For many years, Major League Baseball conducted the affair in secrecy, releasing only the names of first-round picks. Until MLB Network televised the first round on Tuesday night, the draft had always been held via conference calls.

However, there is plenty of interest in the draft, especially judging from my e-mail bucket and the conversations I have with fans. People want to know who the Pirates are taking in the draft, which continued Wednesday and ends Thursday.

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington is certainly excited. He borders on the incessant in talking about how Pirates chairman Bob Nutting has committed resources to the draft.

Since there is so much interest in the draft, let’s take a look at the Pirates’ first 31 picks. The biographical information is courtesy of esteemed Pirates media relations director Jim Trdinich and his crack staff while we’ve also included scouting reports from Baseball America and MLB.com when available.

1-Tony Sanchez, C, Boston College

Led Boston College in batting average (.346), slugging percentage (.614), on-base percentage (.443), home runs (tied with 14) and runs scored (63) during his junior season….Threw out the most base runners in the Atlantic Coast Conference (19)…Was the first player in Boston College history to be voted to the All-ACC first team…Was rated by Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus and ESPN as the top college catcher available in the draft, as well as being the best overall defensive catcher and having the best throwing arm of any college catcher…Was one of the most productive hitters in Boston College history, batting .317 in 161 career games…Ranks fifth all-time at Boston College with 24 home runs and 124 RBIs, sixth with 202 hits and eighth with 125 runs. …Also played in the prestigious, wooden-bat Cape Cod Baseball League in 2008 for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and led the team with a .326 batting average in 34 games. He was named as the starting catcher in the 2008 Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game and was a member of the all-league team.

Baseball America: Sanchez, who grew up playing with Miami shortstop Ryan Jackson in South Florida, dreamed of playing for the Hurricanes when he was younger but was overweight and overlooked by many recruits out of high school. He’s slimmed down by 35 points in three years at Boston College and made himself into one of the nation’s premier college catchers. Sanchez is a slightly above-average major-league defender with soft hands, quick feet and a solid-average to plus arm. He excels at framing pitches and blocking balls in the dirt. Offensively, Sanchez has solid-average power but his bat is not a sure thing. He punishes fastballs but struggles mightily against breaking balls, though he’s an intelligent enough hitter to lay off breaking stuff that he cannot hit. He has a mature approach at the plate and excellent makeup on the field and off.

MLB.com: College catchers are always a premium commodity and Sanchez has emerged as one of the better options in this year’s group. He’s a solid catch-and-throw guy behind the plate with good overall defensive skills. He also can swing the bat some, with a little power, giving him an intriguing all-around package. He’s struggled with conditioning in the past but he seemed driven to get himself into shape. The benefit has been an outstanding junior season that will probably move him off the board early on draft day.

1A-Victor Black, RHP, Dallas Baptist University

Posted a 6-4 record and a 4.16 ERA in 15 starts with the Patriots during his junior year, striking out 99 batters in 88 2/3 innings pitched…Becomes the highest drafted player in DBU history; Brandon Harper held that mark after being selected in the fourth round of the 1997 draft by the Florida Marlins with the 126th overall pick…Was selected by the New York Mets in the 41st round of the 2006 draft out of Amarillo (Texas) High School…Was ranked by Baseball America as the 29th-best pitcher available in the draft.

Baseball America: Black may have cemented his status as Texas’ top college prospect when he outpitched two of his main challengers, Texas A&M’s Brook Raley and Alex Wilson, in front of a crowd of scouts in late April. Black allowed just one hit in the first six innings before tiring, topping out at 96 mph and sitting at 92-94. His fastball is pretty straight because he throws from a high three-quarters slot and his control sometimes deserts him but he has pitched in the mid-90s throughout the season. Black has improved his mechanics and command significantly from a year ago when he struggled mightily at Dallas Baptist (1-6, 4.97) and in the Cape Cod League (0-4, 7.01). He had a good curveball as a freshman but lost it in 2008 and he now throws a slider. His changeup has been more effective this year but it will require work in pro ball. His 6-foot-4, 204-pound frame is built for durability. The velocity and progress Black has shown this season could carry him into the end of the first round.

