The Mesa Solar Sox lost 7-6 to Salt River tonight. Jarek Cunningham was one of two Pittsburgh Pirates prospects to play. He started at second base, and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Cunningham also recorded an error on the field, missing a catch. Jeff Inman pitched an inning, allowing a run on two hits, blowing Mesa’s one run lead at the time. Inman was touching 95 MPH with his fastball again.
We learned today that Robbie Grossman fractured his hamate bone and will require surgery, which will end his AFL season.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
More Pirate bad luck with Grossman!
As for Inman, I thought he was impressive, he did give up a run, but a couple of those hits were ground balls that got through the infield, he was not hit hard.
What I was impressed with was the fact that he can average 94-95 with a lot of movement on his fastball with a very smooth delivery, not much stress or strain. He kept the ball down for the most part, thus the ground balls, still needs a couple years in the minors and IMO If he can stay healthy, he might be a good one.
Inman is definitely a guy to keep an eye on. He was projected as a potential first round pick in 2009, but fell to the Pirates in the 12th round due to injuries. He’s had his career stalled with injuries ever since, but finally got some innings this past season. If he can stay healthy, he’s got the stuff to be a very good pitching prospect.