TOP OF THE SYSTEM
A look at how the current top 10 prospects did today. Note that this list doesn’t include players currently in the majors. Rankings from the 2012 Prospect Guide, which can be purchased here.
1. Gerrit Cole, RHP (1-1, 3.54) – DNP
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP (2-2, 1.47) – DNP
3. Starling Marte, CF (.268) – DNP
4. Josh Bell, RF (.274) – Low-A DL
5. Luis Heredia, RHP (No Stats) – Extended Spring Training
6. Robbie Grossman, CF (.234) – 1-for-5, 2B
7. Tony Sanchez, C (.258) – 0-for-5, 3 K
8. Stetson Allie, RHP (0-0, 54.00) – Extended Spring Training
9. Kyle McPherson, RHP (No Stats) – AAA DL
10. Nick Kingham, RHP (1-2, 7.43) – DNP
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Gift Ngoepe, SS (.229) – 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
Home Runs: Jeremy Farrell (1), Gift Ngoepe (4)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 4, Norfolk 1
Starting Pitcher: Daniel Cabrera, RHP (1-0, 3.24) – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gorkys Hernandez, CF (.277) – 2-for-3, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers
Chase d’Arnaud, SS (.263) – 1-for-3, 2B, BB
Matt Hague, 1B (.271) – 2-for-4
Tim Wood, RHP (4.11) – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Gorkys Hernandez is 12-for-25 in his last seven games. Matt Hague is getting his average and on-base percentage up this year, but he hasn’t been hitting for much power, with just three doubles and no homers in 96 at-bats in Triple-A. Chase d’Arnaud is 5-for-15 since returning from the disabled list. Starling Marte entered the game as a pinch runner.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Erie 7, Altoona 3
Starting Pitcher: Phil Irwin, RHP (0-1, 7.20) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Jeremy Farrell, 3B (.215) – 1-for-3, HR, BB, RBI
Other Notable Performers
Robbie Grossman, CF (.234) – 1-for-5, 2B
Game Notes: Phil Irwin made his first start at the Double-A level this year. He made one rehab start in high-A before moving up. Irwin had a 3.81 ERA in 87.1 innings last year in Double-A, with a 7.1 K/9, a 1.0 BB/9, and a 0.9 HR/9 ratio. Tonight he threw 81 pitches, with 42 strikes. Tony Sanchez went 0-for-5, snapping a streak of 19 games where he reached base safely. Heading in to tonight, Robbie Grossman had a .324/.432/.514 line in 37 at-bats in the month of May.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Clearwater 4, Bradenton 3
Starting Pitcher: Hunter Strickland, RHP (2.81) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gift Ngoepe, SS (.229) – 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers
Mel Rojas, CF (.291) – 2-for-5
Stefan Welch, 3B (.301) – 2-for-5, 2B
Jeff Iman, RHP (0.00) – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Hunter Strickland made his first start since leaving his April 21st start early after being struck by a line drive. He gave up his two runs in the first, then went on to pitch two shutout innings. Gift Ngoepe hit his fourth homer of the year, a two run shot in the bottom of the ninth to tie the score at 3-3. Jeff Inman has now thrown 5.2 shutout innings, allowing one hit, walking two, and striking out one. Mel Rojas is 18-for-47 (.383) in his last ten games, with seven multi-hit games. Stefan Welch extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Charleston 8, West Virginia 4
Starting Pitcher: Ryan Hafner, RHP (6.75) – 4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gregory Polanco, CF (.306) – 2-for-4, 2B
Other Notable Performers
Dan Gamache, 2B (.273) – 2-for-4, 2B
Carlos Mesa, RF (.229) – 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Emmanuel De Leon, RHP (4.26) – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: After giving up ten earned runs in 6.2 innings over his first two starts, Ryan Hafner has given up two earned runs in 9.1 innings over his last two starts. His control has been rough this year, with an 8:10 K/BB ratio in 16 innings on the season. Gregory Polanco is 16-for-40 (.400) in his last ten games, with two doubles and two homers. He’s struck out just four times in that stretch. Carlos Mesa hit a two RBI double in the bottom of the ninth as part of a three run comeback to tie the score at 4-4, sending the game to extra innings.
ORGANIZATIONAL RECORDS
AAA: Indianapolis Indians – 20-14
AA: Altoona Curve – 13-20
A+: Bradenton Marauders – 17-18
A: West Virginia Power – 11-23
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.