2-Brooks Pounders, RHP, Temecula Valley (Calif.) High School

Went 9-2 with a 1.96 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings this past season…Also threw four complete games, including one shutout…Is listed as 6-foot-5, 240 pounds…His father, Brad, was a star at UC Riverside and played in the Padres’ farm system in the 1980s.

MLB.com: Pounders might be more substance than style. He doesn’t seem to have the best body in the world but he’s more athletics in his delivery than you’d think. He won’t light up a radar gun, something that might hurt his draft status, but he does have four pitches he can throw for strikes as a high schooler. That kind of pitchability doesn’t grow on trees, especially from the prep ranks.

3-Evan Chambers, OF, Hillsborough (Fla.) Community College

Hit .324 with 13 doubles, 11 home runs, 39 RBIs and 27 stolen bases in 188 at bats this season…Ranked by Baseball America as one of the top 200 prospects in this year’s draft….Originally committed to Florida after prepping in the Lakeland, Fla, area, he wound up at Hillsborough CC after getting just eight at bats for the Gators in 2008…Was a 19th-round pick of Colorado out of high school in 2007…Hit seven homers in the New England Collegiate League with Keene last summer.

4-Zackry Dodson, LHP, Natalia (Texas) Medina Valley High School

Went 10-0 with two saves and a 1.20 ERA in 16 games, 10 starts, and 64 1/3 innings as a senior this season…Also struck out 129 batters, walked 36 and threw three complete games…In addition to pitching, he also hit .465 with 11 home runs while playing the outfield,…As a junior in 2008, hit .400 with seven home runs and 52 RBIs while going 13-0 with a 0.59 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings as a pitcher…Threw a no-hitter in 2008…Is being recruited by Baylor University.

5-Nathan Baker, LHP, University of Mississippi

Made 20 appearances, seven starts, for Ole Miss as a junior this season and went 4-3 with one save and a 3.63 ERA…Struck out 69 batters in 67 innings…Was a four-year letter winner at Cordova (Tenn.) High School where he posted a 22-8 record and 300 strikeouts in 194 innings during his career …Was named one of top 150 players by Baseball America coming out of high School …His father, Tim, was drafted by Boston and his grandfather, Chuck Daniel, played professionally for Detroit.

6-Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP, Zachary (La.) High School

The 6-foot-6 Von Rosenberg went 11-1 and led the Zachary Broncos to their third straight Class 4A state championship with a 5-2 win over top-seeded Sam Houston in Shreveport on May 15…Also hit .489 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs during his senior season…Led Zachary to three straight Class 4A titles in baseball…Holds the distinction of winning four titles in four years, including a 5A title won with Barbe-Lake Charles before he moved to Zachary as a sophomore…Was named the Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year.

Baseball America: Von Rosenberg doesn’t light up radar guns like fellow Louisiana high school right-hander Brody Colvin but he’s a much more polished pitcher with an exception track record of winning at the prep level. He has advanced command of three solid pitches: an 88-91-mph fastball with good life, a changeup with nice depth and a changeup with deception. He has a 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame and a clean delivery, so his velocity should increase, especially when he stops playing shortstop when he’s not pitching. He did work in the low 90s more regularly late in the spring and some area scouts prefer him to Colvin. Both players have scholarships to Louisiana State that they’ll likely turn down when they go in the first two rounds of the draft.

7-Trent Stevenson, RHP, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Brophy Jesuit Prep School

Went 7-2 with a 3.91 ERA in 48 1/3 innings this past season…Also struck out 59 batters and threw two complete games, including one shutout.

