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 – 2-for-5, 2 RBI, BB, SB
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-1, 2B, 3 BB
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – DNP
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – DNP
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 1-for-3, RBI
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – DNP
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-5, 4 K
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 – DNP
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Altoona – DNP
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – DNP
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – 0-for-2, BB
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – DNP
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – 0-for-4
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Extended Spring Training
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – 1-for-3, RBI
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP – 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Austin Meadows, CF – 2-for-5, 2 RBI, BB, SB
Home Runs: None
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Indianapolis was off on Thursday.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Portland 4, Altoona 1
Starting Pitcher: Zack Dodson, LHP – 6.0 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Josh Bell, 1B – 1-for-1, 3 BB, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-5, 2B
Keon Broxton, CF – 1-for-5, RBI
Game Notes: Zack Dodson had been the Pirates best minor league pitcher up until now, but he had a tough time on Thursday night. Dodson allowed four runs on ten hits, though there were some good signs from the game. He had nine ground ball outs, threw 51 of his 73 pitches for strikes and didn’t walk a batter.
Josh Bell reached base in all four plate appearances, collecting a double and three walks. Altoona scored their only run on a fourth inning single from Keon Broxton that brought home Dan Gamache. Max Moroff has his third straight game with two hits. He is batting .329 this season, eight points ahead of Josh Bell. For a second straight day, Sebastian Valle threw out both runners that attempted to steal against him. He also collected two hits.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 9, Lakeland 1
Starting Pitcher: Luis Heredia, RHP – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Austin Meadows, CF – 2-for-5, 2 RBI, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Erich Weiss, 2B – 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Edwin Espinal, 1B – 3-for-5, RBI
Jin-De Jhang, C – 2-for-5
Game Notes: Luis Heredia made his second start and did much better than his first outing. In the first inning on Thursday, he allowed a run on a walk and a hit, needing 22 pitches to get out of the inning. He got some good defense on a nice play by JaCoby Jones, and then Jin-De Jhang throwing out a runner trying to take an extra base after a play at the plate. In the second, he gave up a double, but no runs and got another strong defensive play, this time from Erich Weiss on a grounder up the middle. According to the stadium gun, he was 87-91 MPH in the first and he hit 92 MPH in the second inning.
In the third, he walked the lead-off batter, then got a double play and a grounder to second base to get out of the inning fairly quick. The fourth started out with two hard hit balls that put runners on the corners. He struck out the next batter, but it was on a wild pitch and the runner from first moved up. He got a one-pitch pop out from the next hitter. Heredia got another strikeout to keep runs off the board, but it was another long inning with 26 pitches. That gave him 71 pitches through four innings and ended his night.
It was a much better outing than his debut when he allowed five earned runs without getting out of the first inning, so he showed some progress. It should be noted that Lakeland is not only one of the worst hitting teams in the FSL, but they also just promoted their best hitter to AA, so this may have been just what Heredia needed to take a step in the right direction.
The offense was in full force on Thursday, with 16 hits from the Marauders, as seven players collected at least two hits on the night. JaCoby Jones was the only one that didn’t get the memo to wear his hitting shoes, as he went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts. Austin Meadows had two hits and a walk, while Edwin Espinal picked up three hits. Meadows, Erich Weiss and Justin Maffei each drove in two runs. Maffei stole home plate in the fifth inning. Jin-De Jhang raised his average to .339 with two hits.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Delmarva 5, West Virginia 4
Starting Pitcher: Colten Brewer, RHP – 2.2 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Cole Tucker, SS – 1-for-3, RBI, R
Other Notable Performers:
Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP – 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Pablo Reyes, 2B – 1-for-3, RBI
Michael Suchy, RF – 1-for-4, 3B
Game Notes: Colten Brewer had a rough outing, which paved way for an incredible showing from Dovydas Neverauskas. He pitched five innings and the only batter that reached base was on an error. He had six strikeouts and seven ground outs. Neverauskas was a starter at the beginning of the year, but control issues pushed him to the bullpen. He has always been a pitcher that hasn’t had the results that match his potential, but he looked even better than that on Thursday.
The Power couldn’t do much on offense, with just five hits and a 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. They also committed three errors in the field. Cole Tucker went 1-for-3 and he’s now hitting .341(14-for-41) in his last ten games. Connor Joe is hitting .154 through seven games.
