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 (Stolmy Pimentel #13). 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. If a player is out for the season (Jameson Taillon #2, Clay Holmes #12), he will be removed and everyone below him will move up a spot. Removing these guys doesn’t mean they have lost prospect status. It is just an attempt to get 20 active prospects on the list. Rankings are from the 2014 Prospect Guide, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Gregory Polanco, CF, Indianapolis – DNP
2. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
3. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/22 Update)
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – 0-for-4, 3 K
5. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – 3.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
6. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/27 Update)
7. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – 0-for-4
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power – Disabled List (4/22 Update)
9. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/14 Update)
10. Andrew Lambo, OF, Indianapolis – 2-for-4, HR
11. Joely Rodriguez, LHP, Altoona – DNP
12. Blake Taylor, LHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
13. Cody Dickson, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
14. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/14 Update)
15. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 2-for-6, BB
16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, Extended Spring Training – DNP
17. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, West Virginia – 2-for-6
18. Jin-De Jhang, C, Bradenton – DNP
19. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – In Majors
20. Stetson Allie, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-2
ORDER YOUR 2014 PROSPECT GUIDE
The 2014 Prospect Guide is now available, and is the perfect resource to follow the minor league system during the 2014 season. You can order your copy on the products page of the site.
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Andy Vasquez, RF – 3-for-4, 2B, HR, SB
Home Runs: Chris McGuiness (2), Andy Vasquez (2), Andrew Lambo (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 3, Syracuse 2
Starting Pitcher: Adam Wilk, LHP – 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Andrew Lambo, RF – 2-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Chris McGuiness, 1B – 1-for-4, HR
Michael Martinez, 2B – 2-for-4, 2 2B
Phil Irwin, RHP – 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Andrew Lambo continued his hot hitting with two knocks, including his first home run since September 28. Adam Wilk contributed another quality start for his third win of the season. It was his second straight quality start of the campaign. Gregory Polanco took his first day off of the season, after playing 24 straight. – Ryan Palencer
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Erie 11, Altoona 5
Starting Pitcher: Nick Kingham, RHP – 3.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Andy Vasquez, RF – 3-for-4, 2B, HR, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Jarek Cunningham, 3B – 2-for-4, 2B
Gift Ngoepe, 2B – 1-for-4, 2B, 3 K
Game Notes: Nick Kingham had a rough start, giving up six earned runs in 3.2 innings. It was the worst outing of the year for Kingham, who entered tonight with a 1.61 ERA in 22.1 innings. Despite the good ERA, Kingham has had his issues. He had walked ten batters in those 22.1 innings, and gave up three runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings in his last outing. At the start of the year he wasn’t expected to reach the majors until the end of the season. When Jameson Taillon went down, the hope was that he could speed up that path and arrive in the majors if the Pirates needed him earlier. It doesn’t look like he’s going to be breaking out of Altoona anytime soon. Andy Vasquez had a big day at the plate, getting three hits, including his second homer of the year and his third stolen base of the season.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Fort Myers 7, Bradenton 1
Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-4, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Walker Gourley, LF – 2-for-4
Jordan Steranka, DH – 1-for-3, 3B
Game Notes: Jason Creasy had a rough outing in his last start, giving up four earned runs in one inning of work. Prior to that, he had given up four earned runs in 19.2 innings over his first four starts of the season. Creasy got back on track tonight, giving up one run in five innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. He now has a 3.16 ERA in 25.2 innings, with a 17:8 K/BB ratio. He’s a sinkerball pitcher, but he hasn’t been getting a lot of ground ball outs in the last three outings, with a 2:9 GO/AO ratio tonight.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Kannapolis 1, West Virginia 0
Starting Pitcher: Buddy Borden, RHP – 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: JaCoby Jones, SS – 2-for-3
Other Notable Performers:
Erich Weiss, 2B – 1-for-3, SB
Game Notes: Buddy Borden had his best start of the year tonight, throwing six shutout innings, with two hits, no walks, and three strikeouts. The best part was that he didn’t walk anyone. Prior to this outing, Borden had issued nine walks in 13.2 innings. Despite the control problems, he has been lights out this year. He has a 1.37 ERA in 19.2 innings, with a 19:9 K/BB ratio and just 13 hits allowed. He hasn’t given up an earned run in his last four starts, spanning 15.2 innings.
Result: West Virginia 5, Kannapolis 2
Starting Pitcher: Felipe Gonzalez, RHP – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Danny Collins, RF – 2-for-4, 2B, 3B
Other Notable Performers:
Erich Weiss, 2B – 2-for-4, 3B
Edwin Espinal, 1B – 2-for-3
Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 2-for-3
Game Notes: West Virginia’s offense wasn’t effective in game one, but had a good outing in game two. Four players recorded multiple hits, led by Danny Collins, who had a double and a triple. Collins now has seven doubles on the season. Erich Weiss had hits in both games, going 3-for-7 on the day. Felipe Gonzalez has been filling in as a starter/long reliever since Luis Heredia went down, and currently has a 2.61 ERA in 20.2 innings on the season, with a 19:8 K/BB ratio.