8-Colton Cain, LHP, Waxahachie (Texas) High School

Had a 6-2 record, a 2.17 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 10 games as a senior this season. …Was ranked 109th among the top 200 prospects listed by Baseball America prior to the draft…A two-way player who was considered one of the best hitters and pitchers in Texas…Started as a freshman on the Indians’ varsity and made all-district that year…Named the No. 44 high school prospect by Baseball America in October 2008 and the No. 81 overall prospect by Baseball America in November 2008. …Pitched for the 2008 USA Baseball 18U national team, earning a Silver Medal at the IBAF World AAA Junior Championships in Edmonton, Alberta … Won his two starts for Team USA in 2008 with victories over Chinese Taipei and Korea. He pitched 5.0 innings of no-hit ball and struck out nine in a 6-0 win over Chinese Taipei..Also pitched for the 2007 USA Baseball Youth National Team, earning a gold medal at the World Youth Championships in Barquisimeto, Venezuela…Compiled a 12-1 record, a 0.76 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 81 innings and batted .486 with 16 doubles, nine home runs and 45 RBIs as a junior at Waxahachie …Threw a no-hitter and struck out 19 batters in a game during his junior season.

MLB.com: Cain is a big, strong lefty out of the high school ranks who will have to be signed away from being a two-way player at the University of Texas. He’s improved his draft prospect stock as a pitcher, running his heavy fastball up to about 94 mph. His other offerings are behind the heater but he does have a feel for pitching. He’s a step behind the elite prep lefties in this class but he’s not too far below them.

9-Brock Holt-2B-Rice University

Hit .348 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs in 59 games as a junior this season. …Also led team with 67 runs scored and 250 at bats...Shared team lead in stolen bases (11). …Was named to All-NCAA Regional Team and All-Silver Glove Trophy Series Team. ...Served as the team’s leadoff hitter in all 57 starts…Was his first and only season at Rice after transferring from Navarro College.

10-Joseph Schoenfeld, C, Corona (Calif.) Santiago High School

Right-handed hitting catcher who signed a national letter of intent with San Diego State for the 2010 season.

11-Aaron Baker, 1B, University of Oklahoma

Hit .284 with 15 home runs and 56 RBI in 63 games and 225 at bats for the Sooners as a junior this season…Finished the year ranked fourth in the Big 12 in home runs...His 167 career RBIs rank eighth all-time at Oklahoma...Became first player in 10 years to drive in 50 or more runs in three consecutive seasons for the Sooners…Played in the Cape Cod League in 2008 and led the Warhem Gateman team with 25 RBsI... Established an OU freshman record by hitting in 20 straight games; finished the streak at 22 games, a mark that ranks third all-time at OU…His grandfather played for the Kansas City Chiefs...Was selected by Minnesota in the 37th-round of the 2006 first-year player draft.

12-Jeffrey Inman, RHP, Stanford University

Finished his three-year Stanford career with a 13-12 record and a 5.31 ERA in 42 games, 37 starts, and 198 1/3 innings.…Went 20-17 in his 37 starts…Ranked second on Stanford’s 2008 College World Series staff in wins (7-2), innings (71 2/3) and starts (13). …Was tabbed by Baseball America as the ninth-best prospect in the prestigious 2008 Cape Cod League…Was originally selected by Kansas City in the 19th round of the 2006 first-year player draft but did not sign.…Was named Stanford’s Most Outstanding Freshman in 2007.

13-John Gourley, SS, Goldsboro (N.C.) Eastern Wayne High School

Compiled a .477 batting average with 42 hits, four home runs and 23 RBIs in 88 at bats as a senior this year…Helped lead team to 2008 conference championship…Was an All-ECC and all-area performer as a sophomore and junior…Led the Warriors in runs scored (27) and stolen bases (15), while hitting .314 with a .465 on-base percentage as a sophomore…Led squad in runs scored (39) and stolen bases (20) as a junior…Holds team record with 57 career stolen bases… Father, John, was a member of the Canadian National Team (1979-80).

14-Marcus Reyna, RHP, Bakersfield (Calif.) College.

Went 1-6 with a 4.12 ERA in 16 games, 12 starts, this season…Struck out 83 batters in 78 2/3 innings.

15-Peter Bako, C, Connors State (Okla.) College

Is from Mississauga, Ontario.

