Baseball-Reference's Bullpen describes today's player "one of a slew" of failed Pittsburgh Pirates draft picks since the 1980s. The Pirates drafted Austin Manahan 13th overall in the 1988 draft. He never made it above AA.When the drafted Manahan, the Pirates thought they had their man. The Pirate scouts rated him the fifth-best player in the draft - 30 slots ahead of where Baseball America had him. Baseball drafts being what they are, even first-rounders aren't locks. Still, the Pirates haven't had many locks, or wins, in recent decades.
Of course, Tino Martinez was taken right behind Manahan. Way down in the seventh round lurked Jim Edmonds and Mark Grace.
Manahan is pictured here with the Augusta Pirates. He would arguably have his best stint in Georgia, batting .302 in 94 games. He stayed with Pittsburgh through the end of 1992. He'd drift through the Expos, Padres and Cubs organizations before hanging it up in 1995 after eight seasons in the minors.
These days, he's apparently still in his native Arizona. Back in 2008, he was looking for his cards to give his kids, signing cards in return for cards.
1/30/10
Edit: Looks like Minahan's now a sales director at a company that creates local business coupon packets directed to new homeowners, according to the blog Baseball Cards Come to Life!. Asked about his favorite cards, Minahan did not pick his CMC offering.
1990 CMC Tally
Cards Reviewed: 11/880
Major Leaguers: 5
Never Made the Majors: 6
100+ Games in the Majors: 0
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 4
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