Justin Howard – 24 – 1B – 6-0 – 205 – University of New Mexico

via Pirates agree to terms with 24th round selection Justin Howard | pirates.com: Official Info.

UNIVERSITY PARK — Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington doesn’t relish deadlines despite what last August added to his farm system.

During his swing through State College, Huntington said it’s unlikely the organization will repeat last year’s flurry of last-minute draft signings.

The deadline for signing 2009 draft picks is Aug. 17.

The Pirates added infielder Pedro Alvarez, pitching Quinton Miller and outfielders Robbie Grossman and Wesley Freeman shortly before last year’s deadline. The quartet was a major reason the organization spent nearly $10 million to sign its 2008 picks.

“The reality is that last year was a situation we don’t want to repeat,” Huntington said before leaving Medlar Field at Lubrano Park late Wednesday night. “Hopefully, it’s a unique situation and one we never want to go through again.”

via Bucs’ Huntington likes signing draft picks early | Penn State News | Sports – Centre Daily Times.

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates say they’ve agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Victor Black.

He was selected as a supplemental pick following the first round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. He’s the 49th selection overall. He is to start with the State College Spikes, team in the Class A short-season New York-Penn League.

via Pirates agree to terms with RHP Victor Black – USATODAY.com.

Also, draftees Brock Hold (9th round infielder from Rice), Aaron Baker (11th round 1st baseman from Oklahoma), and Teddy Fallon (39th round pitcher from South Carolina Upstate) have joined the Spikes but have not yet been added to the roster.

The Pittsburgh Pirates today agreed to terms with second baseman Brock Holt from Rice University, who was the club’s ninth round selection in this year’s draft.

via Pirates Sign Ninth Round Pick Brock Holt | pirates.com: Official Info.

via Southeastern Louisiana University – Summerlin Signs With Pirates, Reports for Mini-Camp .

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed the following five players, selected in this year’s First-Year Player Draft.

• Jose Hernandez – University of Texas/San Antonio – 23rd round
• Jason Erickson – University of Washington – 24th round
• Ty Summerlin – SE Louisiana University – 30th round
• Patrick Irvine – Elon University – 33rd round
• Marc Baca – UNLV – 42nd round

The five signees were all collegiate seniors.  With their signing the Pirates have closed deals with every college senior they drafted.  The five have been assigned to the Spikes.

via Pirates sign five draft picks | pirates.com: Official Info.

Why? Let’s start with Black’s draft status.

With Pittsburgh Pirates first-rounder Tony Sanchez signed and ready to report to Low-Class A West Virginia, Black, the 49th overall pick last week, finds himself in a position to become the highest drafted player on the 2009 State College Spikes.

But Black’s appeal extends beyond draft status.

The Pirates admire Black’s fastball-first mentality. That’s the impression Black received from scout Mike Leuzinger, who covers north Texas for the Pirates.

After being selected last Tuesday, Black said Leuzinger told him an outing against Rice on March 4 caught the attention of the Pirates’ front office.

via Black’s fastball catches eye of Pirates’ brass | Penn State News | Sports – Centre Daily Times.

One day after the First-Year Player Draft ended, and three days after catcher Tony Sanchez became Pittsburgh’s first selection, the Pirates and Sanchez agreed to terms on a signing bonus. Sanchez, a three-year starter at Boston College, became the third first-round selection to sign with a club since the Draft ended on Thursday.

via Bucs agree to terms with top Draft pick | pirates.com: News.

06/11/09 5:09 PM ET

PITTSBURGH — For GM Neal Huntington, it’s all about quality, not quantity.

The 2009 First-Year Player Draft ended Thursday with the final 20 rounds. The Pirates’ three-day Draft total includes a strong influx of high school players among the team’s 51 selections.

Huntington repeatedly used the word aggressive to describe his club’s drafting and signing approach. He acknowledged while some people may not recognize a number of the selections, the club’s scouts saw potential in them.

In all, 21 out of the 51 players selected are either from high school or a prep school. Fourteen out of those 21 are pitchers.

via Quality is prized as Bucs end Draft | pirates.com: News.