Alvarez was rated by many as the best player in the draft and was easily rated as the top college position player overall.
Tampa passed on Alvarez with the top overall pick due to having Evan Longoria at third base and having recently signed him to a long term extension.
The 21 year old left swinger missed time this year due to a broken hamate bone in his right hand,but returned to finish the season for the Commodores hitting .317 with 9 homers and 30 RBI in his 40 games of action.
Alvarez has been downgraded by some scouts for his defense and could eventually be moved to the right side of the diamond as a first baseman.
Pedro was drafted by Boston in the 14th round in 2004 and rejected a one million dollar signing bonus from the BoSox to attend the Nashville school.
Now come the hard part-getting him signed quickly and when you deal with Scott Boras,that is hardly a given.
Boras did sign Matt Wieters last season to Baltimore,but not until the signing deadline in August and that resulted in Wieters not making his pro debut until this season.
Here is hoping for another show of change and the Pirates sign Alvarez in a timely fashion and get him to State College or Hickory for some at bats before the season ends.
More in tomorrow's edition on the Pirates second round pick and Cleveland's first rounder.
UPDATE:Cleveland selected third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall of Pitt (NC) JUCO with their first round pick.
Chisenhall is a talented player that arrives with baggage as he was kicked off South Carolina's squad after being arrested on burglary and grand larceny issues.
Chisenhall was the Pirates 12th round pick in 2006,but chose to attend South Carolina instead and was one of a rare breed-a Dave Littlefield/Ed Creech pick that had a high ceiling.
Photo Credit-AP File
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