Benson resident John Raynor was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the second overall pick of the annual Major League Baseball Rule 5 Draft. The Pirates are hoping Raynor, a former South Johnston High School standout, can earn a spot as part of the Pirates' outfield in 2010.

Raynor is entering his fifth season of pro ball in 2010 after being drafted by the Florida Marlins after his senior season at UNC Wilmington.

The Rule 5 Draft gives teams the chance to pick players who were signed at age 19 or older and have been in their current organization for more than four years.

Players like Raynor who are selected in the Rule 5 Draft must spend the entire MLB season on that team's MLB 25-man roster. The Pirates paid the Marlins $50,000 for Raynor's rights and must offer him back to the Marlins for $25,000 if he is optioned back to the minor leagues.

Both of Pittsburgh's most recent Rule 5 picks (both taken under current general manager Neal Huntington) have remained with the Pirates.

Raynor, 25, has hit .299 with 142 stolen bases and 313 runs scored in four seasons. He also has 155 extra-base hits on his professional resume.

"We like the bat upside enough that we think there is everyday potential there," Huntington told MLB.com last week. "There's a combination of average, he draws walks, he can drive the ball to the gap. Depending on the upside, depending on how other guys come on, this is a depth option for us long-term."

Although the Marlins' organization has played Raynor in all four outfield positions, the Pirates are viewing him as mainly a solid defensive center fielder.

His experience playing the corner positions would be valuable if he makes the Pittsburgh roster as a backup outfielder.

Lancaster regains full PGA Tour card

Smithfield resident Neal Lancaster is going back on the PGA Tour full-time in 2010. Lancaster finished at 17-under par, tying for fifth in the final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament on Monday in Florida.

After a solid start to the event, Lancaster finished up the six-round tournament with three consecutive rounds in the 60s, including a final-round 67.

Lancaster has played in a few Tour and Nationwide Tour events the past two seasons, mainly entering PGA Tour events on exemptions. Come January, the 1994 GTE Byron Nelson Classic champion will have full run of the PGA Tour calendar.

The 47-year-old pro has played in 557 Tour events during his career.

The first full-field event of the 2010 PGA Tour season begins Jan. 14 in Hawaii with the Sony Open. The Bob Hope Classic follows a week later in California.

Youth football player named to All-American Bowl

Jalen Chadwick has been named to the inaugural Offense-Defense Youth All-American Bowl.

Chadwick, a 7-year-old running back with the Cleveland Wildcats, will join dozens of peers in his age group nationwide in an East meets West clash at Doug Shaw Stadium in Myrtle Beach on Jan. 2.

He is the son of Chuck and Angela Chadwick of Garner.