Sanchez

PITTSBURGH — Tony Sanchez, an excellent defensive catcher who developed late in his Boston College career, was selected by the Pirates with the No. 4 pick in the amateur draft Tuesday night.

Sanchez was not considered to be among the top 20 prospects by most independent scouting services, but he is expected to be much easier to sign for the Pirates than last year's first-rounder, third baseman Pedro Alvarez.

"We got the top-rated player on our board," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said.

Drafting a player such as Sanchez could free up more money for the Pirates to spend on picks beyond the first round.

Sanchez, from Miami, hit .346 with 14 homers and 51 RBIs this season. During his Boston College career, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Sanchez hit .317 with 24 homers and 124 RBIs.