Alvarez to make Curve debut

By Guy Cipriano

A slew of roster moves within the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system will bring another first-round draft pick to central Pennsylvania.

Third baseman Pedro Alvarez, the second overall pick in last year’s draft, has joined the Altoona Curve and will make his Double-A debut tonight at Erie.

Alvarez, 22, arrived in Altoona one day after the Pirates

announced the promotion of 2006 first-rounder Brad Lincoln to Triple-A Indianapolis. The Curve’s roster also includes 2007 first-rounder Daniel Moskos while this year’s first-rounder Tony Sanchez made his first professional start for the State College Spikes on Sunday. Alvarez, a member of the Pirates’ 40-man roster, is expected to make his anticipated home debut Friday against Bowie at Blair County Ballpark.

“What an absolute blessing for baseball fans in central Pennsylvania to see those guys,” Curve general manager Rob Egan said.

Alvarez, Lincoln, Moskos and Sanchez were selected during the first four picks of their respective drafts. The Pirates distributed more than $14 million in signing bonuses to the quartet, including an organization- record $6.35 million to Alvarez.

“It’s definitely an honor and privilege to be anticipated in such a way,” Alvarez said during a teleconference with reporters Monday night. “I think I put the most pressure on myself and in terms of external factors I try to eliminate that as much as I can. I’m my hardest judge.”

Alvarez, a former Vanderbilt star, bypassed State College after extended and contentious contract negotiations last summer. He started his professional career this past spring at High-A Lynchburg, where he hit .247 with 14 homers and 55 RBIs in 66 games. He struck out 70 times in 243 at-bats.

“I think everything happens for a reason,” he said. “I’m glad everything worked out the way it did. All I know is that I’m here now and I’m going to take full advantage of it.”

Three former Spikes also received promotions. The Pirates promoted outfielder Miles Durham and pitcher Dustin Molleken from Lynchburg to Altoona and shortstop Chase D’Arnaud from Low-A West Virginia to Lynchburg.

Durham, 26, spent two years in the New York-Penn League, playing for

Williamsport in 2006 and State College the following summer. He hit .328 with 14 homers and 57 RBIs in 72 games at Hickory last year. Durham, who will play in tonight’s Carolina/ California League All- Star Game, started this season by hitting .296 with seven homers and 39 RBIs in 65 games at Lynchburg.

D’Arnaud, one of the most exciting players in the Spikes’ four-year history, is playing in tonight’s South Atlantic League All-Star Game. He also played in last year’s NY-PL All-Star Game at Tri-City. D’Arnaud, a fourth-round pick last year, joins a Lynchburg team that includes fellow shortstop and 2008 third-rounder Jordy Mercer.

Pirates director of player development Kyle Stark said both players will continue playing shortstop, with D’Arnaud also playing second base and Mercer working at third base.

Black joining Spikes

The Pirates agreed to terms Monday with supplemental first-rounder Victor Black and assigned the 6-foot-4 right-hander to State College.

Black, the 49th overall pick, went 6-4 with a 4.16 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 882/ 3 innings as a junior at Dallas

Baptist. He joined the team Monday in Mahoning Valley. Stark said Black will throw a bullpen session before entering one of the Spikes’ piggybacks. Black threw 2461/3 innings in three college seasons.

“We are going to monitor his innings,” Stark said.

The Pirates also agreed to terms with 21st-rounder Phillip Irwin, a right-hander from Mississippi.

County roundup

Former State College and Harvard standout Steffan Wilson is creeping toward Double-A.

Wilson, the Milwaukee Brewers’ 28th-round pick in 2007, is hitting .308 with seven homers and 29 RBIs for the High-A Brevard County (Fla.) Manatees. Wilson, 23, has showed versatility, playing first base, third base and right field for manager Mike Guerrero’s team. Wilson has committed just five errors in 61 games.

The Manatees went 40-21 to capture the Florida State League’s Northern Division first-half title. Wilson, who hit .289 in 131 games at West Virginia last season and .328 at short-season Helena in 2007, entered Monday ranked eighth among the FSL’s batting leaders. He also ranked fifth among Brewers’ minor-leaguers who have played 50 or more games.

Former Philipsburg-Osceola standout Adam White is the only other player from a Centre County high school currently playing in the minors. White, the Cleveland Indians’ ninth-round pick in 2007, entered Monday hitting .267 at Low-A Lake County. White also played for the Captains in 2008.

Matt Adams, a 2006 P-O graduate, is expected to begin his professional career with the Johnson City Cardinals later this week. The St. Louis Cardinals selected Adams in the 23rd round of this month’s draft. Johnson City, which is managed by former Spikes coach Mike Shildt, plays in the Appalachian League.