The St. Louis Cardinals today announced that they have agreed to terms on a contract with their top selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, infielder Pete Kozma. He was the 18th overall selection in the 1st round. 

The 18-year old starred at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma where he finished his senior season with team-bests in batting average (.522), runs (56), RBI (55) and home runs (11) while leading his team to a state title.   

Kozma was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Oklahoma and was voted the Rawlings High School Gold Glove shortstop for 2007. He was named to the Louisville Slugger High School All American team and is a Baseball America and USA Today second-team All-American. The 6’1”, 180-pound Kozma posted a .491 career batting average at Owasso (171-for-348) and scored 154 runs with 140 RBI and 30 home runs.  His .553 batting average as a junior was a school record. 

Kozma will report to the Cardinals minor league facility in Jupiter, FL and undergo a physical next Tuesday. Once he is officially signed, he will likely report to short-season Johnson City.

Info courtesy of the St. Louis Cardinals

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Daniel Moskos, the club’s first-round selection (fourth overall) in the 2007 June draft. Moskos is to receive a bonus of $2,475,000.

Moskos, 21, had a 3.29 ERA (79.1ip/29er) in 27 games (10 starts) with a team-best 78 strikeouts as a junior with Clemson University this year.  He was named to the Roger Clemens Award Watch List (College Baseball’s Pitcher-of-the-Year) and was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, which is presented by USA Baseball to the top player in college baseball.

“We’re very pleased to come to terms with Daniel,” Littlefield said.  “He is a very competitive pitcher with an outstanding arm and aggressive approach.  He has been successful at the highest level in college baseball, the Cape Cod League, and internationally.  We look forward to him continuing that success as a member of the Pirates organization.”

The 6’1”, 200-pound Moskos posted a 3.25 ERA in 81 appearances (10 starts) over three seasons with Clemson. He also recorded 16 saves in his career with the Tigers, which ranks fourth in school history. In addition, his 81 appearances are the fifth-most and his 71 relief appearances are tied for sixth-most in Clemson history.

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms with their third selection from the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, Anthony Thomas. In addition, the Cubs signed fourth round pick, Darwin Barney, who won consecutive College World Series titles with Oregon State University.

Thomas, a consensus All-American with Florida State University in 2007, led the club with a .430 batting average, 111 hits, 91 runs scored, 33 doubles, six triples, 11 home runs and 31 stolen bases. Thomas’ .430 average (111-for-258) was the third-highest single-season mark in school history and he became the first Seminole in Florida State history to record 30 doubles, 100 hits and 30 stolen bases in a single-season.

Barney hit .302 (84-for-278) with a .377 on-base percentage in 67 games for Oregon State University en route to the team’s second straight NCAA title in 2007. He led the team with 20 doubles while his 53 runs scored and 14 stolen bases both ranked second. He was named the 2007 Preseason Pacific-10 Player of the Year and was the Pac-10’s No. 4 prospect for the 2007 Draft, as rated by Baseball America.

Courtesy of the Cubs Media Relations Department