The way Clay Buchholz looks at it, the biggest mistake of his life has also been one of his biggest breaks.

The Portland Sea Dogs ace starter has become one of the top three prospects in the Boston Red Sox organization, but if not for a very bad decision at worst, or youthful indiscretion at best, he might never have become either.

“I’ve said it a lot. Everybody messes up and everybody makes mistakes and that was my one mistake I’ve made growing up,” the 22-year-old Nederland, Texas, native said. “That was my one big one and that tells me if you fall in with the wrong people, bad things can happen.”

Buchholz and a friend were arrested for stealing and selling laptop computers three years ago while Buchholz was a student-athlete at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La.

“It was a bad decision and a bad part of my life that I was able to turn into a good thing,” Buchholz said. “If that hadn’t happened, I might not have transferred and none of this might have happened. It’s weird how everything went down and it opened the door to me for a great opportunity.”

After playing just one season at McNeese State – as an outfielder – the pitcher-shortstop transferred to Angelina Junior College in Lufkin, Texas, where he returned to the mound and caught the eye of Jason McLeod, Red Sox director of amateur scouting.

McLeod and Texas regional scout Jim Robinson kept tabs on Buchholz, who had registered 94 miles per hour on the radar gun. The Red Sox were very interested, but his arrest made them skittish about drafting him. So Buchholz flew to Boston to meet with Boston brass including general manager Theo Epstein.

“I’m not the type of guy to hide from anything. I didn’t try to hide it and I told them all about it,” Buchholz explained. “I think I made a pretty good impression on them, and I think highly of them for not holding that against me.

The Red Sox invested their third overall pick and the 42nd overall (supplemental first round selection) of the 2005 amateur draft on Buchholz.

Boston’s faith has been rewarded as the 22-year-old right-handed pitcher is 6-2 after 14 starts and leading both Portland and Double-A’s Eastern League with a 1.79 ERA and 111 strikeouts. He’s allowed 53 hits and 19 walks in 80 1/3 innings.

“He’s made great strides in a fairly short amount of time,” said Sea Dogs pitching coach Mike Cather. “He has command of four pitches: fastball, changeup, curveball and slider.

“I feel like he has the stuff and makeup to be a starter in the major leagues. Could he do it right now? I don’t see why not, but there’s no real need for him to go up now and rush him. I feel he has all the tools – mental, physical and work ethic – to be an ace.”

He also has another rare character trait.

“He’s electric and he’s exciting to watch,” Cather said. “He got a standing ovation on the road last night. That’s what separates him from everyone else. He’s special.”

Fans obviously agree with Cather, and the feeling is mutual for Buchholz.

“They’re the best part of playing pro ball. Even when we were in Lowell my first year, we sold out every game and that was really an eye-opener as to what Red Sox nation was all about,” Buchholz said. “It’s awesome getting to play in front of five to six thousand fans every night and have kids looking up to you.

“I mean, we’re here to, go out and play and develop, but also to pay your respects to the fans and I can’t think of a better way than to take the time to sign a couple cards.”

Buchholz has attracted notice outside Red Sox Nation as well. His name has been floated in trade rumors involving Boston’s possible pursuit of Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Mark Buehrle. Rather than let it distress or distract him, he takes it as a compliment.

“Last year, I think my name was thrown in with Andruw Jones trade talk with Atlanta,” he said. “With the whole Buehrle thing, if I’m getting traded for him, that tells me they [Chicago] think quite a bit of me.”

Many people do, and that’s quite a statement about a guy who didn’t even pitch during his only collegiate baseball season. Then again, that may be another negative Buchholz has turned into a positive.

“I think that actually helped me keep my arm fresh,” said Buchholz. “I think the fact I didn’t throw a curve or slider until I was 17 helped too.”

Buchholz credits his dad for steering him away from curves and teaching him knuckleballs instead. He hardly ever throws the knuckler anymore.

“No. I don’t think they [Red Sox] want to see that. It wouldn’t be too pretty if I threw one now,” he said with a laugh.

These days, that would be the only thing that’s not pretty when it comes to his pitching.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600 or at aneff@bangordailynews.net