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, Bristol – 0-for-4
3. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – DNP
4. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
5. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – 0-for-4, BB
6. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – 0-for-3, BB
7. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – Disabled List (7/7 Update)
8. Cole Tucker, SS, GCL Pirates – Injured
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 – DNP
13. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
14. Andrew Lambo, OF, GCL Pirates – DNP (Rehab 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 – 3-for-5, 2B, RBI
20. Gage Hinsz, RHP, GCL Pirates – Agreed to Terms
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Robert Andino, SS – 3-for-6, 2B, 2 BB, 2 RBI
Home Runs: Tony Sanchez (6), Gift Ngoepe (6), Barrett Barnes (2), Mel Rojas Jr (2)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 1, Columbus 0
Starting Pitcher: Nick Kingham, RHP – 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Mel Rojas Jr, LF – 0-for-1, 2 BB, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Jose Tabata, RF – 1-for-3, 2B
Tony Sanchez, C – 0-for-2, BB
Game Notes: Outside of his last start, Nick Kingham has been nearly perfect. This trend carried over into Thursday and almost became literal. Minor League doubleheaders are played at seven inning affairs and Kingham was four outs away from a perfect game. Though he ran into trouble with two singles and a walk in the frame, Kingham rebounded to get out of it. While his fastball was between 91-93, Kingham dominated with his changeup, which was between 84-87.
Andy Oliver struck out two in a perfect seventh inning to pick up his 11th save in as many opportunities. Oliver has only walked one hitter since walking three on June 21. He has walked 26 in 45 innings this season, while striking out 57.
Indianapolis managed to muster only a pair of hits itself, but Mel Rojas, Jr. walked to push Robert Andino across the plate in the bottom of the sixth to earn Kingham the win. – Ryan Palencer
Result: Indianapolis 14, Columbus 2
Starting Pitcher: Vin Mazzaro, RHP – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Robert Andino, SS – 3-for-4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Mel Rojas Jr, RF – 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
Tony Sanchez, DH – 1-for-3, BB, HR, 3 RBI
Brent Morel, 3B – 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Chase d’Arnaud, CF – 3-for-4, BB, 3 R
Game Notes: After a rocky start, Vin Mazzaro rebounded nicely. He allowed two runs on four hits in the first and tossed three perfect innings after that. Mazzaro struck out his last three and four of the last five hitters the outing. This was Mazzaro’s first start of the year with Indianapolis after 16 relief appearances.
In his second Triple-A appearance of his career, John Holdzkom tossed three scoreless, one-hit innings. He walked one and struck out two, working with an impressive 95 mile per hour fastball. He also works in a splitter.
Robert Andino added three hits, including a double. Despite only sporting a season average just over .200, Andino does have a trio of three-hit games. In his last four games, Andino is 7-for-14 with a double and a triple.
Chase d’Arnaud also added three hits and three runs. Mel Rojas, Jr. picked up his second home run of the campaign. Tony Sanchez added his sixth home run of the season.- Ryan Palencer
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Erie 12, Altoona 6
Starting Pitcher: Joan Montero, RHP – 2.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Stetson Allie, 1B – 3-for-5, 2B, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Gift Ngoepe, 2B – 1-for-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI
Alen Hanson, SS – 0-for-4, BB
Game Notes: Altoona lost bad on Thursday night to Erie, giving up 12 runs and finishing the game with utility fielder Andy Vasquez on the mound. There was some good from Stetson Allie on this night, a carryover from his big game yesterday. He had his second straight three hit day, collecting an RBI and double in each game. Allie had gone hitless in his previous three games, striking out a total of seven times in nine at-bats. Drew Maggi and Carlos Paulino each had two hits and a walk. Gift Ngoepe hit his sixth homer of the season, a two-run shot in the sixth inning.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 4, St. Lucie 1
Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP – 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Adam Frazier, SS – 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Jin-De Jhang, C – 1-for-4, RBI, SB
Josh Bell, RF – 0-for-3, BB
Game Notes: Jason Creasy pitched a gem on Thursday, allowing just four singles over seven shutout innings. The last time he faced St Lucie(11 days ago), he gave up just one run over six innings. Creasy has not issued a walk in his last five outings, a total of 32.2 innings. He lowered his ERA to 3.29 through 98.1 innings. Creasy is just ten innings shy of his 2013 total. Everyone in the Bradenton lineup reached base at least once and five different players had a stolen base. Adam Frazier and Jin-De Jhang each drove in a run and Justin Maffei had two hits, scored a run and stole a base.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
West Virginia had their game stopped by rain in the top of the fifth inning. They were one out away from the game being an official game, which would have given the Power a 3-0 victory had they kept Greensboro off the board. The game will be completed Friday prior to the start of the regularly scheduled game, which is now a seven inning contest.
