Pirates pick Michigan State wide receiver recruit on third day of MLB draft

Jase Bowen could be the next Kirk Gibson. The Pittsburgh Pirates hope he’s not.

Bowen, a 6-foot-1 outfielder, was the Pirates’ 11th-round selection in the 2019 draft, which concluded Wednesday with the final 30 rounds. He hit .550 with 31 RBIs and 14 stolen bases as a senior at Toledo Central Catholic in Ohio.

Bowen also committed to Michigan State as a wide receiver. As a senior in high school, he caught 24 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 506 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Bowen will have to decide by next month whether he plans to pursue baseball professionally or play both sports for the Spartans. Gibson was a wide receiver at Michigan State before his baseball career.

Here are some notes on a few other Pirates draft picks from Wednesday:

• Aaron Shackelford, a 14th round pick, was one of the most productive college players in the county. A 5-10 shortstop, he hit .415 with 36 home runs in 52 games for The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, Calif. He was named NAIA player of the year.

• Eli Wilson, a 6-2 catcher picked in the 16th round, is the son of longtime major league catcher Dan Wilson. He was first-team All-Big Ten this season for Minnesota, hitting .295.

• Trey McGough, a 6-3 left-handed pitcher out of Mt. St. Mary’s, is a Johnstown native.

Here is a list of all 42 Pirates picks in the draft:

1. Quinn Priester, Cary-Grove HS (IL), RHP, 6-3, 195

Sammy Siani, William Penn Charter School (PA), CF, 6-0 195

2. Matt Gorski, Indiana, CF, 6-4, 198

Jared Triolo, Houston, 3B, 6-3, 212

3. Matt Fraizer, Arizona, CF, 6-3, 205

4. J.C. Flowers, Florida State, RHP, 6-3, 190

5. Grant Ford, Nevada, RHP, 6-1, 175

6. Will Matthiesen, Stanford, RHP, 6-6, 225

7. Blake Sabol, USC, RF, 6-4, 215

8. Austin Roberts, Sacramento St., RHP, 6-0, 219

9. Ethan Paul, Vanderbilt, SS, 5-10, 180

10. Cameron Junker, Notre Dame, RHP, 6-5, 220

11. Jase Bowen, Toledo Central Catholic HS (OH), CF, 6-1, 190

12. Kyle Wilkie, Clemson, C, 5-11, 205

13. Chase Murray, Georgia Tech, OF, 6-0, 188

14. Aaron Shackelford, The Masters University (CA), SS, 5-10, 205

15. Garrett Leonard, Rollins College (FL), RHP, 6-3, 190

16. Eli Wilson, Minnesota, C, 6-2, 190

17. Ryan Harbin, Bartow Senior HS (FL), RHP, 6-4, 195

18. Will Simpson, Skyline HS (WA), 1B, 6-4, 215

19. Cory Wood, Coastal Carolina, 2B, 5-9, 180

20. Jake Snider, Louisville, CF, 6-1, 190

21. Alex Roth, Western Oregon University, RHP, 6 5, 220

22. Andres Alvarez, Washington St., SS, 5-10, 175

23. Jasiah Dixon, Orange Lutheran HS (CA), CF, 6-0, 180

24. Trey McGough, Mount St. Mary’s, LHP, 6-3, 195

25. Ethan Goforth, Carson-Newman College (TN), C, 5-10, 190

26. Ryan Troutman, Lander University (SC), RHP, 6-1, 205

27. Samson Abernathy, University of the Pacific (CA), RHP, 6-0, 195

28. Bear Bellomy, Wright St. RHP, 6-4, 205

29. Marshall Gilbert, Mississippi St., C, 6-1, 206

30. Dawson McCarville, Glendale CC (AZ), RHP, 6-4, 210

31. Josh Bissonette, Baylor, 2B, 6-0, 185

32. Jake Wright, Coastal Carolina, RF, 5-9, 195

33. Ernny Ordonez, Central Arizona College, 3B, 6-2, 210

34. Dylan Shockley, University of Rio Grande (OH), C, 5-11, 195

35. Deion Walker, Hillgrove HS (GA), CF, 6-4, 180

36. Jake Sweeney, Pensacola State College (FL), LHP, 6-7, 240

37. CJ Dandeneau, UConn, RHP, 6-0, 215

38. Christian Gordon, Liberty Christian Academy (VA), RF, 6-0, 180

39. Daniel Ross, Millersville University, RHP, 6-5, 220

40. Elijah Dunham, Indiana, OF, 6-0, 213