The Pittsburgh Pirates today signed the following players from the 2017 First-Year Player Draft. The announcement was made by Joe DelliCarri, Pirates Director of Amateur Scouting.
Round: 11
Name: Alex Manasa
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-4/195
School: Jackson Community College
Affiliate Assignment: Bristol Pirates
Went 0-0 with five saves, a 1.27 ERA (21.1ip/3er) and 31 strikeouts in 16 relief appearances in 2017 at Jackson Community College ... Became the highest draft pick in the history of Jackson Community College's baseball program ... Earned All-Michigan Community College Athletic Association honors, All-Eastern Conference First-Team and Eastern Conference All-Freshman Team accolades in 2017.
Round: 16
Name: Hunter Stratton
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-4/225 School: Walters State Community College
Affiliate Assignment: Bristol Pirates
Went 8-3 with a 3.93 ERA (66.1ip/29er) and 79 strikeouts in 14 appearances (14 starts) in 2017 at Walters State Community College ... Became the fifth player in Walters State Community College history to be drafted by the Pirates, joining Bobby Falls (3rd round, 1981), David Miller (24th round, 1984), Zac Fuesser (34th round, 2009) and teammate Hunter Wolfe, who was chosen in the 12th round this year.
Round: 20
Name: Will Reed
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-2/190
School: Harford Community College
Affiliate Assignment: Bristol Pirates
Went 8-1 with a 2.38 ERA (56.2ip/15er), two complete games and 78 strikeouts in 14 appearances (11 starts) in 2017 with Harford Community College ... Received First-Team All-Region honors in 2017 for Region 20 Division I ... Was also ranked by Baseball America 235th overall in the nation and the fourth-best prospect in the state of Maryland.
Round: 21
Name: Robbie Glendinning
Position: INF
Height/Weight: 6-2/190
School: University of Missouri
Affiliate Assignment: West Virginia Black Bears
Hit .274 (55-for-201) with 13 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 30 RBI in 56 games in 2017 with the University of Missouri ... Previously attended Northern Iowa Area Community College, where he holds the school's single-season records for hits (107), doubles (27) and runs (75) ... Is also Northern Iowa's all-time leader in hits, home runs, doubles, RBI and runs scored ... Was born in Perth, Australia.
Round: 22
Name: Brett Pope
Position: INF
Height/Weight: 6-0/180
School: Western Carolina University
Affiliate Assignment: West Virginia Black Bears
Ranked second on Western Carolina's team with a .342 average (83-for-243) in 2017 while also earning Second-Team All-Southern Conference accolades ... Also collected 12 doubles, four home runs and 28 RBI in 56 games for Western Carolina in 2017 ... Became the sixth Catamount baseball player to be drafted by the Pirates all-time.
Round: 23
Name: Benjamin Bengtson
Position: INF
Height/Weight: 6-0/205
School: University of Hartford
Affiliate Assignment: Bristol Pirates
Hit .323 (54-for-167) with seven doubles, two triples, five home runs and 36 RBI in 44 games in 2017 as a junior with the University of Hartford ... Was named to the America East All-Conference First-Team in 2017 for the second straight season ... Earned New England Baseball Association First-Team honors in 2017 and was an All-Rookie pick in 2015.
Round: 26
Name: Lucas Tancas
Position: OF
Height/Weight: 6-2/220
School: California State Univ.-Long Beach
Affiliate Assignment: West Virginia Black Bears
Hit .304 (70-for-230) with 12 doubles, nine home runs and 37 RBI in 62 games in 2017 with Long Beach State ... Also went 9-for-10 in stolen base attempts in 2017.
Round: 28
Name: Matt Seelinger
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-0/205
School: Farmingdale State
Affiliate Assignment: West Virginia Black Bears
Became the first-ever Farmingdale State baseball player to be drafted ... Earned All-Eastern College Athletic Conference First-Team honors in 2017 ... Was named an All-Conference and All-Region twice in his career ... Was a First-Team All-Skyline Conference selection in 2017 and a Second-Team American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-New York Region selection ... Was coached at Farmingdale by former Pirate Keith Osik, who played for Pittsburgh from 1996 to 2002.
The Pirates have now signed 20 players from the 2017 draft.