Former Pitt-Bradford standout Aaron Cressley has officially signed with the San Diego Padres and is on the roster of the Eugene Emeralds of the Class A short season Northwest League.
Cressley, the Padres 26th round (777th overall pick), became the second Pitt-Bradford player ever to be selected in the MLB Amateur Draft, joining Zach Foster, who was taken in the 49th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008.
In his final season for the Panthers, Cressley posted a 2.75 ERA in 52 1/3 innings pitched with 76 strikeouts and a .207 opponents batting average.
Cressley is expected to join the Emeralds’ starting rotation.
Pirates sign top pick Cole Tucker
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed high school shortstop Cole Tucker, the team’s first-round pick last week.
The switch-hitting Tucker hit .404 with eight doubles, four triples and five home runs in 30 games for Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix this spring. He was a member of the U.S. under-18 team that beat Japan in the World Cup last September.
The Pirates signed seven other draft choices Thursday, including catcher Taylor Gushue, right-handed pitcher Austin Coley and right-handed pitcher Sam Street.
