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 – Disabled List
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
3. Austin Meadows, CF, Bradenton – 1-for-3, BB
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 2-for-4, SB
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – DNP
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – 1-for-4, 2B
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 2-for-5, 2 SB
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – DNP
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Extended Spring Training
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – DNP
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 1-for-4
14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
15. Trey Supak, RHP, Extended Spring Training
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Extended Spring Training
17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Bradenton – 1-for-4, 2B
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Altoona – 1-for-3, 3B, BB
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 1-for-4, 2B
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – 1-for-3, 2 BB
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 0-for-3, BB
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – 1-for-3, 2B, BB, SB
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Extended Spring Training
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – DNP
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Angel Sanchez, RHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Keon Broxton, LF – 2-for-4, HR
Home Runs: Keon Broxton (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 5, Toledo 4
Starting Pitcher: Clayton Richard, LHP – 7.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Keon Broxton, LF – 2-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Alen Hanson, 2B – 1-for-4, 2B
Steve Lombardozzi, DH – 2-for-4
Brent Morel, 3B – 1-for-4, 3B
Game Notes: After allowing just one base runner through the first six innings, Clayton Richard allowed three in the sixth before giving up a grand slam. Richard was much sharper in this outing with locating the fastball. He was strong down in the zone, picking up 16 ground outs to only a pair of fly outs. Richard was in the 90-92 range with the fastball and the breaking ball got stronger as the outing went along.
Brad Lincoln relieved Richard and allowed a hit, while picking up a strikeout in his inning of work. Blake Wood worked the ninth for his 13th save of the season.
Keon Broxton picked up a home run and a single, while scoring twice in his Triple-A debut. Alen Hanson picked up a double in the ninth in the comeback effort. – Ryan Palencer
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 2, Binghamton 1
Starting Pitcher: Angel Sanchez, RHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-3, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Josh Bell, 1B – 2-for-4, SB
Adam Frazier, SS – 1-for-3, 2B, BB, SB
Willy Garcia, CF-LF – 1-for-3, 3B, BB
Jose Osuna, LF – 1-for-4, 2B
Game Notes: Angel Sanchez threw a great game, as he was able to save the Curve’s taxed bullpen by going seven strong innings and only allowing one run. In each inning after and including the fourth, Sanchez was able to strike out the final batter for the third out. In the fourth specifically, he struck out two batters with runners in scoring position to end the threat.
Sanchez was able to locate all of his pitches tonight, and his curve ball was particularly impressive since he was able to locate it on the corners for strikes. He only started developing a curve ball late last year with Pitching Coach Justin Meccage in the AFL, so a strong curve ball is a welcomed sign for Sanchez’s development. He ended up throwing 100 pitches with 63 for strikes.
Josh Bell and Max Moroff had the Curve’s RBIs tonight, with each of them finishing the night with two hits. Bell was able to rip a ball to center field, and Adam Frazier scored from second after a double down the left field line. Moroff found a hole to left field with Frazier on second again to score the run.
Willy Garcia started in center field for the second time this year after Keon Broxton being called up to Triple-A. Garcia legged out a triple to the left center gap in the bottom of the sixth. Jose Osuna made his Double-A debut tonight and doubled to left field in the eighth inning. – Sean McCool
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Dayton 10, Bradenton 1
Starting Pitcher: Frank Duncan, RHP – 2.2 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Erich Weiss, 2B – 2-for-4
Other Notable Performers:
Austin Meadows, CF – 1-for-3, BB
Barrett Barnes, LF – 1-for-4, 2B
Jin-De Jhang, C – 1-for-4, 2B
Justin Maffei, RF – 2-for-3
Game Notes: Bradenton got in a hole early tonight, when Frank Duncan was tagged for eight runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings of work. This wasn’t the best time for this to happen with Duncan, since the impending returns of Clay Holmes and Tyler Eppler in a few weeks will lead to a few rotation spots that will need to be cleared.
The offense picked up a lot of hits, but couldn’t do much to bring anyone around to score, leaving seven men on base throughout the game. Jin-De Jhang was one of those left on base, showing off his power with a deep double that might have been a home run in another league with a better atmosphere.
JaCoby Jones and Wyatt Mathisen had their signals crossed on a few plays tonight, or more accurately, they didn’t have any signals at all. There were two plays where Jones was charging in for a ball, Mathisen was charging over to his left, and both met at the ball, with no clear idea of who was making the play. After the game, Bradenton manager Michael Ryan said that those plays were on Jones, and that he needed to take charge of the infield, since that’s the shortstop’s job. He did show exceptional range on a play deep up the middle, fielding the ball and making an ill-advised spinning throw in the process. The throw went wild into the stands, leading to an extra base and his tenth error of the year. However, the range displayed was a positive sign.
Reese McGuire has been out the last few games after leaving a game earlier this week following his first at-bat. McGuire didn’t hustle down to first base, and was benched for a few days as a result. This is a common occurence in the Pirates’ system, and seems to happen to pretty much every young player at least once. He will return to the lineup and return behind the plate tomorrow. – Tim Williams
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 7, Delmarva 3
Starting Pitcher: Yeudy Garcia, RHP – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Cole Tucker, SS – 2-for-5, 2 SB
Other Notable Performers:
Connor Joe, 1B – 1-for-3, 2 BB
Tito Polo, LF – 1-for-3, 2B, BB, SB
Jordan Luplow, 3B – 1-for-4, 2B, BB
Elvis Escobar, CF – 2-for-4, SB
Game Notes: Yeudy Garcia didn’t have his best stuff on Friday night, but the West Virginia bats gave him all the runs he would need in the first inning. Garcia was in trouble in the second inning and then again in the third, which got long reliever Jose Regalado warming up. Garcia came into the game with no earned runs allowed over his last 24.2 innings, dating back to an April 26th relief outing. He gave up two runs in the third and another in the fifth, which was his last inning of the night. Garcia had an 0.97 WHIP coming into the game, but gave up seven hits and three walks. He threw 73 pitches, 43 for strikes. While he was off his game, he still got some key strikeouts and ground balls in big spots. Garcia had a 6:1 GO/AO ratio on the night.
Jose Regalado finished the game with four shutout innings for his second save. He has become the piggy-back reliever for Garcia, relieving him in all four of his starts and picking up four inning saves in the last two games.
The offense exploded in the first with five runs and by the end of the night, everyone in the lineup had at least one hit. Elvis Escobar, Cole Tucker and Kawika Emsley-Pai each had two hits. For Escobar, it was his team-leading 13th multi-hit game. Emsley-Pai and Chase Simpson each drove in two runs. Cole Tucker stole two bases, giving him 14 on the season. Tito Polo stole his 12th base. Emsley-Pai is hitting .422 in 15 games with West Virginia. Jerrick Suiter has reached base in 20 of his 21 games this season, with the lone exception being a seven inning game in which he only got to bat twice. Jordan Luplow had his 12th double. – John Dreker
