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. 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 #1, 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 mid-season top 20 update, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
2. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (5/30 Update)
3. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – DNP
4. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
5. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – DNP
6. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – 1-for-5, 2B
7. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – 1-for-5
8. Cole Tucker, SS, GCL Pirates – 1-for-3, 2B, BB
9. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power – DNP
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP
11. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Altoona – DNP
12. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – Disabled List(6/23 Update)
13. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
14. Andrew Lambo, OF, Indianapolis – Disabled List (5/30 Update)
15. Joely Rodriguez, LHP, Altoona – DNP
16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, GCL Pirates – DNP
17. Trey Supak, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP
18. Buddy Borden, RHP, West Virginia – DNP
19. Stetson Allie, 1B, Altoona – Disabled List (6/20 Update)
20. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Unsigned
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Adam Frazier, SS – 4-for-5, 2 2B
Home Runs: Jordan Steranka (3), Kevin Krause (3), Robert Andino (2), Carlos Paulino (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Durham 6, Indianapolis 3
Starting Pitcher: Jake Brigham, RHP – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Robert Andino, SS – 1-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Chris Dickerson, CF – 2-for-3, SB
Game Notes: Jake Brigham made his second start since returning from the disabled list. He gave up two homers, which matched his total from the previous nine starts. Brigham has a 3.41 ERA in 71.1 innings this year, with a 61:24 K/BB ratio. Robert Andino hit his second homer of the year. Chris Dickerson added two more hits. He’s been struggling in June, hitting for a .246 average with a .749 OPS in 57 at-bats.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: New Britain 3, Altoona 1
Starting Pitcher: Joan Montero, RHP – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Andy Vasquez, LF – 1-for-2, BB
Other Notable Performers:
John Holdzkom, RHP – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: The Pirates acquired John Holdzkom over the weekend, and he made his debut today with Altoona. I wrote about Holdzkom here earlier today. He’s a tall pitcher with a big frame who has hit 101 MPH in the past, but has dealt with control problems and injuries. In his first appearance with the Pirates, the control problems showed up, as he walked two batters in two innings. He threw 29 pitches, with 15 strikes. Alen Hanson was out for the fifth straight game. There was some disagreement on his status, with people in Altoona saying he’s suspended, and the Pirates saying he’s just working on things.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 11, Jupiter 0
Starting Pitcher: Orlando Castro, LHP – 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Adam Frazier, SS – 4-for-5, 2 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Josh Bell, RF – 1-for-5, 2B
Jordan Steranka, DH – 2-for-5, HR
Taylor Lewis, CF – 2-for-4
Raul Fortunato, LF – 2-for-4
Live Report: Josh Bell picked up a double, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. Bell fell behind in the count 1-2, then battled back to a full count before hitting a double off the left-center wall. The hit came from the right side of the plate, continuing his improvements against left-handed pitchers. Orlando Castro was extremely efficient, only needing 65 pitches to get through seven shutout frames. Castro gave up three hits, no walks, and struck out four. Of his 65 pitches, 50 went for strikes. Jordan Steranka hit his third homer of the year, while Adam Frazier hit two doubles, giving him ten for the year.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 7, Delmarva 5
Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP – 4.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Edwin Espinal, DH – 3-for-5
Other Notable Performers:
Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 2-for-4
Danny Collins, 1B – 2-for-5
Kawika Emsley-Pai, C – 2-for-4
Harold Ramirez, RF – 1-for-5
Game Notes: Cody Dickson has struggled this year, with a 5.25 ERA in 70.1 innings. He came into pro ball as a guy who needed a changeup and needed fastball control. So far he has given up a walk almost every other inning, and has also been hit hard. The results in West Virginia have been disappointing, considering he came from a college program, and should be used to the talent level in low-A. Harold Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 17 games. Wyatt Mathisen had two hits, and now has six multi-hit games in his last ten games. Mathisen has been hitting well lately, with a .343/.425/.414 line in 70 at-bats in the month of June.
A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS
Result: Jamestown 8, State College 7
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Eppler, RHP – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Taylor Gushue, C – 3-for-4, 2 2B, 3 BB
Other Notable Performers:
Kevin Krause, DH – 2-for-5, HR, BB
Carl Anderson, CF – 2-for-5, 2B, BB
Michael Suchy, RF – 2-for-6
Game Notes: Kevin Krause hit a home run, giving him three homers in six games. Taylor Gushue added two doubles, and snapped a cold streak where he went 0-for-11 in his previous four games. Carl Anderson had two hits, and his second double of the year. Tonight was his fifth multi-hit games in 11 games. Tyler Eppler entered tonight’s outing with one run allowed in seven innings. He didn’t have the same results tonight, giving up three runs in five innings of work.
RK: BRISTOL PIRATES
Result: Johnson City 9, Bristol 4
Starting Pitcher: Junior Lopez, RHP – 3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Nick Buckner, DH – 2-for-4, 3B
Other Notable Performers:
Eduardo Figueroa, CF – 2-for-4, 2B, BB
Danny Arribas, 1B – 1-for-2, 2 BB
Maximo Rivera, RF – 2-for-5
Game Notes: Danny Arribas has picked up a hit in each of his first six games, going 9-for-21 with a double and four walks in that span. Nick Buckner got his first extra base hit of the season today. Maximo Rivera followed a three hit night last night with a two hit night tonight. Eduardo Figueroa also put up back to back multi-hit nights.
Check out the Bristol Pirates season preview.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 6, Blue Jays 2
Starting Pitcher: Jose Batista, LHP – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Carlos Paulino, C – 2-for-4, 3B, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Cole Tucker, DH – 1-for-3, 2B, BB
Jose Salazar, 3B – 2-for-4
Henrry Rosario, CF – 2-for-4, 3B
Game Notes: Jose Batista pitched in his second game of the season, making his first start of the year. He has six shutout innings combined, with three hits allowed, no walks, and four strikeouts. Carlos Paulino was hit in the head with a pitch last Friday during his first rehab game. He returned today for another rehab start, and had a good day at the plate, hitting a triple and a home run. He also caught two runners stealing. Paulino only played seven innings. Cole Tucker was the designated hitter today, and had his first double. He also drew a walk, and has a .462 OBP in his first three games. With Tucker as the DH, Nelson Jorge started at shortstop and Sam Kennelly started at second.
Check out the GCL Pirates season preview.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Marlins 4, Pirates 1
Starting Pitcher: Nelson Oronel, LHP – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Sandy Santos, CF – 2-for-4, 2B, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Patrick Reyes, C – 1-for-3, BB
Game Notes: The DSL Pirates lost for the eighth straight time on Wednesday, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Marlins. Starter Nestor Oronel lost for the fourth straight time to open up his career. He still pitched decent, allowing one earned run over five innings, giving him a 3.10 ERA on the season. Lead-off hitter Sandy Santos led the offense, with two hits, a walk and he drove in the Pirates’ only run. Top prospect Jeremias Portorreal went 0-for-2, causing his average to dip below the .200 mark. He did draw two walks, giving him 14 walks in his first 19 games. The Pirates had eight walks in the game, but they went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left ten runners on base. – John Dreker
You can check out the DSL Pirates week three recap here.
