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, Indianapolis (1-1, 3.75) – DNP
2. Gregory Polanco, CF, Altoona (.263) – 0-for-4
3. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, West Virginia (9-3, 2.18) – 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona (.254) – 2-for-4
5. Austin Meadows, CF, GCL Pirates (.290) – 1-for-3
6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.279) – DNP
7. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona (3-3, 2.70) – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0 HR
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power (6-3, 2.85) – DNP
9. Reese McGuire, C, GCL Pirates (.330) – 2-for-4
10. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia (.261) – Low-A DL
11. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 19.29) – 60-Day DL
12. Stetson Allie, 1B, Bradenton (.227) – 1-for-4
13. Wyatt Mathisen, C, Jamestown (.269) – DNP
14. Clay Holmes, RHP, West Virginia (5-6, 4.19) – DNP
15. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Indianapolis (2-6, 3.33) – DNP
16. Harold Ramirez, CF, Jamestown (.296) – 1-for-5
17. Blake Taylor, LHP, GCL Pirates (0-2, 2.57) – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
18. Jin-De Jhang, C, Jamestown (.275) – 1-for-3, BB
19. Elvis Escobar, OF, Jamestown (.279) – 2-for-5
20. Phil Irwin, RHP, Indianapolis (1-0, 0.90) – 60-Day DL
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Jordan Steranka, 1B (.251) – 2-for-4, 2B, HR, BB
Home Runs: Carlos Mesa (9), Jordan Steranka (3)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 4, Louisville 3
Starting Pitcher: Casey Sadler, RHP (4.50) – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Travis Snider, RF (.344) – 3-for-5, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Jared Goedert, 3B (.243) – 2-for-4, 2B, BB
Alex Presley, CF (.298) – 2-for-4, 2 2B
Chase d’Arnaud, SS (.230) – 1-for-3, BB, 2 SB
Game Notes: Casey Sadler was promoted to Indianapolis today, and made his first start. He replaced Kris Johnson, who seems like the most likely starter for the Pirates on Sunday against the Cardinals. Travis Snider, Alex Presley, and Chase d’Arnaud all had big games tonight. All three could be options to join the Pirates on Sunday when rosters expand. Snider will most definitely join the Pirates, and Presley is a strong bet. D’Arnaud would make sense if the team wanted an extra infielder with speed on the bases.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Akron 3, Altoona 1
Starting Pitcher: Nick Kingham, RHP (2.70) – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Drew Maggi, 1B (.251) – 2-for-3, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Alen Hanson, SS (.254) – 2-for-4
Tony Sanchez, DH (.250) – 1-for-4, 2B
Game Notes: Nick Kingham made his final start of the year for Altoona, and finished strong. The right-hander threw seven shutout innings, striking out eight with no walks. Kingham had a 2.70 ERA in 73.1 innings with Altoona this year, along with a 69:30 K/BB ratio. That is after posting a 3.09 ERA in 70 innings in high-A, with a 75:14 K/BB ratio. It’s possible that he could still move up to Indianapolis for the playoffs. Kingham is 21 years old, and the Pirates did the same thing with Gerrit Cole last year at the same age. Tony Sanchez played his first game since being sent down to Altoona. He is expected to re-join the Pirates on Tuesday after Altoona’s season ends.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Fort Myers 4, Bradenton 3
Starting Pitcher: Pat Ludwig, RHP (3.90) – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Carlos Mesa, LF (.225) – 1-for-3, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Stetson Allie, 1B (.227) – 1-for-4
Game Notes: In eight starts with the Marauders, Pat Ludwig has posted a 3.40 ERA in 42.1 innings, with a 32:13 K/BB ratio. His upside is more likely to be a middle reliever in the majors if he makes it, but for now he’s going a good job in the rotation after doing a good job in relief at both levels of A-ball. Carlos Mesa hit his ninth homer of the year. Mesa looked great in April, but has struggled ever since, posting only one monthly OPS over .616 and never going higher than .715 in a month. Stetson Allie has also struggled in Bradenton, hitting for a .227/.344/.349 line in 229 at-bats.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 10, Lexington 2
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow, RHP (9-3, 2.18) – 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jordan Steranka, 1B (.251) – 2-for-4, 2B, HR, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Raul Fortunato, CF (.247) – 3-for-5
Chris Diaz, SS (.252) – 2-for-4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
Max Moroff, DH (.238) – 2-for-4, BB
Kawika Emsley-Pai, C (.192) – 2-for-4, 2B, BB, 3 RBI
Game Notes: Tyler Glasnow made his final start of the regular season. In his final three starts, Glasnow threw 14 shutout innings, giving up one hit and striking out 24. That includes ten no-hit innings in his final two starts. Glasnow had a dominant season, posting a 2.18 ERA in 111.1 innings, with a 164:61 K/BB ratio. He cut down on the walks as the season went on, although in his final two starts he walked nine in ten innings. West Virginia has made the playoffs, so Glasnow should see some post-season action. Jordan Steranka hit his third homer, and his second in the last three games.
A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS
Result: State College 6, Jamestown 4
Starting Pitcher: Chad Kuhl, RHP (1.97) – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Adam Frazier, SS (.337) – 2-for-4, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Elvis Escobar, RF (.279) – 2-for-5
Jin-De Jhang, C (.275) – 1-for-3, BB
Game Notes: Chad Kuhl threw five innings without an earned run. In his last five starts he has given up three earned runs in 25 innings. Tonight he set a season high in strikeouts with seven, passing his previous high of six on July 17th. Elvis Escobar has been hot this month, hitting for a .288 average and a .723 OPS in August prior to tonight’s game. State College moved to four games up in the division over Jamestown, but the Jammers still hold a one game lead in the Wild Card race.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Nationals 6, Pirates 1
Starting Pitcher: Blake Taylor, LHP (0-1, 2.25) – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Reese McGuire, C (.500) – 2-for-4
Other Notable Performers:
Austin Meadows, CF (.333) – 1-for-3
Game Notes: The GCL Pirates lost a one game playoff to the GCL Nationals, ending their season. After the game, Reese McGuire and Austin Meadows were promoted to Jamestown, where they will get at least a week of action, and possibly playoff time. Jerry Mulderig, who threw 1.1 shutout innings today, was also promoted to Jamestown for the rest of the season. Blake Taylor gave up a home run in the first inning, then gave up two unearned runs in the fifth, both of which were inherited runners that scored off another pitcher.
