Collins' bat on strong Troy team intrigues Pirates

Danny Collins' versatile bat certainly piqued the Pirates' interest. He hit .360 this season for a 42-20 Troy (Ala.) team, hitting 11 home runs and driving in 68 runs in 62 games. Collins slugged a team-high .631.

Pittsburgh made Collins, a first baseman, its 13th-round pick on Day 3 of the First-Year Player Draft Saturday, the 389th selection overall.

Collins was the New England Collegiate Baseball League's Most Valuable Player last summer. He batted .390 with 37 runs scored, 62 hits, 37 RBIs, 19 home runs and an .818 slugging percentage in 41 games -- the last two set single-season league records.

He also won the NECBL Home Run Derby and was named to the Perfect Game 2012 Summer Collegiate All-America Team.

Troy reached the NCAA Regionals this season, defeating Alabama twice before being eliminated by Florida State.