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 (Tony Sanchez #11, 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 – 1-for-5, 3B, BB
2. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List (3/22 Update)
3. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/2 Update)
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – DNP
5. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – DNP
6. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – 0-for-4
7. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – 0-for-3
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power – DNP
9. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/7 Update)
10. Andrew Lambo, 1B, Indianapolis – 2-for-4, 2B, BB
11. Joely Rodriguez, LHP, Altoona – 3.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
12. Blake Taylor, LHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
13. Cody Dickson, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
14. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/7 Update)
15. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 0-for-3, 2 BB
16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, Extended Spring Training – DNP
17. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, West Virginia – 0-for-2, 2 BB
18. Jin-De Jhang, C, Bradenton – DNP
19. Brandon Cumpton, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
20. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
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: Michael Martinez, SS – 3-for-3, 2B, 3B
Home Runs: None
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Columbus 10, Indianapolis 9
Starting Pitcher: Phil Irwin, RHP – 1.1 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Michael Martinez, SS – 3-for-3, 2B, 3B
Other Notable Performers:
Andrew Lambo, DH – 2-for-4, 2B, BB
Gregory Polanco, RF – 1-for-5, 3B, BB
Game Notes: After allowing a lead off double, starter Phil Irwin responded to get out of the first inning unscathed. However, in the second, command issues did in the righty. Irwin allowed seven earned runs in the frame on three hits and three walks, while only retiring one hitter.
Gregory Polanco extended his International League best 10-game hitting streak with his second triple in the fourth inning, driving in Michael Martinez. However, Polanco struck out with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning to end the game.
Andrew Lambo continued his hot hitting as well, going 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI. – Ryan Palencer
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Richmond 7, Altoona 3
Starting Pitcher: Joely Rodriguez, LHP – 3.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jarek Cunningham, 3B – 1-for-2, 2B, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Mel Rojas, CF – 2-for-4
Stetson Allie, 1B – 1-for-4
Game Notes: Joely Rodriguez had a rough start in his second outing in Double-A, giving up five runs on seven hits in three innings. The silver lining was that he didn’t allow a walk and struck out three. Last time out, Rodriguez gave up two runs in six innings, but walked three and had no strikeouts. He has struggled with his control at times in the past, and is usually dominant when he’s not giving up free passes. His first two outings are interesting, because he looked a bit lucky in the first game, and looks unlucky this time around, based on the K/BB ratios.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Jupiter 6, Bradenton 0
Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Walker Gourley, 3B – 1-for-3, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Ryan Hafner, RHP – 1.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Jason Creasy had a great start, getting an 8:3 GO/AO ratio in six shutout innings. Creasy now has a 2.45 ERA in 14.2 innings over his first three starts, with a 1.62 GO/AO ratio and a 5:5 K/BB ratio. Ryan Hafner was hurt by poor defense today. Jordan Steranka had an error on the very first play after Hafner entered the game, which led to one earned run in the seventh inning. A two-out error by Max Moroff led to four more unearned runs in the eighth inning. Bradenton only managed two hits on the day.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 10, Lexington 6
Starting Pitcher: Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Erich Weiss, DH – 1-for-5, HR, 4 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Justin Maffei, CF – 2-for-4, 2B, BB
Danny Collins, RF – 1-for-2, 2B, 2 BB
Game Notes: Dovydas Neverauskas had another strong outing, giving up one run in five innings for the second start in a row. He has a 1.80 ERA in ten innings in those two starts, with a 9:4 K/BB ratio. West Virginia had a huge nine run second inning, highlighted by an inside the park grand slam by Erich Weiss. It was the first homer of Weiss’ professional career. He now has an eight game hitting streak. As a team, West Virginia combined for ten walks today. The rest of the farm system combined for 12 walks today, with eight of those coming from Indianapolis.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
I was at the Altoona game. Rodriguez’ control wasn’t that good. He fell behind early in counts and eventually started getting his fastball up. He managed to battle to some two-strike counts, but in most cases he couldn’t put the hitter away, including the pitcher, who fouled off a bunch of pitches before lining a hit. Joely doesn’t really have an out pitch.
We may soon have to start referring to him as “I thought you’d” Neverauskas.