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 – 2-for-5, 3 Runs, 2 SB
2. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
3. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (5/30 Update)
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – 1-for-5, RBI
5. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – DNP
6. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – DNP
7. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – 1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power – Disabled List (4/22 Update)
9. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – 2-for-5, 2B
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 – 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
14. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (5/30 Update)
15. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 1-for-5, RBI
16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, Extended Spring Training – DNP
17. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, West Virginia – 0-for-3, BB
18. Jin-De Jhang, C, Bradenton – DNP
19. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
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: Matt Hague, DH – 2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, BB
Home Runs: Matt Hague (7), Josh Bell (5), Danny Collins (3), Michael Martinez (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 9, Scranton/WB 7
Starting Pitcher: Jeff Locke, LHP – 5.0 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Matt Hague, DH – 2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Gregory Polanco, RF – 2-for-5, 3 Runs, 2 SB
Mel Rojas Jr., CF – 2-for-4, SB
Game Notes: In his second game in the lead-off spot, Gregory Polanco had two hits, stole two bases and scored three runs. Mel Rojas Jr. had two hits and a stolen base in his second game since being called up to AAA. Matt Hague hit a three-run homer in the first inning and drove in another run later in the game to help Indianapolis to the 9-7 win. Michael Martinez hit his first homer of the season. He had three hits and scored two runs. Chase d’Arnaud was the only Indianapolis player not to reach base at least twice and he still had a single in four at-bats. Jeff Locke did not pitch well in his five innings, allowing ten hits and five runs. He now has a 4.14 ERA in nine starts with Indianapolis.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: New Hampshire 2, Altoona 1
Starting Pitcher: A.J. Morris, RHP – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Andy Vasquez, RF – 1-for-4, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Keon Broxton, CF – 1-for-5, SB
Alen Hanson, SS – 1-for-5, RBI
Live Report: Altoona lost again to New Hampshire today, 2-1 final in 12. This pushes their losing streak to nine.
Starter AJ Morris continued his, if nothing less, interesting 2014 campaign. He turned in his 4th quality start of the season, going six innings, allowing one earned run, striking out six, and only walking one. The only run he surrendered came from a Kevin Nolan homerun in the top of the 4th that bounced off of left fielder Keon Broxton into the stands.
The Curve offense erupted in comparison to the performances they’ve put on recently. Alen Hanson singled in Drew Maggi in the 8th after his leadoff double. The run ended a miserable drought of just over 30 scoreless innings from the Curve offense. New Curve addition Junior Sosa got the start in centerfield, stealing a base after reaching on a fielder’s choice in the 3rd, while Ralph Henriquez went 2-5 with 2 singles, bumping his season average to .073. As a whole, the Curve reached base ten times, eight hits and two walks, while striking out 11 times. This wasn’t a far cry from the 26 combined strikeouts in 21 innings over the previous two games of the series. – John Kokales
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 4, Clearwater 3
Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP – 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Adam Frazier, SS – 3-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Josh Bell, RF – 1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI
Walker Gourley, 1B – 2-for-4, BB, 2 SB
Game Notes: Jason Creasy bounced back from a tough start in Tampa earlier this week, to pitch his best game of the season. He allowed just two hits and a walk over six innings, picking up a season-high seven strikeouts. His entire month of May was pretty bad, with a 5.48 ERA in five starts. Creasy has had good control all season, giving up just 12 walks in 12 starts this year. Josh Bell hit his fifth homer of the season, a three-run shot in the seventh inning that came off a lefty. That’s a big deal, because Bell’s swing from the right side has been heavily criticized, so it’s good to see some production from that side. On the year, he has an .800 OPS and a team-leading 33 RBIs. The next highest total is 18 from Max Moroff. Adam Frazier reached base four times, which is another good sign to see. He has had a difficult time this season, both at the plate and in the field. Coming into today, Frazier had a .539 OPS.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Greensboro 8, West Virginia 3
Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP – 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Danny Collins, 1B – 2-for-5, HR, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
JaCoby Jones, SS – 1-for-5, RBI
Harold Ramirez, CF – 2-for-5, 2B
Game Notes: Cody Dickson continued to struggle this season, giving up four runs in 4.2 innings. The fourth round draft pick from 2013 is having a tough time in his first full season, posting a 5.19 ERA through 11 starts. Last year at Jamestown, he had a 2.37 ERA in 14 starts. The bullpen didn’t help, with Yhonathan Barrios allowing a seventh inning run and Jared LaKind giving up three runs in the eighth.
The West Virginia offense was led by Danny Collins, who hit his third homer of the season. Elvis Escobar and JaCoby Jones each drove in a run and Harold Ramirez had two hits, including his ninth double. Reese McGuire was out of the lineup for a second day in a row, putting his 19 game hit streak on hold.
RK: DSL PIRATES
The DSL Pirates were off today. They lost their season opener 13-12 in 13 innings. Top Dominican prospect Jeremias Portorreal, homered in his first game as a pro. You can check out the DSL Pirates season preview here.