16-Matt Den Dekker, of, University of Florida

Was ranked by Baseball America as the 44th-best position player available in the draft and projected him as a second-round pick … Hit .296 with five home runs and 37 RBIs in 61 games and 226 at bats for the Gators as a junior this season…Also ranked second on the team with 17 stolen bases…Was chosen to 2008 USA Baseball National Team after hitting .370 (10-for-27) during the trials…Was also a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection in the outfield during sophomore year…Was selected to SEC’s All-Freshman team…Batted .455 with 34 runs, seven home runs and 20 RBIs during his senior season at Westminster Academy in Miami while posting a 7-1 record as a pitcher.

Baseball America: Den Dekker was recruited as a pitcher and hitter at Florida. In fact, Florida’s official website still lists him as a pitcher and he has a strong throwing arm that helps make him one of college baseball’s better defenders in center field. He has easy plus range, tracks balls well and plays hard. A pre-season second-team All-American, Den Dekker played for USA Baseball’s college national team last summer, hitting just .229 with one homer and his offensive production has faltered this spring as well, making his draft position murky. Scouts still like his swing and struggle to explain his difficult season. Den Dekker ahs solid raw power and the bat speed and strength to drive the ball consistently but still seems to fight his swing, which lacks fluidity. He’s a plus runner and excellent base stealers, converting 34 of his last 35 attempts. Teams that believe in the bat could take Den Dekker off the board by the sandwich round.

17-Jordan Cooper, RHP Shelbyville (Tenn.) Central High School

Was ranked 81st among the top 100 high school players in the draft class, according to Baseball America...Signed a letter-of-intent to play baseball at University of Kentucky over a number of Division I schools....Posted a 5-2 record while collecting 48 strikeouts with a 1.31 ERA as a junior...Was on the TBCA Showcase Region 4 team, Tennessee Sunbelt team that finished second nationally, participated in the East Coast Showcase by invitation in Lakeland, Fla, and was invited to play in the Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif.

18-Ryan Beckman, RHP, Grayson County (Texas) College

Attended the same school (Grayson County College) as current Pirates third baseman Andy LaRoche and former Pirates pitcher Danny Darwin.

19-Joshua Urban, RHP, Dripping Springs (Texas) High School

Posted a 9-0 record and a 0.91 ERA during his senior season at Dripping Springs High School near Austin, Texas…Held opposing hitters to a .138 batting average…Struck out 65 batters and walked only two in 46 innings…Had five complete games, including one shutout…Went 6-4 with one save, a 1.40 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 60 innings as a junior in 2008…Also hit .363 with seven doubles, one triple, two home runs and 20 RBIs in 28 games for Dripping Springs as a junior…Earned All-District 10-5A first-team honors from the Dallas Morning News as a junior in 2007…Earned all-district honorable mention as a freshman.

20-Sam Spangler, LHP, University of Hawaii

Went 5-3 with four saves, a 4.17 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 19 relief appearances and 45 1/3 innings as a sophomore at the University of Hawaii this season…A 2006 graduate of Valley High School in Albuquerque, N.M., where he lettered three years in baseball. ...Earned all-state, all-league, and all-district honors in high school.

21-Phillip Irwin, RHP, University of Mississippi

Posted an 8-3 record and a 3.84 ERA in 15games, 14 starts, and 86 2/3 innings as a junior this season…Also tossed one complete game…Was a teammate of Nathan Baker, taken by the Pirates in the fifth round… Lettered three years at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tenn., where he posted a 21-4 record over three years...Was a two-time All-State, All-Region and All-Metro selection in 2004 and 2005 and helped lead his team to a Tennessee state championship in 2005 and a runner -up finish in 2004... Also lettered three years in bowling while in high school.

22-Carmine Giardina, LHP, University of Tampa

Went 5-1 with one save in 17 games, eight starts, for the Tampa Spartans this year, his third season with the team…Also struck out 54 batters in 45 1/3 innings of work…Lettered in baseball all four years at Durant High School in Plant City, Fla....Participated in the All-American Baseball Game with the top seniors in the country during 2006 in New Mexico...Ranked as one of the top 50 prospects in the country and the top lefty in the state of Florida... Pitched for the USA Baseball Junior National Team...Was a member of 2005 Team USA National Team.

