By Dejan Kovacevic | 2:12 p.m. Thursday
The Pirates will sign another prominent draft pick later this afternoon, but the only word on the identity of that pick right now is that it is someone other than Pedro Alvarez.
More as I get it.
On the Alvarez front, not much to report: All options remain on the table, including a major league contract. One of the issues that remains, as mentioned in the Notebook this morning, is the timing of a physical. If the Pirates are going to make such a large investment, they want certainty that the athlete is in full he
alth.
UPDATE 2:25 p.m.: Fifth-rounder Justin Wilson's bonus was $195,000. I reported this morning that it was believed he had signed for above slot -- based on Wilson initially having sought third-round money -- but that final figure is slot to the penny. Gives a pretty strong indication of a) the Pirates sticking to their figures and b) Wilson maybe realizing his stock never will be higher than after that College World Series performance.
2:56 p.m.: Could be sixth-rounder Robbie Grossman, one of the true high-end guys in the draft. If so, it will be way above slot.
4:05 p.m.: And it is. Grossman signs and will be introduced later this afternoon here at the ballpark. He was considered one of the high-end guys taken in this Pirates draft and, in a larger scope, one of the top high school players in the country while competing in Texas. He had signed a letter of intent to the University of Texas. And yes, it does sound as if it was way above slot, perhaps as much as six or seven times the $155,000 slot for fifth-rounders. (No slots below the fifth round.)
4:35 p.m.: Grossman and Neal Huntington will speak to the media at 5:45. Will update with a couple quotes shortly thereafter.
4:42 p.m.: More on Grossman: He is 18, was ranked No. 49 overall going into the draft, No. 26 among position players. He was a preseason All-American going into Texas. From Huntington: "The addition of Robbie Grossman is a big step forward for the organization. We gave Robbie strong consideration as our second-round pick but, as part of our calculated strategy, we were thrilled that a player of his ability was still available when we selected in the sixth round due to his strong interest in playing collegiate baseball." ... He is 6-1, 190 pounds. ... He won the Josh Beckett Award for the Houston area's top player in 2008 as a senior at Cypress-Fairbanks High School after he hit 11 home runs. ...Was a member of USA Baseball's junior team in 2007, batting .450 at the Pan-American Junior Championships, helping team to a bronze medal. ... This is 30 out of 50 picks signed. The Pirates last year signed 27.
4:55 p.m.: Grossman's bonus is for $1 million, plus financing for a college education. Which makes him the most expensive draftee for the Pirates yet and puts him on a slot par with a supplemental first-round pick.
5:01 p.m.: A video can be found here.
6:04 p.m.: Huntington called Grossman "a very tough sign." ... Grossman, looking plenty nervous while surrounded by cameras and microphones, said, among other things: "I thought I'd go to school, but the Pirates went after me, and I respect that. ... I feel like it's the right decision." ... Grossman, after watching the game tonight, will fly tomorrow to Bradenton and play the rest of the GCL season there. He probably will be the last to join the GCL. ... Huntington referred to the Alvarez talks as "a challenge" and added that he expects them to run deep into tomorrow night. ... That will be it on this front. Next draft report will be the one published on the main site at midnight.
Posted
Aug 14 2008, 02:12 PM
by
Dejan Kovacevic