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 – Will be called up to the majors Tuesday.
2. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
3. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (5/30 Update)
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – DNP
5. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – DNP
6. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – 0-for-4
7. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – 0-for-3, BB
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power – DNP
9. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – 1-for-4
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-4
16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, Extended Spring Training – DNP
17. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, West Virginia – 1-for-4
18. Jin-De Jhang, C, Bradenton – 1-for-3, 2B, BB
19. Stetson Allie, 1B, Altoona – DNP
20. Mel Rojas Jr., CF- Indianapolis – 1-for-3, BB
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: Adrian Valerio, SS – 2-for-4, 2B, HR, BB
Home Runs: Adrian Valerio (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 3, Lehigh Valley 1
Starting Pitcher: Jay Jackson, RHP – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Chris Dickerson, CF – 1-for-2, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Mel Rojas, LF – 1-for-3, BB
Game Notes: Jay Jackson put together another strong start for Indianapolis. Since returning to the rotation on May 30, Jackson has pitched 16 innings and allowed just three earned runs on 12 hits in three starts. In those outing Jackson has struck out 18 hitters, while walking just six.
Wirfin Obispo struck out three hitter and walked another in a scoreless inning, his first scoreless appearance in Indianapolis. Andy Oliver worked a perfect ninth inning to pick up his fifth save of the season. Oliver only has one walk since May 19. Over that stretch, he has struck out 11 batters.
Mel Rojas Jr. added an RBI single and has a hit in nine of his first games in Triple-A. Over the span, Rojas is 12-for-33. – Ryan Palencer
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona was off today.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 5, Charlotte 1
Starting Pitcher: John Kuchno, RHP – 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jeff Roy, CF – 3-for-4, 2 SB
Other Notable Performers:
Adam Frazier, SS – 3-for-5, 2B
Jin-De Jhang, C – 1-for-3, 2B, BB
Game Notes: John Kuchno has been on fire lately. The right-hander has a 1.71 ERA in 21 innings over his last three starts, throwing seven innings during each outing. He has walked just five in that span, after walking 26 in his first 43.2 innings. Adam Frazier picked up three hits, extending his hitting streak to seven games. Jeff Roy also had a three hit night, and stole two bases, giving him 18 stolen bases on the year. Jin-De Jhang’s bat is heating up, with a hit in seven of his last eight games.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Greensboro 10, West Virginia 2
Starting Pitcher: Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP – 3.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Erich Weiss, 2B – 2-for-4, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 1-for-4
Harold Ramirez, CF – 1-for-4
Shane Carle, RHP – 3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Dovydas Neverauskas had a rough start tonight, only lasting three innings. Shane Carle came on in relief, which could be a sign that he’s moving to the bullpen or a piggyback role now that Luis Heredia is back in West Virginia. Since Reese McGuire lost his 19-game hitting streak, he has gone 1-for-20. Harold Ramirez has a modest five game hitting streak, and has hits in eight of his last nine games. Erich Weiss had his second straight multi-hit day. He has a .318/.425/.412 line in 211 at-bats this season.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 10, Tigers 4
Starting Pitcher: Yeudy Garcia, RHP – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Adrian Valerio, SS – 2-for-4, 2B, HR, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Yunelky Adames, 1B – 3-for-4, 2 3B
Edison Lantigua, LF – 1-for-3, 2 BB, 2 SB
Game Notes: The DSL Pirates won for just the second time all season and it took five shutout innings from starter Yeudy Garcia and ten runs from the offense to accomplish that. The start from the 21-year-old Garcia was a huge improvement over his pro debut last week when he allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings. On Monday, he gave up just two hits, no walks and he hit two batters.
The offense was led by prized shortstop Adrian Valerio, who hit a sixth inning grand slam. His stellar defense is his calling card, while the bat has two question marks, so it’s nice to see him hit his first career homer, plus add a double and a walk. First baseman Yunelky Adames added four RBI’s on two triples and a single. He is 23 years old (24 in August), so his prospect status has passed him by already. Top prospect Jeremias Portorreal had two walks and scored two runs, while another big prospect, Edison Lantigua, went 1-for-3 with two walks and two stolen bases. Victor Fernandez stole his fifth base of the season. A recap of the first full week in the DSL can be read here. – John Dreker
You can check out the DSL Pirates season preview here.