23-Jose Hernandez, OF, University of Texas-San Antonio

Hit .360 with 25 doubles, 17 home runs and 61 RBIs in 55 games and 211 at bats as a senior this year…Led team in doubles and RBIs and tied for first in home runs…Played in 41 games, 29 starts, at Long Beach State in 2006 before transferring to UTSA…Led the Denton Outlaws to 2006 Texas Collegiate League championship while hitting .327 with five home runs and a TCL-best 49 RBIs…Was born in Guadalajara, Mexico

24-Jason Erickson, RHP, University of Washington

Went 5-4 with a 4.34 ERA in 14 games, 11 starts, and 74 2/3 innings as senior this year…Also had one complete game/shutout…Compiled a 13-10 record and a 4.99 ERA in his four years pitching for the Huskies...Played summer ball in 2008 for the Mat-Su Miners in the Alaska Baseball League and was named his team's Pitcher of the Year after going 3-3 with a 1.56 earned run average… Earned four varsity letters while pitching for White River High School in Buckley, Wash.…Served as team captain as a junior and senior. …Was selected by Cincinnati in the 45th round of the 2005 draft.

25-Aaron LaFountaine, OF, Riverside (Calif.) John W. North High School

Batted .388 with four doubles, one home run, 20 RBIs and 22 runs scored in 27 games and 85 at bats as a senior this season.

26-Matthew Dermody, LHP, Norwalk (Iowa) High School

Finished with a 7-3 record, 0.78 ERA, 135 strikeouts and just 15 walks in 63 innings pitched last season…Was named first team all-conference and was an all-state selection. …Was the third-ranked pitcher in Iowa in 2008 and the 486th-ranked player in the country by Perfect Game Crosschecker.

27-Paul Luquette, C, New Orleans Isidore Newman School

28-Kyle Hooper, RHP, Saugus (Calif.) High School

Went 6-2 with two saves and a 3.48 ERA in 66 1/3 innings as a senior this season…Also struck out 62 batters and tossed three complete games , including two shutouts.

29-Michael Heller, RHP, Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney High School

Went 5-4 with one save and a 2.46 ERA in his senior season at Cardinal Mooney…Whiffed 77 batters in his 54.0 innings of work and pitched one shutout.

Baseball America: Another part of Florida’s outstanding recruiting class, Heller is one of the Gators’ signees who has improved their draft stock the most this spring. He’s the son of Florida alumni and has a brother at the school. He’s also a two-way player with metal-bat power, so it might not be easy to get him to give up his Florida fandom. He has shown outstanding arm strength this spring, flashing 97-mph heat while sitting more in the 88-93-mph range. He’s growing into his frame, getting up to 6-foot-3, 190 pounds and still has lots of projection. Heller has a high three-quarters slot that he needs to maintain to keep his fastball down in the zone. While his slider is just average and is inconsistent, some scouts project it to be a second plus pitch in the future. His changeup, slider and command all have been inconsistent, which basically makes him the typical high school pitcher. Heller has thrown well in front of crosscheckers and national scouts, making him a possibility for team sthat miss out on the elite prep right-hander trio of Jacob Turner, Shelby Miller and Zach Wheeler.

30-Ty Summerlin, SS, Southeastern Louisiana University

Hit .327 with four home runs and 44 RBIs in 59 games and 254 at bats as a senior this past season…Led team with 24 doubles…Also led squad in batting (.342), slugging percentage (.542), runs (57), hits (82), RBIs (60), doubles (20), home runs (8), total bases (130) and stolen bases (10) as a junior… Was a two-time Class 4A First Team All-State selection at Vancleave (La.) High School where he helped the Bulldogs to a 22-4 record and a berth in the South state semifinals his senior year…Led VHS to a 28-5 record as a junior, hitting .394.