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 – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
3. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/22 Update)
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – DNP
5. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – DNP
6. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/27 Update)
7. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – 2-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 – DNP
11. Joely Rodriguez, LHP, Altoona – DNP
12. Blake Taylor, LHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
13. Cody Dickson, LHP, West Virginia – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
14. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/14 Update)
15. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 3-for-7, 2B, BB
16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, Extended Spring Training – DNP
17. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, West Virginia – 2-for-6, BB
18. Jin-De Jhang, C, Bradenton – DNP
19. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – In Majors
20. Stetson Allie, 1B, Altoona – 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: Edwin Espinal, 1B – 5-for-7, 3 2B
Home Runs: None
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Indianapolis was off today.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona had a double-header postponed due to rain.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Fort Myers 6, Bradenton 2
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow, RHP – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Adam Frazier, SS – 3-for-4
Other Notable Performers:
Josh Bell, RF – 2-for-4
Jose Osuna, 1B – 2-for-4
Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-3, SB
Pat Ludwig, RHP – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Tyler Glasnow had a lot of control issues tonight in two innings of work, walking seven batters with no strikeouts. In his first start of the season, Glasnow walked three in five innings, with six strikeouts. The reports I got from that game said that he was focusing mostly on his fastball and changeup in the early innings, and didn’t incorporate the curveball until the later innings. Once he started using the curve, he started racking up his strikeouts and dominating the other hitters. Before that, he was having control problems. I’m not sure if that was the case tonight. What I do know is that Glasnow told me he would be emphasizing the changeup this year. Last year he was dominating with his fastball and curveball, which are both plus pitches. His changeup is not a plus pitch, and the only way to develop it is to throw it more often. In the short-term, we might see some ugly outings, like the one tonight. Hopefully the long-term payoff is that he develops a good changeup, and pairs that with his other two pitches to go on and be a dominant pitching prospect.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Kannapolis 2, West Virginia 1
Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Kawika Emsley-Pai, C – 2-for-3
Other Notable Performers:
JaCoby Jones, SS – 1-for-2, BB, SB
Game Notes: Cody Dickson gave up two runs on five hits in five innings, which was better than his last outing where he gave up four runs in 3.2 innings. Dickson has rotated between good and bad starts every other outing so far this year. On the season he has a 4.81 ERA in 24.1 innings, with an 18:7 K/BB ratio. A big issue for him this year will be his control. He’s got a good fastball that can touch mid-90s, and an excellent breaking ball. He needs to develop a changeup, and get better control over his fastball. Dickson has seven walks in 14.2 innings over his last three starts.
Result: West Virginia 6, Kannapolis 0
Starting Pitcher: Henry Hirsch, RHP – 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Edwin Espinal, 1B – 4-for-4, 3 2B
Other Notable Performers:
JaCoby Jones, SS – 2-for-4, 2B
Erich Weiss, 2B – 2-for-4
Danny Collins, RF – 3-for-4, 2B
Jerry Mulderig, RHP – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: West Virginia got some great pitching in game two from two late round draft picks from the 2013 draft. Henry Hirsch was a 22nd round pick, and was notable for hitting 96 MPH with his fastball last year after signing. Jerry Mulderig was a 28th round pick who throws 90-91 MPH, but has a tall, projectable frame and hasn’t had a lot of innings in his career, spending most of his time in college as an outfielder. The two pitchers combined for seven shutout innings, with five hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. Edwin Espinal had a huge game, with four hits and three doubles. He’s a big sleeper prospect who is very raw, but has a lot of power potential. In his last ten games, he has a .389 average and a .934 OPS, with six doubles. That’s not enough of a sample to say that he is starting to put things together, but it is a positive sign, and better than the way he started the season.
