Pirates ink second overall pick Alvarez
Sports Network | August 16, 2008
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to terms with third baseman Pedro Alvarez, the second overall selection in the 2008 June Draft, prior to Friday's midnight (et) signing deadline.
Alvarez batted .317 with 15 doubles, nine home runs and 30 runs batted in 40 games during his junior season at Vanderbilt. Despite missing 23 games during the season with a broken hamate bone in his right hand, Alvarez tied the all- time Vandy home run record with 49.
The 21-year-old Alvarez also hit .329 with a school record 22 home runs and 64 RBI as a freshman while being named the Southeast Conference Freshman-of-the- Year.
"Pedro Alvarez is an accomplished college hitter with the potential to be a middle of the order bat at the major league level for us," Neal Huntington, Pirates senior vice president and general manager said. "Equally important, he is a quality young man who comes from a very strong family. We appreciate their trust in the Pirates organization. We are excited to add him to our system and about the potential impact he can have."
The six-foot-two, 225-pound Alvarez was 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 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.
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