The Pirates selected Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez with the No. 2 overall pick in Major League Baseball's draft this afternoon.

And, possibly because many observers, including Baseball America, ranked him as the top talent available, there was palpable delight at PNC Park.

"We are excited," general manager Neal Huntington said. "We feel he's got a middle-of-the-lineup bat and, being from the left side, with our ballpark, that's another plus."

Alvarez, speaking from his parents' home in upper Manhattan, described a raucous scene upon seeing his name flashed on TV as the Pirates' choice.

"I think we almost broke the floor," he said. "It's a surreal moment to be here with my family and friends. Just shows that a lot of the hard work and sacrifice paid off. I hope that keeps rewarding me down the road."

Asked if he can make a difference for a franchise that has had 15 consecutive losing seasons, he replied, "I believe so. And I want to thank the Pirates for believing that, as well."

Alvarez, 21, is a left-handed power hitter who ranked No. 1 on Baseball America's final preseason scouting list for this draft.

In his first three collegiate seasons, he has batted .349 with 49 home runs in 170 games. This season, which ended for Vanderbilt with an NCAA regional loss Sunday, he lost six weeks to a broken hamate bone in his right hand and, upon returning April 3, batted .317 with nine home runs and 30 RBIs in 40 games the rest of the way. He struck out 28 times, but he drew just as many walks to sustain a very healthy .424 on-base percentage.

The lack of power concerned some, though the hamate injury is known to sap a hitter's power for 12-18 months. The Pirates have checked Alvarez's medical records and have no issue with the hand. The bone, which is considered useless, was removed entirely, so it should not affect him.

"I couldn't work out when I was hurt, so it's natural to lose some strength," Alvarez said of the lost power. "But it's easy to gain it again."

The Pirates had reports on Alvarez dating back to his time at a New York high school.

"He's got a nice stroke," scouting director Greg Smith said. "The ball comes off the bat very well. He takes a professional approach, uses the whole field. You watch him take batting practice, and he works to left, left-center, across the field. He's an advanced college hitter. Obviously, with the injury, he had some timing issues trying to get back. But we like his potential offensively."

Defensively, Huntington and Smith each expressed confidence that he will remain a third baseman in the majors, despite some projections that he would have to move to first.

"A major league third baseman has to have soft hands, athletic feet, the ability to make the throw across the diamond," Huntington said. "Pedro has all of those abilities and, more important, he wants to play third. He wishes he could still play shortstop."

Alvarez's take on staying at third?

"I'm very confident," he said. "I strive to be the best third baseman I can."

With the No. 1 pick, Tampa Bay selected Georgia high school shortstop Tim Beckham, who had been one of the Pirates' three finalists, along with Alvarez and Florida State University catcher Buster Posey. The Rays' finalists were down to Beckham and Posey, but Posey's contract demands -- reported to have exceeded $12 million in guaranteed money -- deterred them.

The Pirates will have their own money issues with Alvarez, to be sure.

Teams and draft picks must sign contracts by the Aug. 15 deadline, or the team gets a compensatory pick the following year -- No. 3 overall, in the Pirates' case, if deferred to 2009 -- and the player goes back into the draft pool. And, with Alvarez represented by super-agent Scott Boras, meeting that timetable is no slam dunk: Boras, famed for ignoring MLB's slotting recommendations for draft picks, is expected to seek a signing bonus of more than $7 million, plus a major league contract that would push his guaranteed money into eight figures.

Huntington said that a major league contract "isn't a huge issue." He added that no talks had begun to this point because none were permitted, but that those should happen "sooner rather than later."

"Negotiations aren't going to be easy," Huntington said. "But it is our belief that Pedro wants to be a major league player and realizes that, as Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki and Evan Longoria before him, they've gotten on the field that summer and been in the big leagues within 24 months. Could that happen in this case? I don't know. But there's certainly a good track record."

Alvarez appeared to want little to do with questions about his signability.

"I can't even think about that right now," he said. "I need to sit down with my parents and advisors. I'm just trying to take everything in. All I know right now is that it's a privilege and an honor to be drafted by the Pirates."

And would he want, as Huntington suggested, to get to playing baseball quickly this summer?

"Again, this is the first step of a long process. That will be taken care of when it comes."

Born and raised in New York, the son of Dominican immigrants, Alvarez was impressive enough out of high school that the Boston Red Sox drafted him in the 14th round three years ago. He turned down a signing bonus of close to $1 million to attend Vanderbilt, largely at his parents' urging.

Tampa Bay passed on Alvarez largely because the Rays already have a 21-year-old third baseman, Evan Longoria, who is an elite talent and recently was signed to a long-term contract.

In the second round, the Pirates drafted Tanner Scheppers, a right-handed starter out Fresno State University who had been widely expected to go high in the first round until a stress fracture in his shoulder knocked him out for six weeks.

His fastball could reach 99 mph before that, and Baseball America had him ranked as the No. 10 player, the No. 3 pitcher. In 12 games, he was 8-2 with a 2.93 ERA, 109 strikeouts and 34 walks in 71 innings.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.