The top two active pitching prospects in the system will take the mound today. While the Pirates wait for word on Jameson Taillon’s elbow and await the arrival of Tyler Glasnow in Bradenton, Nick Kingham and Luis Heredia will make their season debuts. Kingham was ranked #6 in our 2014 Prospect Guide, while Heredia ranked ninth. Check out the Prospect Watch from last night. For a look at possible starters down the line, check out our Probable Starter Chart.
AAA: Indianapolis (3-0) @ Columbus (0-3) 1:05pm
Probable starter: Adam Wilk (NR)
Yesterday’s Result: Indianapolis 4, Columbus 0 (game one) Indianapolis 5, Columbus 4 (game two)
Adam Wilk will make his debut in the Pirates organization. The 26-year-old lefty spent last season pitching in Korea. He pitched in the majors with the Tigers in 2011-12, making a total of three starts and five relief appearances. Wilk signed with the Pirates as a minor league free agent over the Winter. Check out the Indianapolis season preview.
AA: Altoona (0-2) vs Erie (2-0) 1:00pm
Probable starter: Nick Kingham (NR)
Yesterday’s Result: Erie 2, Altoona 0 (game one) Erie 5, Altoona 2 (game two)
Nick Kingham gets the start for Altoona. He split last season between Altoona and Bradenton, making a total of 25 starts and two relief appearances. He pitched a total of 143.1 innings, giving up 125 hits, seven homers and 44 walks. Kingham had 144 strikeouts, a 2.89 ERA and a .233 BAA. He finished second to Tyler Glasnow in strikeouts among all pitchers in the Pirates farm system. Check out the Altoona season preview.
High-A: Bradenton (2-1) vs Charlotte (1-2) 1:00pm
Probable starter: Orlando Castro (NR)
Yesterday’s Result: Bradenton 4, Charlotte 2
Orlando Castro will get the start for Bradenton. The 22-year-old lefty split last season between West Virginia and Bradenton. After making 13 starts for the Power, Castro joined the Marauders and made four starts and nine relief appearances. On the year, he posted a 2.67 ERA over 108 innings. He allowed 104 hits, eight homers and 17 walks. Castro had 84 strikeouts, a 1.08 GO/AO ratio and a .255 BAA. Check out the Bradenton season preview.
Low-A: West Virginia (2-1) @ Lexington (1-2) 2:05pm
Probable starter: Luis Heredia (NR)
Yesterday’s Result: West Virginia 2, Lexington 0
Luis Heredia will make his season debut today. The 19-year-old righty spent last season with West Virginia, where he had a 3.05 ERA over 65 innings. Heredia made 13 starts and one relief appearance. He gave up 52 hits, five homers and 37 walks, struck out 55 and held hitters to a .224 BAA. Heredia allowed three runs or less in each of his 13 starts last year. Check out the West Virginia season preview.
Recent Transactions
4/5: Robert Andino placed on disabled list. Blake Davis added to Indianapolis roster.
4/4: Stetson Allie added to Altoona roster. Junior Sosa transferred to Jamestown roster.
4:4 Kenn Kasparek and Quinton Miller placed on disabled list. Brandon Mann added to Altoona roster.
3/29: Quincy Latimore and Erick Fernandez released.
3/27: Traded a player to be named later in exchange for Keon Broxton.
3/25: Acquired Vance Worley in exchange for cash.
3/22: Six minor league players released. Carlos Mesa, Cesar Lopez, Axel Diaz, Elvin Ramirez, Kirk Singer and Eliecer Navarro.
3/20 Zac Fuesser, Ethan Hollingsworth, Kevin Kleis and Dalton Friend released.
