For a season preview of the Pittsburgh Pirates two Dominican Summer League teams, check out our article here. Throughout the year, we will provide the recaps of both teams, as well as highlight one player each day. 
PIRATES1
Result: Pirates 9, Yankees2 1
Starting Pitcher: Jose Regalado, RHP (3-0, 2.40) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Yunelky Adames, 1B (.313) – 3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Julio de la Cruz, DH (.212) – 2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Arquimedes Lorenzo, RHP (8.44) – 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Pablo Reyes, 2B (.303) – 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
Johan De Jesus, SS (.242) – 0-for-4
Game Notes: Starter Jose Regalado allowed just two hits and one unearned run, as the Pirates beat up on the Yankees2, by a 9-1 score. In his last start, he threw five no-hit innings. Regalado is the first Pirates pitcher to three wins in the DSL. Arquimedes Lorenzo started his year with two rough outings, but today he threw four no-hit innings. Yunelky Adames continued his impressive power display this season, belting his fourth homer. Pablo Reyes hit his second homer of the season. The homer by Carlos Munoz in the other Pirates game today, is the only homer hit by a Pirates player other than Adames or Reyes this year. Top prospect Julio de la Cruz had two doubles today, his first career extra base hits. Shortstop prospect Johan De Jesus made his seventh error.
PIRATES2
Result: Pirates 6, Cubs 2
Starting Pitcher: Julio Vivas, RHP (0-1, 3.55) – 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Fredis Padilla, 2B (.444) – 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Michael de la Cruz, CF (.265) – 0-for-5
Carlos Munoz, DH (.433) – 1-for-3, HR, RBI, BB
Yoel Gonzalez, C (.087) – 0-for-3
Jhoan Herrera, 3B (.194) – 0-for-4, RBI
Richard Mitchell, RHP (1.13) – 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: The Pirates evened their record at 5-5 after losing their first four games of the season. Julio Vivas had some trouble in his first two starts, allowing a total of 11 runs on 14 hits over his first eight innings. Today he was much better, though he did walk four batters, he still threw 4.2 scoreless innings. Richard Mitchell continued his early success, giving up just a walk in his 2.1 innings. Despite pitching in relief as of now, he is one of the top pitchers for either DSL team. Rookie reliever Luis Brun gave up the two runs to the Cubs. Carlos Munoz hit the first homer of the season for the Pirates2 team. Despite the win, it was a bad day for the high priced players from this past July 2nd class. Michael de la Cruz, Jhoan Herrera and Yoel Gonzalez went a combined 0-for-12 on the day. They signed for a combined $1,350,000 bonus total. Today’s hitter of the game, Fredis Padilla, had just seven plate appearances coming into the game.
Player Of The Day
In the DSL, teams usually carry 3-4 catchers apiece, sometimes more, and prospects will emerge from almost nowhere, such as Ramon Cabrera. You will also get players who stick around for four years and see very little time. Back in 2011, the Pirates signed an 18-year-old kid named Patrick Reyes, who once he started playing, got half the playing time. That is impressive when you consider they used seven different catchers in the DSL that season. Reyes at the time was the youngest of the group, so it seemed like their could be a chance he was a prospect.
As you move ahead to the 2012 season, he was still seeing plenty of time, but the bat didn’t come around at all. Reyes batted .148 in 34 games, with just two extra base hits(both doubles) and he struck out exactly one out of every three AB’s. The one good sign that he had was a 40% caught stealing rate in 60 attempts. This year it seems as if Reyes has dropped into the backup role, as the team gives plenty of playing time to 16-year-old top prospect Yoel Gonzalez. Reyes has appeared in just five games, going 1-for-5 at the plate, while throwing out the only runner that ran against him. At 20-years-old now and seeing limited playing time, his days may have passed him by, unless the defense can get him to the next level.
