The Pittsburgh Pirates signed the following player today from the 2018 First-Year Player Draft. The announcement was made by Joe DelliCarri, Pirates Senior Director of Amateur Scouting.
13th Round - Zack Kone, INF, 6-3/202, Duke University (assigned to West Virginia Black Bears) ... Was named to the 2018 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List, which is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding shortstop ... Hit .289 with 17 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 38 RBI in 60 games as a junior in 2018 with Duke ... Was tabbed as the No. 13 prospect in the ACC for the 2018 draft by D1Baseball ... Played for the Cotuit Kettleers in the summer of 2017 in the Cape Cod League where he was named to the league's All-Star team on July 22 ... Was named to the 2016 All-ACC Freshman team.
The Pirates signed a total of 33 players from the 2018 draft, which included 20 of their first 21 selections for the fourth time in the last five years. In addition, this is now the fourth time in the last five years Pittsburgh signed at least 30 players from the First-Year Player Draft.