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 – 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
2. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – 1-for-4
3. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – 2-for-4
4. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
5. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – 3-for-5, 2 RBI
6. Josh Bell, RF, Altoona – 0-for-2, 2 BB, R (Promoted to Altoona)
7. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – Disabled List (7/7 Update)
8. Cole Tucker, SS, GCL Pirates – 0-for-4
9. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP
11. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Altoona – DNP
12. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 0-for-5
13. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
14. Andrew Lambo, OF, Indianapolis – 1-for-4
15. Joely Rodriguez, LHP, Altoona – 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, GCL Pirates – 0-for-3, BB
17. Trey Supak, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP
18. Buddy Borden, RHP, West Virginia – DNP
19. Stetson Allie, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-3, 2 RBI
20. Gage Hinsz, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Raul Fortunato, RF – 2-for-6, HR, 2B, 6 RBI
Home Runs: Keon Broxton (8), Kevin Krause (6), Raul Fortunato (4)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 1, Columbus 0
Starting Pitcher: Brandon Cumpton, RHP – 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Dean Anna, 2B – 0-for-1, RBI, 2 BB
Other Notable Performers:
Tony Sanchez, C – 1-for-3, 2B, BB
Andrew Lambo, DH – 1-for-4
Jose Tabata, RF – 1-for-4
Game Notes: Brandon Cumpton came out of the All-Star break strong, by allowing just two hits over eight innings. While Cumpton walked four hitters, two of them came in the first inning. Cumpton also struck out three. This was Cumpton’s first Triple-A start since July 4, when he allowed four runs on eight hits.
Josh Wall worked a scoreless ninth to pick up his first save of the season. He allowed one hit, while striking out a pair.
In his first game back in Triple-A since May 4, Andrew Lambo picked up a sharply hit single. Tony Sanchez picked up a double, extending his six-game hit streak. Over the span, he is 9-for-19 with four doubles. – Ryan Palencer
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Bowie 8, Altoona 6
Starting Pitcher: Orlando Castro, LHP – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, SS – 3-for-5, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Josh Bell, RF- 0-for-2, 2 BB, R
Stetson Allie, 1B – 1-for-3, 2 RBI
Keon Broxton, CF – 2-for-4, HR, RBI
Game Notes: Josh Bell made his Altoona debut, and while he didn’t pick up a hit, he drew two walks and scored a run. Alen Hanson was the big man on offense, collecting three hits and driving in two runs. Keon Broxton hit his eighth homer and Stetson Allie drove in two runs.
Orlando Castro had a rough first outing in AA last week and it looked like he was about to repeat that performance in his second game. Castro gave up two first inning runs, with three Bowie hits to open up the game. He ended up allowing just one more run the rest of his five innings and left with a 5-3 lead. Joely Rodriguez followed Castro, making his first relief appearance of the year. He was moved to the bullpen during the All-Star break, with no timetable set for how long he will remain in that role. Rodriguez took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk in 3.2 innings.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 7, Clearwater 2
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow, RHP – 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Raul Fortunato, RF – 1-for-3, 2B, 4 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Eric Wood, 3B – 1-for-2, RBI, BB
Adam Frazier, SS – 1-for-4, RBI
Live Report: Tyler Glasnow had some trouble in the first inning, throwing 26 pitches and giving up most of his damage on the night. The inning was extended with an error, leading to two unearned runs. He rebounded, getting 15 outs in a row from the first inning until two outs in the sixth inning. That’s when Glasnow gave up a single and a walk, and was pulled for Yhonathan Barrios, who got the final out. Glasnow threw 98 pitches, with 58 strikes. He was 93-96 MPH with his fastball, mostly hitting 94-95 and touching 97. He looked great after the shaky first.
Barrios topped out at 97 MPH with his fastball, pitching the final 1.1 innings to close out the game. Raul Fortunato broke the game open in the fourth inning with a three RBI double off the left field wall. – Tim Williams
Result: Clearwater 7, Bradenton 4
Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP – 4.0 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Raul Fortunato, RF – 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Jin-De Jhang, C – 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
Adam Frazier, SS – 1-for-4, SB
Live Report: Jason Creasy entered the outing with 33.2 straight innings without giving up a walk. He continued that streak, adding four more innings to the total. However, the lack of walks was the only thing going for him. Creasy had a long inning in the third, giving up four runs. He returned for the fourth inning, and had another long inning. He was giving up a lot of hits, and while some were grounders through the infield, a few of them were harder hit balls. That’s different than the results in his starts over the last month and a half. He was 88-92 MPH, touching 94, but mostly sitting in the low 90s.
Raul Fortunato continued his strong night on offense, crushing a home run to left field that cleared the bleachers at McKechnie. It was the fourth homer of the year for the outfielder. Fortunato has hits in eight of his last nine games, and has reached base safely in nine straight. The homer brought the Marauders to within three runs, but also was their last scoring of the night. – Tim Williams
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Hagerstown 3, West Virginia 2
Starting Pitcher: Luis Heredia, RHP – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Danny Collins, RF – 3-for-3, 2B, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers:
JaCoby Jones, SS – 0-for-5
Austin Meadows, CF – 1-for-4
Reese McGuire, DH – 2-for-4
Game Notes: Luis Heredia had a strong outing, giving up two runs over six innings. He did that without picking up a single strikeout. Heredia has a 26/22 BB/SO ratio this season in 47.2 innings. This game was the third time he went six innings this year. JaCoby Jones has been playing great as of late, but Thursday definitely wasn’t his night. He went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts and his ninth inning fielding error allowed the walk-off run to score. Reese McGuire had two hits and scored a run. Danny Collins reached base all four times up. Chris Diaz drove in both West Virginia runs.
