Marple Newtown senior looks forward to negotiating with Pirates

Marple Newtown senior Chris Kirsch says everything has sunk in since he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates last week in the 13th round of Major League Baseball's annual draft.

Now, he's looking forward in determining his future destination.

Kirsch, a lefthander, says the Pirates are unable to begin negotiations with him until after he graduates on Thursday.

"I think we will be talking shortly after that," Kirsch said after allowing one run and striking out two in 21/3 innings for Delaware County in a 10-2 loss to Suburban One League American & Continental on Tuesday in the Carpenter Cup.

Kirsch says he has a scholarship offer from Pensacola College, a high-powered junior college in Florida. He said that he's not leaning one way or the other and that he has an open mind in dealing with the Pirates.

He said that before the draft, he was told he could be selected anywhere from the eighth to 15th round.

"I was just very happy to be drafted," he said.

Kirsch wasn't surprised that the Pirates chose him.

"There were about five teams that I think liked me, and the Pirates were one of them," he said.

He's hoping after graduation to spend some time at the Jersey shore, but he will be taking his phone along with him.

"This is all very exciting," he said. "It was a real honor to get drafted, and I'm looking forward to talking to the Pirates."