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 – 0-for-4
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 0-for-4
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – DNP
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – DNP
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – 1-for-4, 2B
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Extended Spring Training
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – 1-for-2, 2 BB, SB
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 2-for-4, 2B
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 – 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 1-for-3, 2B, BB
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – DNP
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 1-for-4, RBI
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – 1-for-4
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Extended Spring Training
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – DNP
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Clayton Richard, LHP – 7.2 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Willy Garcia, CF – 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
Home Runs: Willy Garcia 2(3), Pedro Florimon (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 3, Buffalo 0
Starting Pitcher: Clayton Richard, LHP – 7.2 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Pedro Florimon, SS – 2-for-3, 2B, HR, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Jaff Decker, RF – 2-for-4, 2B
Keon Broxton, CF – 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB
Game Notes: Clayton Richard pitched brilliantly on Wednesday, throwing 7.2 shutout innings. He allowed eight base hits, but all eight were singles and six came on ground balls that either found a hole or didn’t leave the infield. He had ten ground ball outs and four strikeouts, throwing 65 of his 91 pitches for strikes. Richard threw seven innings in his last start and didn’t allow an earned run. A.J. Morris retired the last four batters to complete the shutout and pick up the save.
Indianapolis had seven hits in the game and five of them went for extra bases. Pedro Florimon had a homer and a double, while Elias Diaz, Jaff Decker and Keon Broxton all had doubles. Florimon scored two runs and Broxton crossed the plate with the other. Gustavo Nunez picked up his 36th hit of the year and all 36 are singles.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 6, New Britain 1
Starting Pitcher: Matt Benedict, RHP – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Willy Garcia, CF – 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Jose Osuna, LF – 2-for-3, BB
Gift Ngoepe, SS – 2-for-5, 2B, RBI
Jacob Stallings, C – 2-for-3, 2 RBI, BB, SB
Game Notes: Willy Garcia has taken his role as the newly appointed leader of the Curve outfield and is running with it. Garcia added three hits and two home runs today, giving him three homers on the year. Since Garcia took over for Broxton in center field in the third inning of the Curve’s game against New Britain on May 28th, Garcia is 7-for-19 with three home runs and a triple. Garcia is currently on a 13 game on-base streak where he is batting .372. More importantly, Garcia has a 12.6% strikeout rate since the beginning of May, which is a great development for him.
Other notable hitters for the Curve today include Jose Osuna, who added two hits today to take his Double-A total to 8-for-15 since being called up, Jacob Stallings, who added two hits and two RBIs today to raise his season average to .299, and Gift Ngoepe, with two hits including a double from the leadoff spot.
Jacob Stallings was also impressive from behind the plate, where he threw out both runners who attempted to steal against him. He is now 14-for-33 in caught stealing attempts. His 42% average on the season is the highest of his career.
Matt Benedict picked up his first Double-A win as he went 6 innings only giving up one run on five hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. He only started one game last year in 30 appearances for Altoona going 0-5 with a 5.77 ERA. This start was a great sign for Benedict, who took Tyler Glasnow’s spot in the rotation when he went on the DL, who had an 8.10 ERA so far this year while going 0-2 in both of his starts. In his last outing, he allowed ten hits and two home runs.- Sean McCool
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 5, St Lucie 4
Starting Pitcher: Frank Duncan, RHP – 5.2 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Reese McGuire, C – 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Harold Ramirez, RF – 1-for-2, 2 BB, SB
JaCoby Jones, SS – 2-for-4, 2B
Game Notes: Bradenton’s offense had one big inning, which lasted the entire game. The pitching had one bad inning, but managed to pull it together in time to keep the lead intact. The Marauders started strong with five runs in the first, highlighted by a big three run bases clearing double by Reese McGuire. The shot was off the right-center field wall, and just missed going for a grand slam. McGuire later had an infield single up the middle, then showed great awareness, immediately taking second when the ball got away from the first baseman. However, he followed up with a poor base running move, breaking for third on a hard hit grounder to short, leading to the first out of that inning.
Frank Duncan had a much better outing this time around compared to last time. He was getting a lot of ground balls, including a few timely grounders for double plays to escape some jams. He did a better job this outing of keeping the ball down. That changed in the sixth inning. He had a few balls that were hit just out of the reach of diving infielders, but also gave up a few hard hit balls to the outfield, leading to four runs. Montana DuRapau came on and got out of the inning, stranding a runner while getting the final out.
DuRapau was fantastic tonight, throwing 2.1 perfect innings, with one strikeout. When I saw him in West Virginia last month, he looked good, with an advanced approach and an ability to throw all four of his pitches for strikes. That command of his pitches is leading to some good results in Bradenton so far.
Harold Ramirez currently looks like the best hitter on the team. He added another hit tonight, with a hard hit single ripped up the middle. He also drew two walks, and stole his fifth base of the year, which is impressive when you consider that he has been at the level for a little over a week. Aside from the good approach, strong contact skills, and the speed, Ramirez has a plus arm. I’ve yet to see him tested, and that included a few borderline plays tonight where an aggressive team might have run and taken their chances. – Tim Williams
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 3, Greensboro 0
Starting Pitcher: Yeudy Garcia, RHP – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Michael Suchy, RF – 3-for-4, 2B, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Jordan Luplow, 3B – 1-for-3, 2 R, 2B, BB
Pablo Reyes, 2B – 1-for-4
Game Notes: Yeudy Garcia was our choice as the pitcher of the month for May and it was a rather easy decision. He got a jump start on the June award, allowing three base runners over his five shutout innings on Wednesday. Garcia had six strikeouts, including three batters going down swinging in the second inning. In fact, all six strikeout victims went down swinging. Through 47 innings this year, he has 46 strikeouts and a 1.91 ERA.
Michael Suchy had three hits, including his 11th double of the season. Chase Simpson drove in two runs, giving him 25 RBIs on the year. Jordan Luplow scored two runs and hit his 13th double of the year. Tyler Filliben has a 17-game on-base streak going, extending it on Wednesday with a single. Cole Tucker had off on Wednesday. The Power are 10-3 when someone else besides Tucker bats lead-off. Tito Polo went 1-for-4 in the role.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Mets2 4, Pirates 1
Starting Pitcher: Yerry De Los Santos, RHP – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Melvin Jimenez, 2B – 2-for-4, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Gabriel Brito, DH – 1-for-2, BB
William Calderon, SS – 2-for-5
Game Notes: The DSL Pirates lost on Wednesday, giving them two splits in two series so far this season. Yerry De Los Santos, who signed for $100,000 in July, made his pro debut and looked good over five innings on work. Ronny Agustin, who was originally scheduled to start, threw the last three innings and allowed two runs. Melvin Jimenez and William Calderon each had two hits. Jimenez drove in the only run of the game. Catcher Gabriel Brito, who signed for $200,000 in July, made his pro debut at DH and had a single and a walk. He is unable to catch right now due to a sore shoulder.