A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS
Result: Jamestown 8, Brooklyn 6
Starting Pitcher: Marek Minarik, RHP – 1.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Kevin Ross, 1B – 4-for-5, 2 2B, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Carl Anderson, LF – 3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI
Jordan Luplow, RF – 1-for-4, 2 BB
Game Notes: Starter Marek Minarik put Jamestown in an early 5-0 hole, but they quickly rallied with four runs in the third inning. They ended up winning the game in the tenth inning by an 8-6 score. Four relievers combined to allow one run over 8.1 innings. First baseman Kevin Ross had four hits, including two doubles and he drove in a run. He is hitting .341 through 21 games, though he is doing it without drawing a single walk all year. Carl Anderson had three hits and two doubles. Kevin Krause hit his sixth homer of the season. Elvis Escobar had a forgettable night, going 0-for-6 with five strikeouts. Jamestown had 15 strikeouts in the game, while their pitchers also picked up 11 strikeouts.
RK: BRISTOL PIRATES
Result: Bristol 3, Danville 2
Starting Pitcher: Omar Basulto, LHP – 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Nick Buckner, RF – 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Danny Arribas, 1B – 1-for-4, RBI
Candon Myles, LF – 1-for-3, BB, SB
Eduardo Figueroa, CF – 2-for-5, 2B
Game Notes: Bristol got great pitching from two players that have looked good all season. Starter Omar Basulto threw 4.1 scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 1.59 through 22.2 innings. Reliever Luis Paula followed him and picked up his first career win with 2.2 shutout innings of his own. Paula, who was drafted in the 31st round this year, has opened his career with 10.2 shutout innings. Nick Buckner continued his recent hot streak with two hits, a double and an RBI. He has a seven game hit streak in which he has 14 hits and nine RBIs.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Yankees2 6, Pirates 2
Starting Pitcher: Jake Burnette, RHP – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Tito Polo, RF – 0-for-1, 2 BB, 2 R
Other Notable Performers:
Julio de la Cruz, 3B – 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
Eric Thomas Jr, LF – 0-for-1, 2 BB
Cole Tucker, SS – 0-for-4
Michael de la Cruz, CF – 0-for-3, BB
Game Notes: The Pirates got strong starting pitching from rehabbing Jake Burnette, but reliever Neil Kozikowski got hit around hard in the fourth inning, giving up all six runs to the Yankees2. Kozikowski was drafted in the eighth round last year and signed for a $425k bonus, which was a bit surprising because he was a virtual unknown in high school, unranked by most draft experts. He is struggling in his return to the GCL this year, with a 10.26 ERA and 30 hits allowed in 16.2 innings. Tito Polo walked twice in three plate appearances and scored both runs. While Polo has been the best hitter this year, the top two prospects have both struggled, one only recently, while the other has had problems all year. Michael de la Cruz is still drawing his share of walks, 12 in 15 games, but he’s batting just .111 in 36 at-bats. First round pick Cole Tucker is 2-for-24 in his last eight games and his average has dropped to .245 after starting the year with 12 hits in his first eight games.
Result: Yankees2 7, Pirates 0
Starting Pitcher: Dario Agrazal Jr., RHP – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Alexis Bastardo, LF – 2-for-2, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Nelson Jorge, 2B – 1-for-3
Game Notes: The Pirates lost both ends of the doubleheader, getting shutout in game two. Starter Dario Agrazal Jr had a decent outing, allowing two runs over five innings. He gave up his first homer and first walks of the season. In 22.2 innings over five starts, he has a 2.78 ERA. Reliever Jesus Paredes came in during the sixth inning and gave up five runs, while recording just one out. The Pirates had just three base runners all game, a single by Nelson Jorge and two hits by Alexis Bastardo, who collected his second double of the year. Bastardo has only played four games(including both today) due to a sore shoulder, but when he’s healthy, he’s a strong hitter, that plays solid defense, with above average speed and a plus arm.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 7, Rangers2 0
Starting Pitcher: Luis Escobar, RHP – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jhoan Herrera, 3B – 2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Eliezer Ramirez, RF – 2-for-3
Edison Lantigua, LF – 2-for-4, 3B, BB
Game Notes: The DSL Pirates shutout a good Rangers2 team, to move within five games of the .500 mark. Just a few weeks ago, after a loss to the Rangers2, the Pirates dropped to 6-17 on the season, but since then they have run off a 12-6 record. Starter Luis Escobar picked up his first career win with five shutout innings. He also threw five scoreless frames two starts ago and since giving up ten earned runs in his second pro start, he has allowed ten earned runs in his last seven starts combined. The Pirates had help on offense from all nine starters, only All-Star Raul Siri failed to get a hit and he drew a walk, scored a run and laid down a sacrifice bunt. Catcher Mikell Granberry drove in two runs, while third baseman Jhoan Herrera had two doubles and an RBI. Edison Lantigua had two hits, including his fourth triple. Eliezer Ramirez saw his first action this week and had two hits.
You can check out the DSL Pirates week six recap here.
