Bucs sign two more Draft picks

By Tom Singer and Steven Petrella

June 21, 2013

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates signed two Draft picks, eighth-rounder Neil Kozikowski and 22nd-round pick Henry Hirsch, scouting director Joe DelliCarri announced in a press release Friday. Both will report to rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League.

Kozikowski, a right-hander out of Avon Old Farms School (Conn.), committed to Virginia Commonwealth, but opted to sign with the Pirates instead. At a lanky 6-foot-4, his fastball sits in the high 80s but has reached 92.

"I think there's a lot of upside for him, he's long and lean with an easy delivery," Avon coach Rob Dowling said after Kozikowski was selected. "I've seen him hit 92 with minimal effort."

Hirsch, a righty, earned third-team All-Northeast-10 honors by finishing the season 4-3 with a 3.81 ERA in 59 innings at the University of New Haven. He had 60 strikeouts.

The Pirates have now signed 18 players from the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer. Steven Petrella is an associate reporter for MLB.com.