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Prospect Watch: Cole Picks a Good Time to Step Up; Pimentel Bounces Back

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TOP OF THE SYSTEM

A look at how the current top 20 prospects did today.  Note that this list doesn’t include players currently in the majors. If a player is in the majors, he will be removed, everyone below him will be shifted up a spot, and a new player will be added to the bottom of the list. Rankings are from the pre-season rankings, and links to each prospect writeup can be found by clicking the player names below. Players who weren’t in the original top 20 are linked to their player page on the site.

1. Gerrit Cole, RHP, Indianapolis (5-3, 2.91) – 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Altoona (3-5, 3.65) – DNP

3. Gregory Polanco, CF, Bradenton (.320) – DNP

4. Alen Hanson, SS, Bradenton (.281) – DNP

5. Luis Heredia, RHP, Extended Spring Training (UPDATE: Where Will Heredia Start the Year?)

6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.271) – DNP

7. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia (.220) – Low-A DL (UPDATE: Barnes Returning Soon)

8. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, West Virginia (3-1, 3.21) – DNP

9. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 19.29) – Triple-A DL

10. Nick Kingham, RHP, Bradenton (6-3, 3.09) – DNP

11. Clay Holmes, RHP, West Virginia (2-4, 5.04) – DNP

12. Dilson Herrera, 2B, West Virginia (.294) – DNP

13. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis (.297) – DNP

14. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (0-0, 1.42) – In Majors

15. Wyatt Mathisen, C, West Virginia (.185) – Low-A DL

16. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Bradenton (2-2, 5.96) – DNP

17. Vic Black, RHP, Indianapolis (0-2, 2.63) – Triple-A DL

18. Andy Oliver, LHP, Indianapolis (3-2, 2.87) – DNP

19. Jin-De Jhang, C, Extended Spring Training

20. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Altoona (3-3, 3.84) – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR

 

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DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Gerrit Cole, RHP (5-3, 2.91) – 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Andrew Lambo, 1B-LF (.292) – 2-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, SB

Home Runs: None

 

Gerrit Cole picked a good time to start going on a run against Triple-A hitting. (Photo Credit: David Hague)
Gerrit Cole picked a good time to start going on a run against Triple-A hitting. (Photo Credit: David Hague)

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS  

Box Score

Result: Indianapolis 1, Durham 0

Starting Pitcher: Gerrit Cole, RHP (5-3, 2.91) – 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Josh Harrison, DH (.304) – 2-for-2, 2B

Other Notable Performers:

Felix Pie, LF (.282) – 1-for-4, 2B

Kris Johnson, LHP (3.49) – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Game Notes: Shortly before Gerrit Cole took the mound today, Wandy Rodriguez left his start with tightness in his left elbow. I wrote earlier that Cole is the best option to take over if Rodriguez goes on the disabled list, and that the next two starts would be a good time for him to step up. Cole did just that today, throwing seven shutout innings and extending his shutout inning streak to 19.2 straight innings. He’s not dominating hitters with strikeouts, but he was efficient tonight, and all against a talented lineup that had prospects like Tim Beckham and Wil Myers. Cole doesn’t look like he’s ready to be an ace, but he’s looking more and more like he’d be ready for the majors.

 

AA: ALTOONA CURVE   

Box Score

Result: Altoona 7, Reading 3

Starting Pitcher: Stolmy Pimentel, RHP (3-3, 3.84) – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Andrew Lambo, 1B-LF (.292) – 2-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, SB

Other Notable Performers:

Mel Rojas, CF (.263) – 2-for-4, 3B, BB

Adalberto Santos, 3B (.239) – 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Game Notes: Stolmy Pimentel had been struggling in his last five starts. He gave up 25 earned runs in 28 innings after getting off to a dominant start at the beginning of the season. Tonight he got back on track, pitching more like the first six starts than the last five. He did give up a few runs, with one unearned. Another came on a solo homer, which has been an issue for him. He’s given up eight homers in his last seven games after none in his first five. Pimentel did strike out seven, which was the first time he struck out a batter an inning since April 24th. Andrew Lambo is tearing up the Eastern League, with a .310 average and a 1.094 OPS in his last ten games. Mel Rojas is also on a hot streak, with a .405 average and a 1.048 OPS in his last ten games.

 

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS  

Bradenton was postponed today. They will play a double header tomorrow.

 

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER

West Virginia had their game suspended in the third inning with Delmarva up 1-0. It will be resumed tomorrow.

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Tim Williams
Tim Williams
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.

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