Virginia Tech shortstop Chad Pinder was selected with the #71 overall pick by the Oakland Athletics on the MLB Draft on Thursday night. He was chosen in the Competitive Balance Round B, which comes at the close of the second round for teams that lost players to free agency in the offseason.
Pinder is the sixth highest draft pick in Virginia Tech baseball history.
Joe Saunders, 2002, #12 overall
Brad DuVall, 1987, #15 overall, and 1988, #23 overall
Franklin Stubbs, 1982, #19 overall
Johnny Oates, 1966, #38 overall
Denny Wagner, 1997, #42 overall
Pinder began the season as a third baseman, but switched to shortstop halfway through the year. He is known for being an outstanding fielder and a capable hitter. He hit .322 with 18 homers and 101 RBI’s in three seasons at Virginia Tech.
While he doesn’t project to be an ideal power hitting third baseman, many feel that Pinder’s future at the next level comes in the middle infield. He possesses plenty of power for second base and shortstop, and he proved that he could play shortstop effectively this season.
The draft will continue tonight with rounds 3-10.
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I was hoping/wishing he would go to my Phillies. J-Rol is getting long in the tooth along with some other stars who carried the Phils through the championship years. However I recognize that Pinder doesn’t fit the Jimmie Rollins model of shortstop. Nevertheless I always follow every Hokies career in the bigs.