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) – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
2. Gregory Polanco, CF, Altoona (.272) – 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
3. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, West Virginia (8-3, 2.29) – 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 13 K, 0 HR
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona (.213) – 3-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI
5. Austin Meadows, CF, GCL Pirates (.308) – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.284) – 1-for-4
7. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona (3-3, 3.06) – DNP
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power (4-3, 3.42) – DNP
9. Reese McGuire, C, GCL Pirates (.312) – 2-for-4
10. Dilson Herrera, 2B, West Virginia (.264) – 2-for-4, 2 2B
11. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia (.261) – Low-A DL
12. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 19.29) – Triple-A DL
13. Stetson Allie, 1B, Bradenton (.227) – DNP
14. Wyatt Mathisen, C, Jamestown (.667) – DNP
15. Clay Holmes, RHP, West Virginia (5-6, 4.09) – DNP
16. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Indianapolis (2-5, 3.03) – DNP
17. Vic Black, RHP, Indianapolis (3-3, 2.27) – DNP
18. Harold Ramirez, CF, Jamestown (.297) – 1-for-4, HR
19. Blake Taylor, LHP, GCL Pirates (0-2, 3.18) – DNP
20. Jin-De Jhang, C, Jamestown (.287) – 1-for-4, 3B
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, SS (.213) – 3-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI
Home Runs: Andrew Lambo (18), Harold Ramirez (4), Austin Meadows (4)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 6, Rochester 1
Starting Pitcher: Jameson Taillon, RHP (1-1, 3.75) – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Andrew Lambo, DH (.272) – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 3 K
Other Notable Performers:
Matt Hague, 3B-1B (.285) – 3-for-5, 2B
Travis Snider, RF (.250) – 1-for-4, RBI
Alex Presley, CF (.292) – 2-for-5
Duke Welker, RHP (3.36) – 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: In his last two starts, Jameson Taillon has gone 12 innings, with three earned runs on ten hits and six walks. He also has 12 strikeouts in those outings. That’s a sudden improvement over his first two starts where he gave up seven runs in 12 innings. The walks have been an issue so far, with 13 in 24 innings, but that was the same thing with Gerrit Cole in his first month in Triple-A. The surprising thing tonight is that Taillon threw 105 pitches, which shows the Pirates might be a little more relaxed about the pitch counts at the end of the year (more on that later). Andrew Lambo hit his 18th homer of the year for Indianapolis, and his 32nd of the year overall. Travis Snider made his first rehab start with Indianapolis, although he didn’t play the entire game.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Richmond 9, Altoona 7
Starting Pitcher: Eliecer Navarro, LHP (4-6, 4.43) – 3.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, SS (.213) – 3-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Jarek Cunningham, 2B (.220) – 2-for-4, 2B, SB
Mel Rojas, LF (.271) – 2-for-4
Game Notes: Alen Hanson Picks Up Three Hits, But Pitching Dooms Curve.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Bradenton was postponed due to rain.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Charleston 5, West Virginia 4
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow, RHP (2.29) – 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 13 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Dilson Herrera, 2B (.264) – 2-for-4, 2 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Raul Fortunato, CF (.240) – 3-for-4, 2B, RBI
Josh Bell, DH (.284) – 1-for-4
Game Notes: Tyler Glasnow got 15 outs tonight, and 13 of them were via strikeouts. This was the fifth time this season that he has struck out 10+ batters in a start, and his 13 strikeouts tonight sets a new career high. Glasnow now has 160 strikeouts in 106.1 innings of work. As with Taillon, Glasnow was allowed to go deeper with his pitch count. He threw 98 pitches tonight, with 60 strikes. Normally he has been limited to around 75 pitches per start. He had some control issues with five walks, a hit batter, and a wild pitch, but he was unhittable. The hit batter, wild pitch, and four of the walks came in the first two innings. After the fourth walk, Glasnow struck out nine of his next 11 batters, giving up one more walk and getting a ground out. Glasnow turns 20 on Friday. Dilson Herrera added two doubles, giving him 27 on the year.
A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS
Result: Mahoning Valley 3, Jamestown 2
Starting Pitcher: Buddy Borden, RHP (1.17) – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Harold Ramirez, CF (.297) – 1-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Adam Frazier, SS (.341) – 2-for-4, SB
Jin-De Jhang, DH (.287) – 1-for-4, 3B
Isaac Sanchez, RHP (3.60) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Buddy Borden made his first start for Jamestown, throwing three shutout innings. The seventh round pick has given up one run on five hits in 7.2 innings, with a 13:2 K/BB ratio. Harold Ramirez hit his third homer of the year. Jin-De Jhang hit a triple, which is something I would pay to see. Adam Frazier had his fourth multi-hit game in his last six games. He’s still hitting nothing but singles, with a .035 ISO on the season.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 7, Tigers 5
Starting Pitcher: James McDonald, RHP (6.75) – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Austin Meadows, CF (.308) – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Enyel Vallejo, LF (.302) – 2-for-5, 3B
Reese McGuire, C (.312) – 2-for-4
Nick Buckner, DH (.238) – 3-for-4, 2 RBI
Danny Arribas, 1B (.282) – 2-for-4, RBI
Neil Kozikowski, RHP (1-1, 1.35) – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: James McDonald made the start in the GCL today, throwing two perfect innings. For more on McDonald’s rehab, and what was going on earlier in the year, check out my story on him from today. Austin Meadows hit his fourth homer of the year. I heard a scout exclaim “Jay Bruce” after the homer, which is a comp that was also thrown out on draft day. I don’t like player comps because people tend to get too specific with them. In this case, I don’t think Meadows will be exactly like Bruce, but has some impressive power from the left side. Neil Kozikowski now has a 1.35 ERA in 20 innings, with an 11:3 K/BB ratio.
