Bucs Select Alvarez

The Pittsburgh Pirates with the second selection in the 2008 Major League Baesball First Year Player draft picked Vanderbilt University third baseman Pedro Alvarez.

Alvarez, 21, is considered the top prospect in this year’s draft by many industry publications. There was some concern about his stock falling early in the spring, when he broke a bone in his hand, but he's returned from that healthy and productive.

“Our scouts have been following Pedro’s career at Vanderbilt and on the USA National Team for several years,” said Pirates Director of Scouting. Greg Smith. “We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to select Pedro and to add him to our organization.”

The 6’2”, 225-pound Alvarez hit .329 with a school record 22 home runs and 64 RBI in his first year at Vanderbilt while being named the Southeast Conference Freshman-of-the-Year and the National Freshman-of-the-Year by numerous industry outlets, including Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and Rivals.com. As a sophomore Alvarez hit .386 with 18 home runs and 68 RBI while being named a first-team All-American by Baseball America, Rivals.com and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Alvarez was also named the SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player after hitting .542 in the tournament.

The Pirates were on Alvarez's radar.

"I had spoken with the Pirates management a few times during the years, but you see so many things happen with the Draft. I had a hunch, but I wasn’t sure. And then it happened," he said.

In 40 games with Vanderbilt University during his junior season, the left-handed hitting Alvarez batted .317 with 15 doubles, nine home runs and 30 RBI in 167 at bats. Despite missing 23 games of the season with a broken hamate bone in his right hand, Alvarez tied the all time school career home run record with 49.

"Once I came back, I was 100 percent and I got the OK from the doctor," Alvarez stated. "I can’t hurt it again. I didn’t work out when I was hurt, so naturally you lose some strength. But that’s gainable again."

Pedro was also selected to the USA National Team twice during his collegiate career. In 2006, he captured the Gold Medal in the FISU World Championship by leading the team with a .379 average to go along with five home runs, 12 doubles and 43 RBI in 31 games. In 2007, Alvarez led Team USA in batting average (.315), hits (40), home runs (7), RBI (30), total bases (70) and slugging percentage (.551), while winning the Silver Medal at the Pan Am Games and finishing third at the World Port Tournament.

One of the top baseball prospects in the nation at Horace Mann High School in New York, Alvarez was the Gatorade and Louisville Slugger New York High School Player-of-the-Year in 2005. He helped lead Horace Mann to the 2004 Ivy League Championship and holds the school and career records in batting average, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, walks and on-base percentage.

After his distinguished high school career, Alvarez was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 14th round of the 2005 First Year Player Draft but decided to pursue his education at Vanderbilt University.

“Pedro Alvarez is an accomplished college hitter with the potential to be a middle of the order bat at the major league level. Equally important, he is a quality young man who comes from a very strong family,” said Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington. “Pedro is the type of talent and quality individual that we are looking to add to our system. We are very pleased Pedro was available when we made our selection and are excited about the potential impact he can have on our organization.”

Alvarez is represented by super-agent Scott Boras, and he is expected to seek a signing bonus of more than $7 million, plus a major league contract that would push his guaranteed money into eight figures.

Teams and draft picks must sign contracts by the Aug. 15 deadline, or the team gets a compensatory pick the following year -- No. 3 overall, in the Pirates' case, if deferred to 2009 -- and the player goes back into the draft pool. Getting Alvarez signed could be a problem for the Pirates.

Alvarez wasn't tipping his hand about signing.

"I can’t even think about that right now," he offered. "I need to sit down with my parents and my evaluators and talk about that later. Right now I’m just trying to take everything in."

Pressed about wanting to start his career quickly - Alvarez had this response.

"Again, this is the first step of long process and that will be taken care of when it comes."

The Pirates feel that they will get Alvarez under contract.

"Negotiations aren’t going to be easy," Huntington explained. "but it’s our belief that Pedro wants to be a Major League Baseball player and realizes that Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulawitzki and Evan Longoria before him, they’ve gotten out in that first summer and gotten to the big leagues within 24 months. Will that happen in this case? I don’t know. But there’s certainly a good track record there."

When he becomes Pirates' property - Alvarez thinks he can be an impact player and he appreciates the opportunity

"I want to thank the Pirates to think that I can be [a difference maker] as well. I’ll do my best to be the best I can," Alvarez said,