TOP OF THE SYSTEM
A look at how the current top 30 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, 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 30 active prospects on the list. Rankings are from early season update, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Altoona – DNP
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
3. Austin Meadows, CF, Bradenton – 1-for-4
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 3-for-7, 3B
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 2-for-4
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – 4-for-6, BB, 2 SB
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 1-for-3, BB
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – 0-for-3
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Extended Spring Training
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Extended Spring Training
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, Extended Spring Training
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 0-for-3
14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
15. Trey Supak, RHP, Extended Spring Training
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Extended Spring Training
17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Extended Spring Training
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Altoona – 1-for-4, 3 K
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 0-for-3, 3 K
23. Connor Joe, 1B/3B – Extended Spring Training
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 0-for-3
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – 1-for-7
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Extended Spring Training
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Extended Spring Training
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – 0-for-3
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Zack Dodson, LHP – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, 2B – 4-for-6, BB, 2 SB
Home Runs: Pablo Reyes (2)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Louisville 3, Indianapolis 2
Starting Pitcher: Casey Sadler, RHP – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Steve Lombardozzi, RF – 2-for-4, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Alen Hanson, 2B – 1-for-3, BB
Tony Sanchez, C – 1-for-2, BB
Game Notes: Casey Sadler pitched a complete game in the first game of this double-header. He didn’t have the best control, walking three batters in six innings. He also gave up his first homer of the year in the minors. Sadler now has a 2.84 ERA through three starts. The surprising thing so far is that his GO/AO ratio is 0.95, which is unusually low for a ground ball pitcher.
Result: Indianapolis 2, Louisville 1
Starting Pitcher: Charlie Leesman, LHP – 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, 2B – 3-for-3, 2 SB
Other Notable Performers:
Pedro Florimon, SS – 1-for-3, SB
John Holdzkom, RHP – 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Blake Wood, RHP – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Alen Hanson had a big day at the plate, with a big game here. He’s had his typical April struggles, but could be coming out of that, going 10-for-31 in his last seven games. Last year Hanson struggled with a .607 OPS in April. The year before it was a .654 OPS. The exception to this trend was his breakout 2012 season, which featured his best month of the year in April. For some reason the last few years he has struggled in the first month, only to see his hitting pick up the rest of the year. John Holdzkom labored again, needing 15 pitches to get two outs, and allowing an inherited runner to score.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Akron 5, Altoona 4
Starting Pitcher: Zack Dodson, LHP – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Josh Bell, 1B – 3-for-7, 3B
Other Notable Performers:
Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-6, 2B, BB
Keon Broxton, CF – 2-for-7
Game Notes: Altoona starters began the season with 15 straight games of allowing one or fewer runs, only to see that streak snapped yesterday. They got back on track today with Zack Dodson throwing six shutout innings. Dodson has now gone 18 innings this year without giving up an earned run. He has just two strikeouts on the year, which isn’t a number that will lead to more success in the future. Tonight was Dodson’s second start in a row against Akron, and the second time he went six shutout against them. He didn’t need a good breaking pitch last time to put them away, but will need it against other teams in the future. Max Moroff extended his hitting streak to nine games, and Josh Bell picked up a triple, while having his fourth multi-hit game in his last five games.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Charlotte 3, Bradenton 1
Starting Pitcher: Matt Benedict, RHP – 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Reese McGuire, C – 2-for-4
Other Notable Performers:
Jose Osuna, RF – 2-for-4
Austin Meadows, CF – 1-for-4
Game Notes: Reese McGuire got off to a good start early this month at the plate, but has been slumping recently. Prior to tonight, he was on a 4-for-36 run, with only one extra base hit and one walk. That’s after starting off by going 9-for-22 with three doubles and two walks. McGuire has strong defense, but his bat isn’t fully developed yet, and will be something to watch this year. Meanwhile, McGuire’s fellow 2013 first round pick Austin Meadows has been strong, reaching base safely in 16 of 17 games, with a hit in 13 of those games. He’s hitting for average and getting on base, but not hitting for much power so far.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Hagerstown 6, West Virginia 2
Starting Pitcher: Alex McRae, RHP – 4.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Pablo Reyes, 2B – 1-for-2, 2B, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Cole Tucker, SS – 1-for-3, BB
Michael Suchy, RF – 1-for-1, BB, SB
Tito Polo, CF – 1-for-3
Game Notes: The Power lost the regularly scheduled game, 6-2. Starter Alex McRae got hit very hard, allowing ten hits and numerous hard-hit outs, along with all six runs, in four innings. Jake Burnette allowed three of them to score after coming on in the 5th with the bases loaded and no out. The West Virginia hitters, meanwhile, were baffled by two struggling non-prospects, lefty starter Connor Bach and righty reliever David Ramos. Both came in with, among other things, low strikeout rates, but they managed to fan 13 Power hitters in just seven innings. Jordan Luplow, Taylor Gushue, Chase Simpson and Jerrick Suiter went a combined 0-10 with two walks and nine strikeouts. Cole Tucker walked and hit three line drives, although two were caught, but he got caught stealing and picked off the two times he reached base. Reyes was 1-2 with a walk and a long double. – Wilbur Miller
Result: West Virginia 10, Hagerstown 2
Starting Pitcher: Miguel Rosario, RHP – 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Trace Tam Sing, SS – 2-for-3, 2B, 3B, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Pablo Reyes, 2B – 1-for-3, HR
Elvis Escobar, CF – 2-for-3, 2B, BB
Chase Simpson, 1B – 1-for-2, 2 BB
Game Notes: West Virginia won the completion of a suspended game with Hagerstown, 10-2. The game was suspended two weeks ago in Charleston with the Suns leading after an inning and a half, 1-0. Upon resuming play in Hagerstown, the Power exploded for ten runs in the first three innings. Trace Tam Sing had a double, triple and four RBIs, and Pablo Reyes lined an opposite field HR, his second. Elvis Escobar had two hits and a walk, and Chase Simpson reached base three times and scored three times. The only Power hitter who failed to reach base was Tito Polo. Miguel Rosario, who worked two innings in the original game, returned and finished out a disjointed, seven-inning complete game. He allowed only four hits, walked three and fanned five. – Wilbur Miller
