291 |
.321 |
.338 |
148 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
32 |
2 |
3 |
| 2007
A- |
.260 |
.281 |
.306 |
196 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
32 |
15 |
3 |
McClune is a raw player with speed whom the Pirates believe has some power potential. He had signed with a
junior college, Seminole State College in Oklahoma, and he also had football scholarship offers. The Pirates signed him, however, and he started off in the GCL. Unlike other raw speedsters the Pirates have drafted recently, such as Joe Hicks and Chris Covington, McClune managed to hold his own in his debut, hitting for average although not much else. His K/BB ratio obviously wasn't pretty. The Pirates considered sending him to Hickory in 2008, but he instead stayed in extended spring training and then went to State College. Oddly, he played more in RF than CF, as Keanen Simon was the primary CF. It was probably just as well he didn't go to Hickory as McClune again merely held his own. He spent much of the season over .300, but hit .187 in August to finish with his final BA. Obviously, his K/BB ratio was terrible and he showed no power. He struggled with breaking balls, which in turn led to problems against against RHPs. He hit just 224/252/254 against them and 339/344/419 against LHPs. He did use his speed well on the bases and he has a very good arm: he accounted by himself for over half of the team's outfield assists. He's still young and, from watching him play, seems to have plenty of athletic ability. It's possible the new regime will be more successful at helping him develop as a hitter. He'll open 2008 at Hickory.
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