A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS
Result: Tri-City 4, Jamestown 3
Starting Pitcher: Frank Duncan, RHP – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Taylor Gushue, DH – 1-for-3, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Andrew Lambo, 1B – 1-for-2, BB
Jordan Luplow, LF – 1-for-4
Game Notes: Jamestown lost for the tenth time in a row on Thursday, dropping another one run game to Tri-City. Andrew Lambo had his rehab assignment moved from the GCL Pirates to Jamestown. He went 2-for-13 with a homer and four walks in four games in the GCL. He had a single, sacrifice bunt and a walk in four plate appearances on Thursday. Lambo has been playing both first base and right field. Starter Frank Duncan pitched well, allowing one run over five innings. Four Jamestown pitchers combined for a 1/12 BB/SO ratio in the game.
RK: BRISTOL PIRATES
Result: Bluefield 4, Bristol 0
Starting Pitcher: Hector Garcia, LHP – 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Eduardo Figueroa, LF – 2-for-3, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Trae Arbet, SS – 2-for-3, 2B
Austin Meadows, CF – 0-for-4
Game Notes: Austin Meadows continued to slump during his rehab with Bristol, going 0-for-4 tonight, which leaves him 1-for-14 in five games. In two games with the GCL Pirates, he reached base in every plate appearance. Bristol continued their woeful season, dropping to 4-15 with a 4-0 loss to Bluefield. Starter Hector Garcia allowed one run over four innings. His last outing was cut short after one batter due to rain. Reliever Luis Paula threw two shutout innings. In six appearances, the 31st round draft pick has thrown eight scoreless innings, giving up four hits.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 6, Blue Jays 1
Starting Pitcher: Dario Agrazal Jr., RHP – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Carlos Munoz, 1B – 1-for-1, 2B, 4 BB, 2 R
Other Notable Performers:
Barrett Barnes, CF – 1-for-4, HR, RBI, BB
Tito Polo, RF – 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Julio de la Cruz, 3B – 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Game Notes: Starter Dario Agrazal Jr. allowed two hits and a run in the first inning today, then retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced. After giving up three earned runs over 3.2 innings in his season debut, Agrazal has allowed two earned runs over 14 innings in his last three starts. The Pirates had 12 hits and six walks, with everyone in the lineup getting at least one hit. They came to the plate 22 times in the game with at least one runner in scoring position, but managed to score just six runs. First baseman Carlos Munoz reached base in all five plate appearances. Barrett Barnes played nine innings for the first time on his rehab assignment and he hit his second homer for the GCL Pirates. Shortstop Nelson Jorge struck out twice, giving him 23 strikeouts in his first 42 at-bats in the pros. He was the Pirates seventh round draft pick this year. Center fielder Michael de la Cruz didn’t play on Thursday, his 18th birthday.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Cubs 4, Pirates 3
Starting Pitcher: Francis Rodriguez, RHP – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jeremias Portorreal, LF – 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Edison Lantigua, LF – 2-for-4, RBI
Adrian Valerio, SS – 1-for-4, 2B, BB
Game Notes: Due to a high pitch count early, starter Francis Rodriguez lasted just two innings, giving up one run. Reliever Carlos Bustamante went four innings for the second time in his last three outings, a high inning total for a reliever in the DSL. Five Pirates pitchers combined to allow nine walks, while recording just two strikeouts. The Cubs attempted ten stolen bases in the game and they were successful on six of them. On Wednesday, the three highest priced players from the 2013 July 2nd signing period, were all given the day off. They were all in the lineup on Thursday and contributed to the offense. Adrian Valerio had a double, walk and scored a run. Edison Lantigua had two hits and an RBI. Jeremias Portorreal had a double, walk and RBI.
You can check out the DSL Pirates week five recap here.
