Kyle Drabek: Lock to be a first-round pick.

Doug Drabek will have some general interest in today's amateur draft, which is top-loaded with college pitchers.

Drabek will have keen interest, however, in a standout high school right-hander -- who will be sitting right there in the den of the family home.

Kyle Drabek, 18, is a lock to be a first-round pick as he nears the end of a brilliant high school career for The Woodlands, an athletic power in an upscale Houston suburb.

"It's neat, cool and fun going through the process," said Doug Drabek, who was the Cy Young award winner in 1990 with the Pirates. "I think he's enjoying [the process], but the state tournament is this weekend and his focus has been on that."

Kyle Drabek, who also is a great shortstop, has led The Woodlands to a 36-1 record. He features a fastball with 94-95 mph heat and a sharp-breaking curveball that gets him almost two strikeouts per inning.

Stuff like that produces a lot of telephone calls from scouts and prospective agents.

"It's been a little bit hectic," Doug Drabek said, "but not too bad."

Just then a phone rang in another room of the Drabek house.

"Hold on a second," he said to a reporter, then continued after a pause: "I can get it later. Where were we? I didn't have anything like this when I signed."

Drabek, 45, was an 11th-round pick of the Chicago White Sox in June 1983 after his third season at the University of Houston. He debuted in the major leagues with the New York Yankees in 1986, then was traded to the Pirates that winter in the Rick Rhoden deal.

He had six solid seasons with the Pirates, compiling a 92-62 record and winning the Cy Young award in 1990 with a 22-6 record and 2.76 earned run average.

The team that drafts Kyle Drabek certainly will hope he'll show the same talent in the big leagues, but it won't be the Pirates, who have the fourth overall pick and whose focus is on a college pitcher.

"[Kyle Drabek] is an interesting guy," Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said. "He's very aggressive and has a good breaking ball. He'll be picked high. But [for the Pirates], taking the best player available is more important than who your dad is."

"I really don't know where he might go," Drabek said. "[The Pirates picking him] would be neat. We had six good years there. But teams have to do what they need to do.

"Plus, you can hear and read all the stuff you want. It just depends on the first team that wants him."

The telephone rang again in the other room. Drabek laughed.

"Well, yeah, it has been hectic," he said.

Baseball America projects Kyle Drabek as the 12th-best prospect -- and the 10th-best pitcher -- in this draft.

One reason Drabek, 6 feet 1, 190 pounds, isn't projected to go higher is that some scouts have questions about his makeup and attitude.

"That bothers me in a way," his father said. "He's done a good job handling things. He's very competitive. He doesn't like losing. He'll toss his helmet or throw up his hands, and people freak out. He's had a target on his back since last year. He's been under a microscope.

"He hears stuff from parents and the other team. He's not the first person this has happened to. He won't be the last. I've talked to him about it, and I'm very pleased with how he's handled it."

Drabek and his wife, Kristy, will have a draft day get-together at their home today. Guests will include Kyle's high school team, their parents and other friends.

"I really don't know how many people will be here," Doug Drabek said. "It's a 'congratulations-on-making-it-to-the-state-tournament' and the draft thing. This will be a busy week."