Over the last two days, we gave updates on all the players from the last two draft classes of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Today we combine the 2011-12 draft classes for two reasons. Total, the Pirates signed just 45 players from these years and due to the time that has passed, many of the players aren’t in the organization anymore. Starting with 2011, we take a look at the players still around:
1. Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh, looks like the ace they hoped they were getting with the first overall pick.
2. Josh Bell, Altoona, one of the hottest hitters in the system right now, hitting like a top prospect while learning a new position.
4. Colten Brewer, EST, surprisingly still in the system after leaving last year and being hampered by injuries from the start.
5. Tyler Glasnow, Altoona, pitching recently like he’s the top prospect in the game. He takes the mound tonight for his fifth start.
6. Dan Gamache, Altoona, really struggling at the plate(.290 OPS) and his defense is average at best.
7. Jake Burnette, West Virginia, has battled injuries since signing. Currently in the bullpen with marginal results.
8. Jason Creasy, Altoona, starting pitcher with strong results, though his command isn’t sharp, and it’s well off the great season he had last year when he walked 22 batters in 148.2 innings.
9. Clay Holmes, EST, recovering from Tommy John surgery, should return in about a month.
30. Matt Benedict, Bradenton, pitching great in the Bradenton rotation after opening the season in Altoona’s bullpen.
41. Jonathan Schwind, Altoona, currently on the DL, was being used as a bench player and he is 1-for-16 in seven games.
Released players: Taylor Lewis, Candon Myles, Josh Poytress, Alex Fuselier, Michael Jefferson, Jordan Cooper, Kirk Singer, Derek Trent, David Jagoditsh, Chris Lashmet, Rodarrick Jones
Retired: Brian Sharp, Ryan Hornback
Traded: Alex Dickerson
2012 Draft Class
1. Barrett Barnes, Bradenton, looks like a good prospect when healthy, but he is rarely healthy. Just returned to action on Monday.
2. Wyatt Mathisen, Bradenton, starting third baseman, has potential still, just has not put it all together. Injuries have also cost him some time.
5. Adrian Sampson, Indianapolis, looks like he could help the Pirates soon. Has looked very good recently. Top prospect from this year.
6. Eric Wood, Altoona, starting third baseman, struggling a bit now, though he is playing this entire season at age 22, so he is young for the level. Still has limited Major League potential.
7. Jacob Stallings, Altoona, backup catcher. Strong defensive player, isn’t hitting much, works well with pitchers.
11. Chris Diaz, Bradenton, backup infielder, 3-for-25 at the plate.
13. Thomas Harlan, Altoona, pitching in relief with very limited success. Already 25 years old, but he’s a lefty, so that helps him.
16. Max Moroff, Altoona, starting at second base, has hit well and really impressed scouts with his overall game. Still a week shy of his 22nd birthday. Has really cut down on his strikeouts.
17. Hayden Hurst, EST, failed as a pitcher mostly due to health, so he is now trying to make it as a first baseman. Early results aren’t good.
18. John Kuchno, Altoona, surprisingly moved to bullpen this year and the results are average. He is still getting a lot of grounders(2.38 GO/AO) and he’s keeping runs off the board, but he has a .283 BAA and just four strikeouts in 13.2 innings.
21. Jordan Steranka, Bradenton, 25-year-old bench player in High-A tells the story.
24. Tyler Gaffney, Restricted List, remember him? Looked real good after the draft, then returned to college for football. He is still a Pirates player if he decides to return to baseball.
25. Josh Smith, Altoona, has really struggled out of the bullpen, though he looked good in two long relief outings last week. He’s a lefty, so he will have a job in baseball for awhile.
Released: Jon Sandfort, Kevin Ross, Dalton Friend, Lance Breedlove
Retired: D.J. Crumlich, Pat Ludwig
Traded: Jimmy Rider, Kyle Haynes
Pirates Game Graph
Source: FanGraphs
Today’s Schedule
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pirates lost 7-1 to the Reds last night. Gerrit Cole gets the start tonight, his sixth of the season. The Pirates have won each of his last four starts, with the only loss coming on April 8th, when the Reds won 5-4 in extra innings. The opposing starter in that game was Mike Leake, who pitches tonight for the Reds.
In the minors, the two top active pitching prospects are on the mound and they are currently going in different directions. Nick Kingham has had some poor starts in which he ran up his pitch count and had one inning that really hurt him. He has posted a strong BB/SO ratio, but his overall results have not been up to his standards. On the other side, Tyler Glasnow has shown improved control over his last two starts and he leads the Eastern League in ERA now. He has a .158 BAA and an 0.79 WHIP. Indianapolis has an afternoon game today. You can view last night’s prospect watch here.
MLB: Pittsburgh (12-14) vs Reds (13-13) 7:05 PM
Probable starter: Gerrit Cole (1.76 ERA, 8:35 BB/SO, 30.2 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (15-11) vs Rochester (15-9) 1:35 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Nick Kingham (4.85 ERA, 7:29 BB/SO, 26.0 IP)
AA: Altoona (15-8) vs Richmond (5-17) 6:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Tyler Glasnow (0.79 ERA, 6:24 BB/SO, 22.2 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (12-13) vs Ft Myers (10-16) 6:30 PM(season preview)
Probable starter: Felipe Gonzalez (2.88 ERA, 8:15 BB/SO, 25.0 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (14-10) vs Kannapolis (10-13) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Austin Coley (2.70 ERA, 2:19 BB/SO, 20.0 IP)
Highlights
From Sunday, Josh Bell hits his second triple of the game. Bell was named the Eastern League Player of the Week last week. Through 22 games, he is hitting .360/.422/.517 and he has four triples. Bell has started this week off slow, going 0-for-8 in the last two days.
Recent Transactions
5/5: Josh Wall added to Indianapolis. Brad Lincoln assigned to WV Black Bears
5/4: Barrett Barnes assigned to Bradenton. Junior Sosa assigned to Extended Spring Training.
5/1: Jerrick Suiter placed on disabled list. Austin Coley added to WV Power roster.
5/1: Pirates sign pitcher Robert Stock.
4/29: Jaff Decker placed on disabled list. Wilkin Castillo added to Indianapolis roster.
4/27: Jeremy Bleich promoted to Altoona
4/26: John Sever added to WV Power roster. Austin Coley transferred to WV Black Bears roster.
4/25: Jonathan Schwind placed on disabled list.
4/25: Justin Sellers transferred from Bradenton to Indianapolis on rehab.
4/25: Jeremy Bleich added to Bradenton roster.
4/22: Francisco Diaz assigned to WV Black Bears roster. Kawika Emsley-Pai added to WV Power roster.
4/21: John Sever assigned to WV Black Bears roster. Jose Regalado added to West Virginia Power roster.
This Date in Pirates History
Six former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, including a member of the last World Series team. Before we get to them, one of the Pirates best known pitching performances happened on this date in 1951. Cliff Chambers threw the second complete game no-hitter in franchise history and first in 44 years. Facing the Boston Braves in the second game of a doubleheader, Chambers pitched the no-hitter despite issuing eight walks. He won 3-0 and managed to keep the Braves off the board, while only retiring the side in order three times. You can view the boxscore here.
Players born on this date include:
Alberto Lois, outfielder/pinch-runner for the 1978-79 Pirates
Dick Cole, infielder in 1951 and then 1953-56.
Earl Turner, catcher in 1948 and 1950.
Bob Chesnes, pitcher from 1948 until 1950. Pirates traded three players and $100,000 to acquired him.
Luke Boone, 1918 shortstop. Native of Pittsburgh, who collected over 2200 hits in the minors.
Ed Karger, 1906 pitcher.
