- Full name Preston D. Clark
- Born 08/16/1985 in Austin, TX
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Texas
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Drafted in the 33rd round (995th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2007.
View Draft Report
Clark is one of three prime draft-eligible sophomores with reported seven-figure price tags at Texas, but there are a couple of differences between him, third baseman Brad Suttle and outfielder Kyle Russell. Suttle and Russell are 21-year-olds in their second year of college, while Clark is in his third year after redshirting in 2005 while getting his classwork in order. And while Suttle and Russell have played well enough to go in the sandwich round, Clark hasn't shown that kind of bat. He hit just .295 during the regular season, in part because he struggles against breaking balls. Clark does have power potential, and he's more ready for the next level defensively than offensively. He has strong catch-and-throw skills, including nimble footwork, a quick transfer and arm strength. Clark had arthroscopic surgery on both of his knees while in high school, and he'll have to watch the weight on his 5-foot-11, 212-pound frame. His offensive performance merits a third-round selection, which may not be high enough to sign him. Catchers often get overdrafted, however. If Clark returns to the Longhorns and improves offensively in 2008, he could be a first-round pick.