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 (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 – 3-for-7
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis – Out for the Season (Jameson Taillon to Have Tommy John Surgery)
3. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List (3/22 Update)
4. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/2 Update)
5. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – 1-for-4
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – DNP
7. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – 1-for-4
8. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – 2-for-4, 2B, 3B
9. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power – DNP
10. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/7 Update)
11. Andrew Lambo, 1B, Indianapolis – 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, BB, SB
12. Joely Rodriguez, LHP, Altoona – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
13. Blake Taylor, LHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
14. Cody Dickson, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
15. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/7 Update)
16. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 3-for-6, HR
17. Michael De La Cruz, OF, Extended Spring Training – DNP
18. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, West Virginia – 1-for-2
19. Jin-De Jhang, C, Bradenton – 0-for-2
20. Brandon Cumpton, 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: Andrew Lambo, 1B/DH – 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, BB, SB
Home Runs: Blake Davis (1), Brent Morel (1), Stetson Allie (1), Jarek Cunningham (1), Willy Garcia (1), Mel Rojas (1), Jordan Steranka (2), JaCoby Jones (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 6, Toledo 4
Starting Pitcher: Phil Irwin, RHP – 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Brent Morel, 3B – 1-for-3, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Blake Davis, 2B – 1-for-3, HR
Andrew Lambo, 1B – 1-for-2, 3B, BB
Chris McGuiness, DH – 1-for-3, 3B
Gregory Polanco, RF – 1-for-3
Game Notes: The Indians went up early when Brent Morel hit a two run homer in the first inning, leading to a three run inning. Indianapolis added two more in the fifth inning when Blake Davis hit a two run homer. Phil Irwin was cruising through four innings, but gave up four runs in the fifth inning. Jared Hughes and Zack Thornton combined to shut down Toledo in the final 2.1 innings to take the win in game one.
Result: Toledo 8, Indianapolis 6
Starting Pitcher: Jay Jackson, RHP – 2.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Andrew Lambo, DH – 2-for-3, 2B, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Duke Welker, RHP – 2.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Gregory Polanco, RF – 2-for-4
Nevin Ashley, C – 3-for-3
Chase d’Arnaud, LF – 2-for-4, 2B, SB
Game Notes: Indianapolis went down early in this game, with Jay Jackson and Duke Welker combining to give up runs in each of the first five innings. The Indians were hitting well, led by Andrew Lambo, who went 3-for-5 with a double, triple, walk, and a stolen base in the double header. Gregory Polanco combined to go 3-for-7 on the day.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 4, Akron 3
Starting Pitcher: Joely Rodriguez, LHP – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Willy Garcia, RF – 1-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Stetson Allie, 1B – 1-for-4, HR
Jarek Cunningham, 3B – 1-for-3, HR
Mel Rojas, CF – 1-for-3, HR
Gift Ngoepe, 2B – 2-for-3, 2B, BB
Tyler Sample, RHP – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Altoona’s offense came from the solo homer tonight. Stetson Allie started things off in the first inning with his first homer of the year. Jarek Cunningham added a solo homer in the fifth inning, tying the score at 2-2. Mel Rojas added a solo homer in the 7th inning to tie the score at 3-3. Willy Garcia capped off the night with a walk off homer to win it. Joely Rodriguez gave up two runs in the third inning, in large part due to free bases. Rodriguez gave up five stolen bases during the inning, leading to his only runs. Tyler Sample came on and pitched the final three innings, giving up just an unearned run.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 4, Palm Beach 3
Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Josh Bell, RF – 2-for-4, 2B, 3B
Other Notable Performers:
Jordan Steranka, DH – 1-for-4, HR
Raul Fortunato, LF – 2-for-4
Ryan Hafner, RHP – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: The Marauders had a comeback victory, scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth, and two more in the bottom of the ninth for the walk off winner. With two outs in the ninth inning, Jordan Steranka came up big with a solo homer, his second of the year, to tie the game. Walker Gourley followed that with a single, and Raul Fortunato followed with his second hit of the game. Gourley scored from first on an error by the right fielder. Jason Creasy and Ryan Hafner, two sinkerball pitchers, combined to give up two earned runs in eight innings, getting a 14:1 combined GO/AO ratio. Josh Bell picked up his third multi-hit game in four games.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 6, Asheville 5
Starting Pitcher: Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: JaCoby Jones, SS – 3-for-3, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Reese McGuire, C – 1-for-4
Erich Weiss, 2B – 2-for-3
Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 1-for-2
Game Notes: JaCoby Jones had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-3 in game one, including a two run homer in the fifth inning. The homer was the first of the year for Jones. This was his third multi-hit game in his first five games. Dovydas Neverauskas made his first start of the year, giving up one run in five innings. Neverauskas can hit 95 MPH consistently with his tall, skinny frame, but has control problems at times, and that showed up tonight with three walks in five innings.
Result: Asheville 5, West Virginia 2
Starting Pitcher: Jerry Mulderig, RHP – 3.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Danny Collins, RF – 2-for-3, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Erich Weiss, DH – 1-for-3
Candon Myles, LF – 1-for-2, BB, SB
Game Notes: With Harold Ramirez and Barrett Barnes out, West Virginia had an outfield that included Danny Collins and Candon Myles at the corners. Collins combined to go 3-for-6 with a walk and a double in today’s games. Myles went 2-for-5 with a double, a walk, and his second stolen base of the year.
