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 – 2-for-4, 3B, RBI, BB
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 2-for-3, 2 R, HBP
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 1-for-4
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – 2-for-4, 3B
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 3-for-5, SB
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – 1-for-3, 3B
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 – 3-for-5, RBI
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-5, 2B
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – 0.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Altoona – 3-for-5
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 0-for-1, 3 BB
23. Connor Joe, 1B/3B, West Virginia – 1-for-4, BB
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 2-for-4
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – DNP
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Extended Spring Training
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Extended Spring Training
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – 2-for-2, RBI, BB, HBP
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Austin Coley, RHP – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jose Osuna, RF – 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Home Runs: Elvis Escobar (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Pawtucket 6, Indianapolis 1
Starting Pitcher: Charlie Leesman, LHP – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, 2B – 2-for-4, 3B
Other Notable Performers:
Elias Diaz, DH – 1-for-3, 3B
Gorkys Hernandez, CF – 1-for-3
Game Notes: In the place of injured Nick Kingham, replacement starter Charlie Leesman also left after a single inning with a perceived injury. Leesman struck out a pair of hitters in the first before leaving. Adam Miller saw his first action in a few weeks in relief of Leesman and tossed two innings, while showing some wildness. Miller walked three hitters, allowed three hits and three runs.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 7, Bowie 4
Starting Pitcher: Chad Kuhl, RHP – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Stetson Allie, RF – 1-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Max Moroff, 2B – 1-for-5
Willy Garcia – 3-for-5, 2 R
Josh Bell, 1B – 2-for-3, 2 R, HBP
Game Notes: Going into the game, Chad Kuhl told his catcher Jacob Stallings that he wasn’t feeling his greatest tonight. In the first two innings of the game, it seemed as if it could be a quick night for Kuhl because his pitch count was high, and a lot of hits were getting through the infield. Kuhl walked two in the first and struggled with his command. In the second, Kuhl was not the beneficiary of luck when two ground balls were barely out of the range of shortstop Gift Ngoepe. With the bases loaded, Kuhl threw a changeup that stayed up in the zone that was unloaded for a triple. Kuhl gave up four earned runs in the second inning, but battled through a high pitch count to give his team six innings. After the second, he settled down and got a lot of ground ball outs. He finished with two walks (both on the first inning) and four strikeouts.
Kuhl said that his changeup and slider both felt really good tonight. His changeup was resulting in a lot of swing and misses to lefties. He used his slider when he had two strikes, which helped him record four strikeouts.
John Kuchno came in the game in the seventh and couldn’t throw a strike. After a walk and a sacrifice bunt, Kuchno settled down and got two ground balls to get out of the inning. Barrios came in to get the save in the ninth, and he struggled with his command as well; however, he was able to strand runners at second and third to get the save.
Stetson Allie came up big with a line drive double with the bases loaded in the sixth inning to score three and start the comeback for the Curve. It was Allie’s only hit of the night. Willy Garcia had a three hit night with no strikeouts, and each hit was a hard hit ball. His second single was a ball hit to the right field wall, but the runners in front of him had to hold up because of a chance of it getting tracked down. It could have easily been a triple.
Catcher Jacob Stallings got on base four times going 3-for-3 and a HPB. Stallings, who is not known for his speed, also had a stolen base and advanced after the throw got away. He was then able to score on a Keon Broxton single.
Max Moroff extended his on-base streak to 27 games with an infield single in the sixth, and Josh Bell had two singles, a walk and a HBP. – Sean McCool
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 7, Brevard County 6
Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP – 0.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jose Osuna, RF – 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
JaCoby Jones, SS – 3-for-5, RBI
Austin Meadows, CF – 2-for-4, 3B, RBI, BB
Game Notes: Cody Dickson has looked very good at times this year and other times he has looked bad. On Monday we saw the bad side, as he recorded just two outs before being pulled due to a high pitch count. Dickson gave up five runs in the bottom of the first after the Marauders put five runs on the board in the top of the inning. Felipe Gonzalez went 4.1 scoreless innings for the win and three relievers closed the door for Bradenton.
The offense came up big early, but couldn’t put together much after the first despite continuing to collect hits. They ended up with 14 hits in the game, with everyone except Edwin Espinal collecting at least one. Jose Osuna had the big hit in the first inning, clearing the bases with a double. JaCoby Jones had three hits, scoring once and driving in a run. The RBI was his 20th of the season, tops on the team. Austin Meadows had two hits, including his first triple. He also walked once and scored two runs. Wyatt Mathisen had two hits for the third game in a row.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 5, Charleston 1
Starting Pitcher: Austin Coley, RHP – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Taylor Gushue, C – 2-for-2, RBI, BB, HBP
Other Notable Performers:
Jordan Luplow, 3B – 0-for-1, 3 BB
Cole Tucker, SS – 3-for-5, SB
Connor Joe, 1B – 1-for-4, BB
Game Notes: Austin Coley continued an impressive stretch of starts, while keeping his strikeout count high. He was 88-92 MPH, mostly using his two-seam fastball to generate ground balls. The pitch was allowing him to get ahead of hitters, along with his changeup, which showed good command tonight. He used that combo to set up his curveball, which was generating a lot of strikeouts tonight. He now has 28 strikeouts in his last 22 innings. Coley had a shoulder injury last year, which led to a drop in his arm slot from overhand to high three quarters to reduce the stress on his arm. He looks to be adjusting to the new mechanics well, showing advanced fastball command for this level, and strong command of his curveball. The changeup is a bit behind the other two pitches, and that has been a focus for him the last few starts. Tonight was a great opportunity for that, since Charleston had plenty of left-handers in the lineup.
Connor Joe made his pro debut tonight, going 1-for-4 with a walk. The lone hit was a single through the right side of the infield on a hit and run. Joe was out on a line drive to center field in the first, and showed some nice bat speed in his final at-bat. He turned on a pitch and hit it foul with some power, which impressed one scout in attendance. Joe’s main highlights tonight were on defense, where he showed off some nice athleticism. He made two diving stops on grounders down the line, with one going foul. The other he stopped for an out. Here was a video of his first hit.
Cole Tucker broke out of his mini slump today, picking up three hits, including one from the right side. He showed quickness down the line, although one scout commented that he gets out of the box slow. Tucker spent the weekend working with hitting coordinator Larry Sutton, along with West Virginia hitting coach Keoni DeRenne, and it looks like he might be getting back on track after a mini slump last week. – Tim Williams
