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 – DNP
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-4, 2 BB
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 0-for-4
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – DNP
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 1-for-4, BB, SB
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – 1-for-4
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Extended Spring Training
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – 1-for-4
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 0-for-5
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 – 2-for-4, HR
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Indianapolis – 0-for-4
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 0-for-4, BB, SB
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – 1-for-5
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 – 0-for-4, 2 SB
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – 0-for-4
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Chris Volstad, RHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Edwin Espinal, 1B – 4-for-4, 2B
Home Runs: Barrett Barnes (4), Jaff Decker (3)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 3, Durham 2
Starting Pitcher: Chris Volstad, RHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jaff Decker, LF – 1-for-4, HR, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Gustavo Nunez, 2B – 3-for-5, 2 SB
Radhames Liz, RHP – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
John Holdzkom, RHP – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: After a tough start to the season, Chris Volstad has really come on of late and this continued into Tuesday night. Volstad tossed seven strong innings for his third straight start, and struck out a season-high seven hitters. After allowing six earned runs and ten hits on June 1st, Volstad has allowed only three runs in his last three starts. Along with the success, Volstad has also seen a slight spike in his fastball velocity from the high 80s to the low 90s.
Radhames Liz followed Volstad and worked a pair of scoreless innings, while hitting between 97 and 99 with the fastball in his second appearance since being outrighted to Indianapolis. John Holdzkom worked the 10th for his fourth scoreless inning since returning from the DL.
Gustavo Nunez added three hits and two stolen bases for Indianapolis after replacing Alen Hanson in the lineup. Hanson was a late scratch with a minor finger injury. Willy Garcia went hitless in his Indianapolis debut and had a 19-game hit streak snapped. Jaff Decker hit a walk-off home run off former Pirate farm hand Andy Oliver to end it. – Ryan Palencer
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Akron 5, Altoona 4
Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP – 5.0 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Dan Gamache, 3B – 2-for-6, 2B, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-7
Mel Rojas, CF – 2-for-7
Adam Frazier, DH – 2-for-5, 3B, BB
Josh Bell, 1B – 1-for-4, 2 BB
Game Notes: Altoona lost to Akron in 14 innings. The offense didn’t do much, considering the length of the game and the lack of extra base hits. Adam Frazier picked up a triple, which was his second of the year. Dan Gamache picked up his seventh double of the year, and not has hits in eight of his last nine games. Max Moroff picked up multiple hits, extending his hitting streak to seven games. Jason Creasy was hit around, and continues giving up a decent amount of walks. Tonight it was only two in five innings, although he now has 24 walks in 69.2 innings this season, compared to 22 walks in 148.2 innings last year. He had 24 walks in 108.1 innings in 2013, which ties for this year’s total as his career worst.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Tampa 2, Bradenton 1
Starting Pitcher: Jayson Aquino, LHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Edwin Espinal, 1B – 4-for-4, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Barrett Barnes, LF – 2-for-4, HR
Erich Weiss, DH – 2-for-4
Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 2-for-4
Game Notes: Barrett Barnes hit his fourth homer of the year, and now has a .192 ISO in the Florida State League, which is a very pitcher friendly park. Barnes might have had a few more home runs in another league and environment, as a lot of his 12 doubles so far have been hit hard and deep. Edwin Espinal had a nice night with four hits. Wyatt Mathisen had his second straight multi-hit game. Jayson Aquino has posted a 3.77 ERA in 43 innings since joining the Pirates’ organization, with a 27:11 K/BB ratio and a 2.06 GO/AO ratio.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 5, Charleston 4
Starting Pitcher: Alex McRae, RHP – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jerrick Suiter, RF – 2-for-4, 2B, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Pablo Reyes, 2B – 2-for-5, 2B
Cole Tucker, SS – 1-for-4, BB, SB
Tito Polo, CF – 0-for-4, 2 SB
Game Notes: West Virginia picked up just two extra base hits and six hits total on the evening, but they made the most of their time on base, going 6-for-7 in stolen base attempts. Tito Polo stole two bases, giving him 19 on the season. Cole Tucker added one for his 17th of the year. Pablo Reyes and Jerrick Suiter added the extra base hits. For Reyes, it was his 13th double of the year. Cole Tucker had a rough night defensively, committing two errors to give him eight on the season.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 3, Cubs 2
Starting Pitcher: Adonis Pichardo, RHP – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Melvin Jimenez, SS – 3-for-4, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Felix Vinicio, LF – 2-for-3, BB
Raul Hernandez, C – 1-for-4, 2B
Game Notes: The Pirates won 3-2 over the Cubs on Tuesday, but the may have lost one of their best pitchers. Starter Adonis Pichardo, who was one of the top signings last July, left this game after three shutout innings because his velocity was down about 8-10 MPH. He was in the middle of his best start, though he did walk three batters and hit another. The move to take him out was precautionary, but a sharp decrease in velocity is never a good sign.
Melvin Jimenez had three hits for the Pirates, giving him 25 hits in his first 15 career game. He is hitting .391 with five doubles. The big signing from last year was Yondy Contreras and he has cooled off since a great start. In his last nine games, he is 6-for-34 with 15 strikeouts. He also hasn’t drawn a walk in his last seven games. Contreras had nine hits in his first five games. Left fielder Felix Vinicio is hitting .378 after a 2-for-3 day. He has an .868 OPS and four strikeouts in 45 at-bats. – John Dreker
