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Prospect Watch: Big Days For Tito Polo, Chase Simpson, and Reese McGuire

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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 – 1-for-3, BB

3. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – 4-for-5

4. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP

5. Alen Hanson, SS/2B, Altoona – Disabled List (8/25 Update)

6. Josh Bell, RF, Altoona – Disabled List (8/19 Update)

7. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – Disabled List (7/24 Update)

8. Cole Tucker, SS, GCL Pirates – 1-for-4, SB

9. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia – DNP

10. Mitch Keller, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP

11. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP

12. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – Disabled List (8/20 Update)

13. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP

14. Andrew Lambo, OF, Indianapolis – 2-for-4

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 – 1-for-3, 2B

20. Gage Hinsz, RHP, GCL Pirates – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

 

2014FrontCover 2014 PROSPECT GUIDE SALE!

The 2014 Prospect Guide is on sale in the Pirates Prospects store. The paperback version has dropped to $14.99 plus shipping. We currently only have one case of books remaining, and the offer is only valid while the books are in stock. There is also an eBook version available for $9.99. The 2013 Prospect Guide is on clearance for $1.

 

DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Montana DuRapau, RHP – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Tito Polo, RF – 3-for-4, 3B, HR, BB, 5 RBI

Home Runs: Chase Simpson (7), Tito Polo (3), Nathan Tomaszewski (1)

 

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS    

Box Score

Result: Indianapolis 5, Louisville 2

Starting Pitcher: A.J. Morris, RHP – 4.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Michael Martinez, 2B – 3-for-4

Other Notable Performers:

Brent Morel, 3B – 1-for-3, 2B, BB

Andrew Lambo, 1B – 2-for-4

Game Notes: A.J. Morris was roughed up a bit by a tough inning for the second straight outing since coming off the DL with Indianapolis, as he allowed a pair of runs on four hits and a pair of walks. Last start, Morris allowed three runs in the second and third inning each. Morris was only able to go four innings in the start.

Bobby LaFromboise struck out one in a perfect fifth inning in relief of Morris. Andy Oliver worked two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and three walks, while striking out four. Josh Wall struck out two in a pair of perfect innings for the save.

In his first game back in Triple-A, Gregory Polanco was 0-for-2 with a pair of walks. He missed a three-run home run by inches, as it sliced just foul. Andrew Lambo added a pair of hits. Since missing three games in a row, Lambo is 8-for-21 with three home runs in five games. – Ryan Palencer

 

AA: ALTOONA CURVE

Box Score

Result: Altoona 3, Richmond 2

Starting Pitcher: Tom Harlan, LHP – 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 2 HR

Top Hitter: Keon Broxton, CF – 2-for-3, BB

Other Notable Performers:

Stetson Allie, 1B – 1-for-3, 2B

Willy Garcia, RF – 1-for-3, BB

Stolmy Pimentel, RHP – 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HR

Game Notes: Stolmy Pimentel made another rehab appearance, throwing for the second night in a row. Usually that’s one of the final things a reliever will do before he’s done with his rehab assignment. However, with the deadline to expand rosters getting close, the Pirates could opt to keep Pimentel down in the minors on rehab assignment until September 1st. If they did bring him back, they could just option Brandon Cumpton down for a few days and bring him back up on September 2nd when the Indianapolis season ends. Willy Garcia helped Pimentel out tonight with an outfield assist, his 19th of the year. That sets a franchise record. Garcia also extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Keon Broxton continued his hot streak with two more hits, giving him his fifth multi-hit game in his last eight games. Stetson Allie hit his 16th double of the season.

 

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS   

Box Score

Result: Fort Myers 7, Bradenton 4

Starting Pitcher: Chad Kuhl, RHP – 4.2 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Eric Wood, 3B – 2-for-3, 2 2B

Other Notable Performers:

Jacob Stallings, C – 2-for-4, 2B, SB

Adam Frazier, SS – 2-for-5, 2B

Game Notes: The Marauders remain a game out of first place with tonight’s loss. They have a week remaining in the season to make up that ground and make the post season. Chad Kuhl and Ryan Hafner had rough nights, with Kuhl giving up four runs and Hafner giving up three in 2.1 innings. Eric Wood hit two doubles, giving him 26 on the year. Adam Frazier hit his 21st double of the year.

