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-3, HR, RBI, 2 BB
2. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
3. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (5/30 Update)
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – 2-for-6, 2B, 3 RBI
5. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – DNP
6. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – 0-for-4, BB
7. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – 1-for-6, HR, RBI
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power – DNP
9. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – 2-for-4, 2B, SB, HBP
10. Andrew Lambo, OF, Indianapolis – Disabled List (5/30 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 (5/30 Update)
15. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 0-for-3
16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, Extended Spring Training – DNP
17. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, West Virginia – 1-for-4, BB
18. Jin-De Jhang, C, Bradenton – DNP
19. Stetson Allie, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-4, BB
20. Mel Rojas Jr., CF- Indianapolis – 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: Gift Ngoepe, 2B – 4-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Home Runs: Gregory Polanco (7), Josh Bell (6), Jose Osuna (2)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Syracuse 5, Indianapolis 1
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Waldron, RHP – 4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gregory Polanco, RF – 1-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 BB
Other Notable Performers:
Chris Dickerson, CF – 2-for-2, 2 BB
Game Notes: Gregory Polanco led off Friday night’s game with a home run, then it was all downhill from there for Indianapolis. Tyler Waldron got the start in place of Jeff Locke, who was a late scratch. Waldron allowed four runs over four innings, throwing 70 pitches in his spot start. Indianapolis had their chances to score more runs, with seven hits and six walks, but they went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Chris Dickerson had a strong return to the lineup, walking twice and hitting two singles in four trips to the plate. In the fifth inning, Gregory Polanco threw out a runner at home plate for a 9-2 double play. He also drew two walks in the game. Polanco has struck out just once in his last 49 plate appearances, dating back to May 27th.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 11, Trenton 2
Starting Pitcher: Stolmy Pimentel, RHP – 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gift Ngoepe, 2B – 4-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Alen Hanson, SS – 2-for-6, 2B, 3 RBI
Keon Broxton, CF – 3-for-5, 2 2B, BB
Live Report: Altoona looked fantastic tonight, defeating Trenton 11-2.
Rehabbing starter Stolmy Pimentel had an impressive outing. He went three shutout innings, giving up three hits, and one walk. Pimentel punched out five, throwing 29 of 46 pitches for strikes. Per the stadium gun, he was sitting 92-93 MPH for most of the night with his fastball, occasionally touching 94. He mixed a fair amount of breaking pitches in as well, generally sitting in the mid-80’s with them. Pimentel was followed by Matt Benedict, tossing 2 2/3 and allowing Trenton’s two runs. Emmanuel de Leon, who is a guy to keep an eye on, worked the end of the 6th and the 7th, sitting 92-93, while showing off an impressive curveball that got him his one strikeout tonight.
On the offensive side of the ball, Gift Ngoepe had a big night. The second baseman went 4-for-4 with two doubles, and a walk. Keon Broxton went 3-for-5 with two doubles, the second missing the right field wall by about 20 feet. Alen Hanson went 2-for-6 with a dead center shot for a double, contributing three runs batted in. Every player in the Curve lineup had a hit tonight. They went 7-21 with runners in scoring position. Five Curve hitters combined for seven doubles. Beyond the nine strikeouts, this was a pretty complete game for the Curve offense. – John Kokales
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 5, Brevard County 4
Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP – 7.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jose Osuna, 1B – 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Josh Bell, RF – 1-for-6, HR, RBI
Raul Fortunato, LF – 1-for-4, RBI, BB, SB
Game Notes: The Bradenton Marauders won 5-4 on Friday night, as Josh Bell put them ahead with a home run in the top of the 12th inning. It was the sixth home run of the season for Bell and it came off a left-handed pitcher. Bell doesn’t have the cleanest swing from the right side and tends to be more of a contact hitter, so it’s good to see him show power from that side of the plate. Jose Osuna hit his second homer of the season, plus added a single and a walk, while driving in two runs. Jason Creasy pitched a strong game on Friday night despite allowing four runs. Over seven innings, he gave up eight hits and just one of the runs was earned. Creasy didn’t walk anyone and had 13 ground ball outs. Thomas Harlan threw four shutout innings in relief for the win. Bryton Trepagnier picked up the save. Adam Frazier committed two errors, giving him 20 on the season.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Hickory 10, West Virginia 3
Starting Pitcher: Buddy Borden, RHP – 5.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Elvis Escobar, RF – 1-for-2, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Other Notable Performers:
Reese McGuire, C – 0-for-4, BB
JaCoby Jones, SS – 0-for-3, 3 K
Harold Ramirez, CF – 2-for-4, 2B, SB, HBP
Game Notes: Buddy Borden was cruising along early this season, pitching extremely well through ten starts, but he has run into a rough patch in his last two games. His last outing wasn’t too bad, with three runs over five innings, but he walked four batters and didn’t record a strikeout. Tonight he got hit around hard and was able to pick up just one strikeout over five innings. Through his first ten starts, he was averaging almost a strikeout per inning. In the month of April, he had a 1.37 ERA and in the middle of May, he threw six no-hit innings, so his overall season stats still look good. Elvis Escobar drew two walks tonight after walking twice in his first 32 games combined. He also notched his first triple of the season. West Virginia scored just three runs despite collecting nine hits, eight walks and a hit batter. Harold Ramirez hit his tenth double and stole his seventh base of the season. Reese McGuire is 0-for-13 since having his 19 game hitting streak snapped.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Rangers2 16, Pirates 1
Starting Pitcher: Luis Escobar, RHP – 1.2 IP, 6 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Victor Fernandez, CF – 2-for-4, 2 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Raul Siri, 2B – 2-for-4, 3B
Jeremias Portorreal, RF – 0-for-3
Game Notes: This was an ugly loss for the Pirates, with one of their top two pitchers taking it on the chin. In his second pro start, Luis Escobar allowed ten earned runs over 1.2 innings in the 16-1 loss. The whole team was bad on Friday, as four pitchers combined to throw nine wild pitches and the defense made four errors. Victor Fernandez continued his hot streak, collecting two doubles. He is hitting .450 now, while Raul Siri maintained his .500 average with a 2-for-4 game. The three big July 2nd signings from last year, Adrian Valerio, Jeremias Portorreal and Edison Lantigua, combined to go 0-for-10, with two errors and two strikeouts from Lantigua.
You can check out the DSL Pirates season preview here.
