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 mid-season rankings, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player page.
1. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Altoona (4-7, 3.76) – DNP
2. Gregory Polanco, CF, Altoona (.285) – 2-for-5, 2B, RBI
3. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, West Virginia (7-2, 2.27) – DNP
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Bradenton (.280) – 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
5. Austin Meadows, CF, GCL Pirates (.292) – 1-for-2, 2B, 3 BB
6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.271) – 0-for-2, BB
7. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona (3-2, 2.89) – DNP
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power (2-2, 4.21) – DNP
9. Reese McGuire, C, GCL Pirates (.383) – 1-for-5, 2 RBI
10. Dilson Herrera, 2B, West Virginia (.265) – 3-for-6, RBI
11. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis (.288) – 0-for-4, BB
12. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia (.261) – Low-A DL
13. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 19.29) – Triple-A DL
14. Stetson Allie, 1B, Bradenton (.254) – 1-for-4
15. Wyatt Mathisen, C, West Virginia (.185) – Low-A DL
16. Clay Holmes, RHP, West Virginia (3-5, 4.48) – DNP
17. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Indianapolis (2-3, 2.60) – DNP
18. Vic Black, RHP, Indianapolis (1-2, 2.31) – In Majors
19. Harold Ramirez, CF, Jamestown (.336) – 0-for-4
20. Blake Taylor, LHP, GCL Pirates (0-1, 1.13) – DNP
ORDER YOUR 2013 PROSPECT GUIDE
The 2013 Prospect Guide is now available, and is the perfect resource to follow the minor league system during the 2013 season. You can order your copy on the products page of the site. Order together with the 2013 Annual and save $5!
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Jarek Cunningham, 2B (.229) – 4-for-5, 4 RBI, 2B
Home Runs: Jerry Sand (7), Luis Urena (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Syracuse 7, Indianapolis 5 in 10 innings
Starting Pitcher: Kris Johnson, LHP (2.44) – 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jerry Sands, RF (.207) – 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Matt Hague, 1B (.285) – 1-for-2, 2B, RBI, 2 BB
Andrew Lambo, LF (.278) – 1-for-4, BB, RBI
Game Notes: Kris Johnson was strong through seven innings today, continuing his impressive season. In his previous two starts, Johnson threw a combined 13 scoreless innings. Unfortunately, the bullpen combo of Ryan Reid and Eric Cordier gave up four runs in the last two innings to let Syracuse tie the game up. Cordier stayed on for the tenth and gave up two more runs. Jerry Sands hit his first home run since returning from injury 11 games ago, a two-run shot in the sixth inning. Matt Hague hit his 29th double and drove in his 58th run. He has reached 30 doubles in all three of his full seasons in the minors.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 9, New Hampshire 2
Starting Pitcher: Eliecer Navarro, LHP (3-4, 4.50) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Jarek Cunningham, 2B (.229) – 4-for-5, 4 RBI, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Alex Dickerson, RF (.296) – 4-for-4, HBP
Gregory Polanco, CF (.285) – 2-for-5, 2B, RBI
Game Notes: Alex Dickerson drove in eight runs last night, so it would be hard to top that, but he didn’t have a bad game tonight. Dickerson reached base all five times up, with four hits and a HBP. He also scored three runs. Jarek Cunningham had a big game, collecting four hits and four RBI’s. Gregory Polanco and Justin Howard each scored two runs. Carlos Paulino had two RBI’s. Eliecer Navarro got the win, giving up two runs in five innings. Zack Thornton pitched three scoreless innings and Ryan Beckman finished off the win.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 2, Brevard County 1
Starting Pitcher: Zack Dodson, LHP (4-7, 4.97) – 6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Benji Gonzalez, 3B (.232) – 3-for-4, RBI, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Willy Garcia, RF (.255) – 1-for-4
Alen Hanson, SS (.280) – 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
Stetson Allie, 1B (.254) – 1-for-4
Game Notes: Zack Dodson has had a rough season after missing the beginning due to his suspension from late last season. He gave up just three hits and one run over 6.1 innings today, giving him his best start of the season. Matt Benedict returned from the disabled list and pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season. The offense was led by Alen Hanson, who hit his 23rd double and drove in his 47th run. Benji Gonzalez had three hits and drove in the other run. He also stole his 21st base of the year.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Lexington 4, West Virginia 2
Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP (3.27) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Dilson Herrera, 2B (.264) – 2-for-3, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Max Moroff, SS (.254) – 1-for-3, 2B
Josh Bell, DH (.271) – 0-for-2, BB
Game Notes: Jason Creasy has had some strong outings since making the move to full-time starter last month, but tonight’s outing was the worst one so far. He ran into early trouble, giving up a run in the first and three in the second inning after West Virginia gave him an early 2-0 lead. The Power got those two runs on a single by Dilson Herrera, which followed a lead-off double from Max Moroff. Herrera scored three batters later on an Eric Wood single. Neither team scored over the final five innings.
Result: West Virginia 3, Lexington 1
Starting Pitcher: Kyle Haynes, RHP (2.36) – 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Luis Urena, LF (.200) – 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Dilson Herrera, 2B (.265) – 1-for-3, 2B
Walker Gourley, RF (.325) – 1-for-3
Game Notes: Kyle Haynes got a spot start due to the doubleheader and threw 3.2 scoreless innings. Thomas Harlan, who just returned from a stint at Bradenton, followed Haynes on the mound and gave up one run over 2.1 innings. Jhondaniel Medina picked up his fifth save, striking out the side in the ninth. Luis Urena hit his first homer since joining West Virginia, a two-run shot in the second. Raul Fortunato drove in the other run for the Power. Dilson Herrera hit his 19th double. Jordan Steranka had two hits and scored a run.
A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS
Result: Jamestown 3, Williamsport 0
Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP (3.09) – 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jin-De Jhang, C (.302) – 2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Erich Weiss, 3B (.404) – 3-for-4
Adam Frazier, 2B (.356) – 3-for-4, 2B
Game Notes: Starter Cody Dickson had the best outing of his young career, throwing five no-hit innings and facing the minimum. The only base runner he allowed was a fourth inning walk, which was immediately erased on a double play. Henry Hirsch came on next and threw three scoreless innings, allowing two hits, while striking out five batters. Brett McKinney pitched the ninth for his fourth save. The win was the first career win for Dickson. Adam Frazier had three hits on the night, giving him a 13 game hit streak. Erich Weiss has been swinging a hot bat lately, picking up 16 hits in his last seven starts. Jin-De Jhang had two doubles, giving him six this month. In June, he had three extra base hits that were all homers, while all of his extra base hits in July have been doubles.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Blue Jays 5, Pirates 3
Starting Pitcher: Billy Roth, RHP (0.00) – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Austin Meadows, CF (.292) – 1-for-2, 2B, 3 BB
Other Notable Performers:
Nick Buckner, RF (.204) – 1-for-4, 2B
Reese McGuire, C (.383) – 1-for-5, 2 RBI
Jon Sandfort, RHP (3.60) – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Billy Roth made his pro debut today and threw two shutout innings, allowing two walks, but no hits. The 16th round pick this year, was an overslot($190,000) signing. Austin Meadows extended his hitting streak to eight games. He has also drawn walks in six of those games. Reese McGuire had just one hit in the three game series, though he did drive in two runs today. He now has 12 RBI’s on the year. Jovany Lopez pitched the final two innings without allowing a hit or run. For the second day in a row, a former position player threw a scoreless inning in their pitching debut. Yesterday it was Kirk Singer, while today Yhonathan Barrios made his mound debut. Enyel Vallejo had three hits today, raising his batting average to .303 in 11 games.