 

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER   

Box Score

Result: West Virginia 8, Lexington 2

Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Reese McGuire, C – 4-for-5

Other Notable Performers:

Erich Weiss, 2B – 3-for-5

Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 2-for-5, SB

Austin Meadows, CF – 1-for-3, BB

Game Notes: Reese McGuire had a big day at the plate, extending his hitting streak to six games with a four hit game. Erich Weiss lost his seven game hitting streak yesterday, but got back on track today with three hits. Wyatt Mathisen had his fifth multi-hit game in his last eight games. Austin Meadows extended his hitting streak to six games. Cody Dickson set a career high in strikeouts with eight. He has been on fire the last two months, with a 2.42 ERA in 52 innings, with a 46:23 K/BB ratio. This month he has a 29:11 K/BB ratio in 27.2 innings.

 

A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS   

Box Score

Result: Jamestown 4, Auburn 1

Starting Pitcher: Montana DuRapau, RHP – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Chase Simpson, 3B – 3-for-4, HR

Other Notable Performers:

Jordan Luplow, LF – 2-for-4, 2B

Tyler Filliben, SS – 2-for-4

Game Notes: Chase Simpson continued his recent hot streak, extending his hitting streak to nine games. As I joked yesterday, he has been on fire during the Simpsons Marathon, now hitting 13-for-24 in that span, with two homers and four doubles. The home run tonight was the seventh of the season for Simpson. From a prospect standpoint, the hitting is good to see, but doesn’t guarantee future success. Simpson has an .868 OPS in 166 at-bats, but was a college senior, so success at this level should be expected. He does have an interesting background, as he didn’t get much playing time while he was in college, due to multiple transfers between schools. He was described as having power from both sides of the plate, although that power didn’t show up in college. It’s probably too early to say that this is the power finally showing up. What we’re seeing now is just a good sign that might get Simpson a chance at High-A next season.

 

RK: BRISTOL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Bristol 6, Elizabethton 5

Starting Pitcher: Marek Minarik, RHP – 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Chris Harvey, C – 3-for-4

Other Notable Performers:

Enyel Vallejo, CF – 2-for-4, 2B

Nick Buckner, DH – 2-for-4

Nathan Tomaszewski, 1B – 1-for-4, HR

Game Notes: Nathan Tomaszewski hit his first home run of the year for Bristol. Enyel Vallejo hit his 12th double of the year. He had been struggling this month, with a .483 OPS prior to tonight’s game. Chris Harvey picked up three hits, extending his hitting streak to seven games. He has five multi-hit games during that span. Harvey had a .796 OPS prior to this game.

 

RK: GCL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Pirates 7, Blue Jays 3

Starting Pitcher: Gage Hinsz, RHP – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Tito Polo, RF – 3-for-4, 3B, HR, BB, 5 RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Cole Tucker, SS – 1-for-4, SB

Carlos Munoz, 1B – 1-for-3, 2 BB

Sam Kennelly, 2B – 3-for-5, 2B

Hayden Hurst, DH – 2-for-5

Game Notes: Gage Hinsz made his third pro appearance, and the best appearance yet. He gave up one run on four hits and two walks in four innings, with five strikeouts. Hinsz had thrown four innings in his previous two outings, and combined for two walks and two strikeouts in those appearances. This will be the final outing of the year, with the season ending this week. Tito Polo had a career day, just needing a double for the cycle. He did hit his third homer of the year, and now has a .299/.382/.487 line in 154 at-bats. Cole Tucker stole his 12th base of the year, and reached base safely in his 9th straight game. Carlos Munoz walked twice, giving him a 15:27 K/BB ratio on the season. He has reached base safely for 13 straight games.

 

RK: DSL PIRATES

The DSL season is now over. You can read the DSL Pirates week 12 recap here. We will have a season recap on Thursday.

Tim Williams
Tim Williams
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.

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