The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have signed left-handed pitcher Anthony Solometo (pronounced Saul-o-meet-o), the club’s second round selection (37th overall) in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft.

The 18-year-old Solometo was rated as the 17th-best player in the 2021 draft by MLB Pipeline (28th overall by Baseball America). Baseball America also rated him as having the fourth-best “Breaking Ball” and as having the fifth-best “Control” among high school players in this year’s draft.

Solometo went 4-0 with one save, a 0.21 ERA, 64 strikeouts and just five walks in 32.2 innings as a senior this year at Bishop Eustace (NJ) Preparatory School. His senior year was highlighted by an 11-strikeout performance in a 5.0 inning no-hitter on May 1 against Don Bosco Preparatory High School. He also tossed a 7.0 inning complete game while striking out 11 batters on April 23 against Ocean City High School where he lost a no-hit bid with two outs in the seventh inning. He also struck out 14 batters while not allowing a hit in 7.0 innings in a 1-0, 10-inning win on May 7 vs. Cherry Hill West High School.

Solometo was rated by Perfect Game as the third-best left-handed pitcher and 28th-best player overall in the class of 2021 (he was also ranked third overall in the state of New Jersey and the top left-handed pitcher in the state among the class of 2021 by Perfect Game).

The 6’5’’ southpaw was also tabbed by Perfect Game as a 2021 pre-season All-American as well as a pre-season first-team Northeast all-region selection.

Solometo, who will begin his pro career in the Florida Complex League, was signed by Pirates scout Dan Radcliff.