It’s a team in turmoil. Pittsburgh, 39-58 at the All-Star break, sits 18 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs atop the division. Their roster sports just one notable name who made the All-Star Game, Paul Skenes. He’s widely regarded as the best pitcher in baseball and now serves as the leader of the path Hernandez will walk in the Steel City.

Hernandez could one day bring more star power and become a cornerstone in Pittsburgh’s push back toward league relevancy.

Carlson, a 19-year-old Tennessee commit, soared up draft boards over his past two high school seasons, on the back of his consistent play at the plate.

His senior year, while Hernandez was shutting down offenses on the mound, Carlson was hitting .365 with a .517 on-base percentage, six home runs, and a .647 slugging clip.

Carlson was born in Corona, having started on the freshman team for Wise’s program. His work ethic and drive spearhead his ascension to a first-round MLB pick.

“(Carlson) was a freshman who spent some time on the freshman team here,” Wise said. “It’s not like he walked in and demanded anything. He worked hard and believed in what we were doing, and his development went through the roof, and he’s turned himself into what he is today.”

Carlson is one of four prospects from Corona ranked in the top 250 of MiLB’s pre-draft rankings, along with Hernandez, third baseman Brady Ebel (No. 64, and right-handed pitcher/outfielder Ethin Bingaman (No. 150).

Carlson was described on the ESPN broadcast as a “slightly toned down version” of Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who is lauded as one of the best in the league. High praise and a hopeful translation for the White Sox organization, desperate for star power and better fortunes.

Third baseman Brady Ebel closed a big first round for the Panthers program when he was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers at No. 32 with a conditional first-round pick.

At 17, Ebel is the youngest of the trio but lacks no less talent at the plate. Wise saw him as the offensive spark plug for the Panthers.

Ebel finished his senior season at Corona, hitting .341 with a .504 on-base percentage, 31 hits, 27 runs, and 17 RBIs after spending his first two high school seasons at Etiwanda High.

He’s the son of the Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel.

Before Sunday, the school had previously produced four draft picks in school history: outfielder Mike Darr (second round, 1994), right-hander Joe Kelly (third round, 2009), infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor (10th round, 2016) and right-hander Tristan Beck (fourth round, 2018).

Great Oak’s Fien selected 12th

Great Oak third baseman Gavin Fien was selected with the 12th pick by the Texas Rangers.

The Texas commit from Southern California will be staying in the Lone Star State regardless.

He was widely considered one of the premier right-handers in the draft class.

Fien earned MVP honors at the MLB Develops High School All-American Game with two hits and two RBIs. He then batted .400 for Team USA during the 18U World Cup qualifier in Panama, squaring up pitchers from all over the world with proficiency.

Fien lit up his senior season at Great Oak, hitting .358 with 34 knocks, 24 runs, 5 homers and 16 RBIs.

Other locals

No. 50 Angel Cervantes, RHP (Warren, committed to UCLA) to the Pirates

No. 54 Quentin Young 3B/OF (Oaks Christian, committed to LSU) to the Twins

No. 64 Dean Curley SS (Northview, Tennessee) to the Guardians

No. 77 Ethan Hedges 3B/RHP (USC) to the Rockies

No. 87 Anthony Eyanson RHP (Lakewood, LSU) to the Red Sox

No. 89 Jack Gurevitch 1B (SO Notre Dame, San Diego) to the Cardinals

surprise at No. 1

The Washington Nationals selected Oklahoma prep shortstop Eli Willits with the No. 1 pick in a selection seen by some as a surprise.

Willits, 17, is the youngest player taken No. 1 overall since Ken Griffey Jr. with Seattle in 1987. He’s the son of ex-big leaguer Reggie Willits, who played six seasons with the Angels and also coached with the New York Yankees.

Willits, from Fort Cobb-Broxton High, is a switch-hitter who is expected to develop a power swing.

The Angels added another surprise with the No. 2 pick by selecting UC Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner. Seattle followed by taking LSU lefty Kade Anderson.

The Rockies picked shortstop Ethan Holliday at No. 4, landing the son of longtime Rockies star Matt Holliday. Ethan, from Stillwater, Okla., was a candidate to go first overall, just like brother Jackson Holliday with did with Baltimore in 2022.