Bucs draft pitcher first for 6th straight year

Southpaw Paul Maholm of Mississippi State was Pittsburgh's first choice.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Mississippi State junior left-hander Paul Maholm in the first round of Tuesday's major league draft, marking the sixth consecutive year they have used their first pick on a pitcher.
Maholm, who is 6-foot-3 and 214 pounds, was the eighth player chosen overall. General Manager Dave Littlefield said he is not necessarily trying to go after pitchers as much as he's trying to get players who can reach the major leagues soon.
"We're in a situation where we need players," Littlefield said. "As much as there's the enticement to take these great 'tools' type guys, the fact is those guys, for the most part, will take a long time. Where we're at, we need players.
"Guys who are a little more advanced make sense for us right now. As we acquire more talent and can get our foundation a little more solid at the major league and minor league levels, maybe you start to change philosophically a little bit," he said.
Maholm's numbers
Maholm, 20, was 27-10 with a 3.55 ERA in 46 games over three seasons at Mississippi State. He was 9-2 record with a 2.76 ERA this spring.
Littlefield said Maholm projects to be a No. 3 starter in the major leagues.
"He has an average fastball, good curveball, a solid change-up and uses his slider as well," Littlefield said. "He's the kind of pitcher you'd probably describe as having a nice solid mix of pitches. He's not overpowering but he has a good curveball."
The Pirates are hoping Maholm may be advanced because of the caliber of competition in the Southeast Conference.
"It's not a sure bet," Littlefield said. "But it's challenging and he's done well."
Contract negotiations have not begun, Littlefield said.
Last year, the Pirates took Ball State right-hander Bryan Bullington with the No. 1 pick in the June draft. Bullington is currently with Class A Lynchburg, where he's 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA in two starts. Bullington was promoted after going 5-1 with a 1.39 ERA in eight games at Hickory, a lower level of Class A.
Promoted to Altoona
Right-hander John Van Benschoten, the Pirates' first-round pick in 2001, was recently promoted to Class AA Altoona. where he has no record and a 3.86 ERA after two starts. Van Benschoten was 6-0 with a 2.22 ERA in nine games at Lynchburg.
The other pitchers drafted on the first round since 1998 were Sean Burnett (2000), Bobby Bradley (1999) and Clint Johnston (1998). Burnett is with Altoona, where he's 5-2 with a 2.34 ERA. Bradley recently had shoulder surgery and Johnston was released two years ago.