PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates have signed their 26th-round selection, Jimmy Rider, an infielder from Kent State University.
Rider hit .367 (99-for-270) with 27 doubles, five home runs, 32 walks and 53 RBI in 61 regular season games at shortstop for Kent State this past season, leading the team in doubles, runs scored (63), hits, total bases (143), on-base percentage (.435), plate appearances (311), at bats (270), games and extra-base hits (29).
Rider's double in the bottom of the ninth inning on June 11 broke a 2-2 tie and gave Kent State a 3-2 victory over Oregon, allowing the Golden Flashes to advance to the College World Series for the first time in school history.
A Pittsburgh native, Rider played shortstop for Peters Township High School and helped the Indians to a WPIAL Class AAAA state championship in 2007. He was named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-Section Team his sophomore and junior high school seasons.
The Pirates have now signed 15 players from the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
