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 – 0-for-4
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-4, RBI
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 2-for-3, 2 BB, RBI
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – Disabled List
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – DNP
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – DNP
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bristol – DNP
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, SB
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 1-for-5
14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
15. Trey Supak, RHP, Bristol – DNP
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Bristol – DNP
17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Bradenton – 1-for-3, BB, 2 R, SB
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – 3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Indianapolis – 1-for-3, BB
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – DNP
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – DNP
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 1-for-5
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Altoona – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – DNP
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – DNP
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Jayson Aquino, LHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Harold Ramirez, RF – 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, SB
Home Runs: Brent Morel (5), Erik Lunde (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Gwinnett 6, Indianapolis 3
Starting Pitcher: Clayton Richard, LHP – 6.0 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Brent Morel, 3B – 2-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Game Notes: After struggling to keep the ball down most of the night, Clayton Richard labored through six innings. With the elevation on his fastball, Richard allowed ten hits to opposing hitters, but spread them out and allowed four runners to cross the plate. Richard was unusually wild as well, and while it only resulted in a single walk, he also had a pair of hit batters.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Erie 4, Altoona 3
Starting Pitcher: Chad Kuhl, RHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Adam Frazier, CF – 2-for-4, R, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Gift Ngoepe, SS – 2-for-4
Stetson Allie, RF – 0-for-2, BB, R
Josh Bell, 1B – 1-for-4, RBI
Game Notes: Chad Kuhl cruised through the first three innnings, only allowing a seeing eye single in the second and a full count walk. In the first inning, he worked hard the whole time, hitting 95 mph on the gun multiple times (on multiple guns). Kuhl kept the ball low and got three groundouts in the first. As the game wore on, you could tell that he was not locating as well with the low fastball and slider, as his fly ball rate increased.
Kuhl got in trouble in the 4th inning with batters having the ability to lift the ball to the gaps. His breaking pitches were hanging up, and he struggled with control in that inning. After the 4th inning and a leadoff hit in the 5th, Kuhl retired nine straight batters in a row to get through seven innings.
Kuhl did a great job recovering from a tough inning and command controls in the fourth to go into the seventh without letting up any other runs. When he is able to locate his fastball and slider low in the zone, batters have an extremely difficult time getting anything against him. He made a great play in the fifth on a bunt off of the mound towards third to field and throw to first in one motion to get the out, as well.
Adam Frazier hit leadoff and had a line drive on the first pitch of the game to center field. He also had a second line drive hit and line out to the third baseman. Lastly, he was able to lay down a sacrifice bunt to move runners over to second and third.
Otherwise, Curve hitters struggled to get timely hitting. Josh Bell hit a slow grounder to shortstop with the runner at third running on contact, which resulted in an out at home. In the 8th with the bases loaded, Manager Tom Prince replaced Dan Gamache with pinch hitter Edward Salcedo, who then struck out. Eric Wood would then strike out, as well, with two outs.
Of note, Stetson Allie came up with no outs and runners on first and second in the 8th and was called upon to lay a sacrifice bunt down to advance the runners. He was able to get the bunt down with two strikes on him. Also, Gift Ngoepe’s defense was spectacular like usual, making multiple above average fielding plays at shortstop. He also connected two more hits on the night. – Sean McCool
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 7, Charlotte 3
Starting Pitcher: Jayson Aquino, LHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Harold Ramirez, RF – 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Reese McGuire, C – 2-for-3, 2 BB, RBI
Barrett Barnes, LF – 1-for-3, 2 R, BB, SB
Jin-De Jhang, DH – 2-for-4, RBI
Game Notes: The Marauders won 7-3 in ten innings in Tuesday. Harold Ramirez had three hits and drove in four runs. He had a double, triple and stole his ninth base. Reese McGuire reached base four times with two singles and two walks. Barrett Barnes had two walks and stole his tenth base. Erich Weiss also scored twice and stole two bases, giving him nine on the season.
Jayson Aquino put in seven innings and didn’t allow any runs until the seventh inning. He had six strikeouts and a 9:1 GO/AO ratio in the game. Counting his time with Dunedin earlier in the season, Aquino has a 3.33 ERA in 75.2 innings. Former Pirate farmhand Buddy Borden faced the Marauders and allowed one earned run over six innings, while striking out eight batters. He has a 2.18 ERA this season.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
West Virginia is currently on their All-Star break. The AS game was played on Tuesday. Chase Simpson went 1-for-2 with a single. Elvis Escobar played the whole game in center field and went 0-for-4. Junior Lopez pitched a scoreless inning, retiring the side in order, striking out two batters. Yeudy Garcia gave up a run in his only inning. The North(the good guys) won 7-4.
