Down in the Gulf Coast League, 2012 third round draft pick Jon Sandfort will make his first start of the season. At the top levels, both Kris Johnson for Indianapolis and Ethan Hollingsworth for Altoona, are coming off a strong month of June. Bradenton was off yesterday. For a look at the possible starters over the next few weeks, please check out our Probable Pitchers Chart. Check out the Recent Transactions section to the bottom of this page, for all Pirates minor league transactions. A full recap of yesterday’s action can be found here. 
AAA: Indianapolis (57-32) @ Toledo (36-53) 7:00pm
Probable starter: Kris Johnson (7-4, 2.89)
Yesterday’s Result: Indianapolis 4, Louisville 0
Kris Johnson will make his 14th start of the season tonight. He has also pitched five times in relief. As a starter, he is 7-3, 2.58 in 76.2 innings. Johnson has a 1.52 GO/AO ratio and a .242 BAA. In his last start, he went seven innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk, while striking out six batters. Johnson was named the Indianapolis player for the month in June. He also was named to the International League All-Star team. He was also named the Pirates Prospects Pitcher of the Month.
AA: Altoona (38-47) vs Erie (43-41) 7:00pm
Probable starter: Ethan Hollingsworth (5-3, 3.13)
Yesterday’s Result: Altoona 15, Erie 7
Ethan Hollingsworth will make his fifth start of the season tonight. He has also pitched 15 times in relief. As a starter, he is 2-1, 2.11 in 21.1 innings. In those starts, he has allowed two walks, struck out 14 and held batters to a .187 BAA. In his last outing, he went 5.1 shutout innings. Coming into that game, he had thrown ten shutout innings over his last three games(one start), allowing just two hits.
High-A: Bradenton (31-50 overall, 5-8 2nd half) @ Fort Myers (52-27) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Adrian Sampson (3-4, 5.35)
Yesterday’s Result: Bradenton was off yesterday
Adrian Sampson will make the start for Bradenton tonight. He has pitched 15 times this year, throwing a total of 79 innings. Sampson has allowed 101 hits, 13 homers and 13 walks. He has 44 strikeouts, a 1.14 GO/AO ratio and a .310 BAA. In his last start, he went 5.2 innings, allowing five runs on ten hits, in a loss to Palm Beach. Sampson faced Ft Myers on 6/9, giving up three runs on three hits in six innings. He also faced them 11 days earlier and allowed six runs on eight hits in six innings, picking up the loss.
Low-A: West Virginia (45-40 overall, 8-7 2nd half) vs Lexington (43-40) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Clay Holmes (2-5, 4.98)
Yesterday’s Result: Lexington 3, West Virginia 0
Clay Holmes will make his 17th start of the season tonight. He has thrown 72.1 innings, allowing 68 hits, five homers and 49 walks. He has 48 strikeouts, a 1.74 GO/AO ratio and a .254 BAA. In his last start, he allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in five innings. At home this year, he is 0-4, 6.07 in ten starts. Holmes has a 3.38 road ERA. He was 1-1, 3.95 in six June starts.
Short-Season A: Jamestown (10-6) @ Auburn (6-10) 7:05pm
Probable Starter: Cody Dickson (0-0, 6.75)
Yesterday’s Result: Jamestown 5, Auburn 4
Cody Dickson will make his third start of the season tonight for Jamestown. The 2013 4th round draft pick went 2.1 innings in his last start, allowing four runs on seven hits. In his debut, he threw three no-hit innings. In 5.1 innings, he has given up two walks and struck out 11 batters.
Rookie: GCL Pirates (5-6) vs GCL Braves (4-4) 12:00pm
Probable Starter: Jon Sandfort (1-0, 0.00)
Yesterday’s Result: Tigers 11, Pirates 5
Jon Sandfort will make his first start of the season today. He pitched once in relief, throwing three scoreless innings, allowing two hits, no walks and he struck out three batters. The third round draft pick in the 2012 draft made eight starts in the GCL last year. He was on a limited pitch count, throwing a total of just 15 innings. Sandfort had a 4.80 ERA, allowing 11 hits, one homer and ten walks, while striking out seven batters.
DSL: Pirates1 (16-12) vs Rockies (15-14) 10:30am
Yesterday’s Result: Pirates1 9, Rockies 4
DSL: Pirates2 (15-12) vs Orioles2 (10-18) 10:30am
Yesterday’s Result: Pirates2 5, Orioles2 0
Recent Transactions
7/4 Released Eric Avila, Yhonathan Herrand, Chris Lashmet, Jesus Vasquez and Jodaneli Carvajal
7/4 DJ Crumlich, Ashley Ponce promoted to Bradenton. Jimmy Rider promoted to West Virginia.
7/4 Chris Diaz activated from West Virginia disabled list.
7/1 Casey Sadler placed on disabled list. Mel Rojas activated from Altoona disabled list.
7/1 John Kuchno added to West Virginia roster. Pat Ludwig promoted to Bradenton.
7/1 Colten Brewer placed on disabled list.
6/29 Bradenton places Zack Von Rosenberg and Alen Hanson on disabled list. Kirk Singer added to roster.
6/28 Zack Thornton sent to Altoona and Ali Solis sent to Altoona. Duke Welker, Oscar Tejeda and Tony Sanchez sent to Indianapolis.
6/27 Lance Breedlove added to West Virginia roster.
6/25 Chad Kuhl placed on disabled list. Jared LaKind activated and added to Jamestown roster.
