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 – 1-for-5, 2 K
2. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
3. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/22 Update)
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – 2-for-4, BB
5. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – DNP
6. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – DNP
7. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – DNP
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power – Disabled List (4/22 Update)
9. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – 2-for-4
10. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis – DNP
10. Andrew Lambo, OF, Indianapolis – Disabled List (5/7 Update)
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 – 0-for-3, BB
16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, Extended Spring Training – DNP
17. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, West Virginia – 0-for-3
18. Jin-De Jhang, C, Bradenton – DNP
20. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
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: Stetson Allie, 1B – 2-for-3, 2 HR, BB
Home Runs: Stetson Allie 2 (10), Brent Morel (2), Raul Fortunato (2), Elvis Escobar (2)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 10, Charlotte 6
Starting Pitcher: Casey Sadler, RHP – 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Brent Morel, 3B – 3-for-5, 2B, HR, 5 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Matt Hague, 1B – 2-for-4, BB
Gregory Polanco, RF – 1-for-5, 2 K
Chris Dickerson, CF – 1-for-3, BB, SB
Game Notes: Casey Sadler gave up three of his four runs today off the long ball. Sadler gave up one home run in 37.2 innings to start the year in Triple-A, before giving up three in 13 innings over his last two starts. He currently has a 2.66 ERA in 50.2 innings, with a 36:9 K/BB ratio. Brent Morel had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double and his second homer of the year. Morel’s bat has been quiet this season, with a .204 average and a .601 OPS in 137 at-bats in Triple-A. Gregory Polanco has been in a mini-slump, going 3-for-21 over his last five games. Chris Dickerson extended his hitting streak to five games. He has a hit in his last 21 starts. The only reason that isn’t a 21 game hitting streak is because he struck out in a pinch hit situation on May 19th.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Erie 6, Altoona 5
Starting Pitcher: Adrian Sampson, RHP – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Stetson Allie, 1B – 2-for-3, 2 HR, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Alen Hanson, SS – 2-for-4, BB
Mel Rojas, CF – 2-for-4, 2B
Willy Garcia, RF – 2-for-4
Drew Maggi, 3B – 2-for-4
Game Notes: Stetson Allie crushed two home runs today, giving him ten on the season. His power has been very impressive this year, with a home run every 15.4 at-bats. By comparison, Pedro Alvarez homered once every 17.1 at-bats in Double-A. A key difference is that Allie has a 28% strikeout rate, while Alvarez had a 23% strikeout rate. That’s not a huge difference, but Allie does need to work on cutting down those strikeouts, and hitting for average. Alen Hanson stayed hot with two hits and a walk. He has an .898 OPS in the month of May, along with five home runs this month. Mel Rojas has also been hot lately, and is hitting for a .337 average and a .909 OPS in the month of May. Adrian Sampson has gone at least six innings with two or fewer runs in each of his last three starts. He has done the same in six of his ten starts this year. Sampson has a 2.26 ERA in 55.2 innings, with a 43:16 K/BB ratio.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 6, Charlotte 5
Starting Pitcher: Orlando Castro, LHP – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jonathan Schwind, RF – 2-for-3, 3B, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Jeff Roy, CF – 2-for-4, BB
Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-4, 2B
Raul Fortunato, LF – 1-for-4, HR
Game Notes: Bradenton was down 5-2 in the eighth inning, but ended up coming back to win 6-5. Raul Fortunato hit a solo homer to lead off the eighth inning, narrowing the Charlotte lead to two runs. Max Moroff and Jonathan Schwind both reached base in the bottom of the ninth inning, then a pair of errors brought in two runs. Jeff Roy ended the game with a walk off single, scoring Jacob Stallings from third. Orlando Castro had another good start, and has been on fire lately. In his last three starts he has given up four runs in 19 innings, with a 16:1 K/BB ratio. On the season he has a 2.91 ERA in 55.2 innings, with a 41:7 K/BB ratio.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 7, Lakewood 1
Starting Pitcher: Shane Carle, RHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Elvis Escobar, CF – 1-for-4, HR, 4 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Harold Ramirez, RF – 2-for-4
Erich Weiss, DH – 2-for-3
Game Notes: West Virginia had a big blowout win, but that was all due to a six run eighth inning. The go ahead run came when Erich Weiss was hit with a pitch with the bases loaded. Chris Diaz followed with a bases loaded walk. Elvis Escobar broke the game open with a grand slam, his second homer of the year. Harold Ramirez added two more hits, and has an .845 OPS in 37 at-bats over his last ten games. Shane Carle has been great in his last four starts. He has combined for five runs in 24 innings, with a 9:2 K/BB ratio. On the season, he has a 3.25 ERA in 52.2 innings, with a 30:5 K/BB ratio and a 1.74 GO/AO ratio.