A: WEST VIRGINIA BLACK BEARS
Result: Williamsport 3, Morgantown 1
Starting Pitcher: Bret Helton, RHP – 3.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Danny Arribas, DH – 2-for-3, RBI, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Kevin Newman, SS – 1-for-5, 2B
Kevin Kramer, 2B – 0-for-2, BB
Casey Hughston, CF – 0-for-5
Game Notes: Pirates’ ninth round pick Bret Helton made his pro debut on Tuesday and went three innings, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk. He threw 45 pitches, 28 for strikes. Cesilio Pimentel followed him and gave up one run over 3.2 innings.
First round pick Kevin Newman is 3-for-17 with three errors in four games. Second round pick Kevin Kramer is 3-for-13 and has reached base once in each game. Third round pick Casey Hughston is off to a rough start, going 0-for-9 in his first two pro games. Seventh round pick Mitchell Tolman is 4-for-11 with five walks. Danny Arribas had two hits and drove in the only run, while Ty Moore walked twice and scored Morgantown’s only run.
RK: BRISTOL
Result: Greeneville 7, Bristol 6
Starting Pitcher: Neil Kozikowski, RHP – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Erik Lunde, C – 2-for-4, HR, RBI, BB, 2 R
Other Notable Performers:
Carlos Munoz, 1B – 2-for-5, 2 2B
Trae Arbet, 2B – 2-for-4, 2 2B
Game Notes: The Pirates sent 2013 eighth round draft choice Neil Kozikowski out to get Bristol’s opening day start, which was notable since the 6′ 4″, 180-pound right-hander made only three starts before being moved to the bullpen last year in the Gulf Coast League. Kozikowski was not overpowering, but effective in moving his pitches inside and out against the Greeneville Astros, giving up his earned runs on pitches hit to the opposite field that could have used more velocity. All in all, however, the Connecticut native threw 66 pitches, 43 for strikes, to begin his third professional season.
Shortstop Logan Ratledge showed remarkable range by diving for a grounder just in front of the second base in the first inning to turn a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Astros third-place hitter Kevin Martir. But he also committed two errors, the first throwing and the second a regular boot that led to Greeneville’s third run in a 7-5 Astros triumph. He finished the game 0-for-5 at the plate.
Right fielder Nick Buckner will chase anything from his spot in the left-handed batters box. I mean anything. Though he did collect a bases loaded walk in the fifth inning, he went after pitches out of the zone with different velocities to fan in his first two at bats. – Marky Billson
You can view the Bristol season preview here.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Game Notes: The game was suspended in the seventh inning with the score tied 3-3. Clay Holmes pitched his first real game since 2013 and threw 55 pitches over 3.2 innings. He allowed two runs on four hits, no walks, two strikeouts and two hit batters. Holmes threw 36 strikes and had six ground ball outs. He also threw two wild pitches, so while there were no walks, there were some control issues, which obviously isn’t a big deal after missing so much time.
You can view the GCL season preview here.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 5, Mets2 4
Starting Pitcher: Raymond Rodriguez, RHP – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Mikell Granberry, DH – 2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Yondry Contreras, CF – 1-for-3, HBP, R
Christopher Perez, SS – 1-for-4, RBI
Eliezer Ramirez, RF – 1-for-3, R
Game Notes: The DSL pitchers showed some good velocity today, although both guys lacked control. Left-hander Raymond Rodriguez sat in the low-90s and touched 94 MPH, but walked four in three innings of work. Meanwhile, the stats would make it look like right-hander Argenis Romano had good control, but he was also a bit wild, missing big at times with his fastball by sailing it high and outside. Romano was sitting 89-91.
The most productive hitter the last two days has been Mikell Granberry, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles today. He looks like he has a patient approach at the plate, and he makes good contact, which are two skills that usually lead to a guy making the jump to the US and getting a good shot in the higher levels. Cristopher Perez has struggled at the plate this year, although he’s very raw. On the field he shows some good tools, but plays all-out and sometimes that can lead to him throwing wild because he’s trying to throw 100 MPH to second base on a relay, or missing a play because he doesn’t take the time to set up. He was ruled with an error today. There was a chance I missed the error, but it was most likely a play where he ranged to his right, fielded the ball, then slipped on the turf and couldn’t make the play (it had rained early in the morning and a lot the night before, thus the turf field). There’s not a lot that he could have done in that situation, although he hasn’t been setting up properly for a few balls hit his way, and improvements there could help a bit.
Yonder Contreras is easily the loudest person I’ve heard on a baseball field. After every pitch, he shouts out support from center field to his pitcher, which is part of the chatter that you often hear on the field. He has struggled at the plate this year, although he went 1-for-3 with no strikeouts today. He definitely knows that he has been struggling offensively, as he told me after the game his yelling of so much support is to try and play a part on the team, since he’s not doing that at the plate right now.
In classic DSL fashion, the game ended on a pick off. To make matters worse, the Mets had a runner on second base with two outs and down by a run, with their best hitter at the plate. Carlos Bustamante, the Pirates’ closer, caught the runner on second — the speedy leadoff hitter who would easily score from second on a single — breaking from the bag too early, picked him off, and caught him in a rundown for the final out of the game. It’s a totally different game down here. – Tim Williams
