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 – 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
3. Austin Meadows, CF, Bradenton – 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB, 2 SB
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-3, BB
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 2-for-4
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 – 1-for-3, BB
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bristol – DNP
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – 2-for-4
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 1-for-5, RBI
14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
15. Trey Supak, RHP, Bristol – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Bristol – DNP
17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Bradenton – 0-for-4, BB
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Indianapolis – 2-for-4, 2B
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 – DNP
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 – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – DNP
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Matt Benedict,RHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Mikell Granberry, 1B – 3-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, HBP
Home Runs: Gorkys Hernandez (5)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Gwinnett 6, Indianapolis 3
Starting Pitcher: Adrian Sampson, RHP – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gorkys Hernandez, CF – 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Willy Garcia, RF – 2-for-4, 2B, R
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 3, Erie 2
Starting Pitcher: Matt Benedict,RHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gift Ngoepe, SS – 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Adam Frazier, DH – 2-for-4, 3B
Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-3, 2B, RBI
Josh Bell, 1B – 1-for-3, BB
Game Notes: Matt Benedict overcame a 24 pitch first inning, working deep in multiple counts to start the game, by only allowing only one run in that inning and two overall in seven strong innings pitched. Benedict allowed only three singles and two walks after the first inning, and only five singles total (no extra base hits). He had seven groundouts compared to four fly outs, a ratio that has steadily increased since his promotion to Double-A.
He was down with his fastball in the strike zone all night long, and the low velocity of the fastball was 90 mph compared to 87 or 88 mph earlier in the season. He sat between 90 – 94 mph tonight. Benedict also limited use of his cutter tonight, where he has overused it in outings where he has been knocked around. Lastly, he located his curveball well the few times he used it tonight.
Benedict has yet to show anything dominant at the Double-A level, but his last two outings have been extremely promising for the Curve starting pitching staff. Over his last two starts, he has allowed three earned runs in 14 innings with only three walks. Benedict struggled with walks in his short time at Double-A last year, and he controlled that well during his last two outings.
Adam Frazier, Max Moroff, and Gift Ngoepe all collected two hits for the Curve, with Frazier hitting a triple to lead off the bottom of the first and Moroff collecting a double and sacrifice fly that scored Frazier. Gift Ngoepe and Sebastian Valle both doubled off of the left field wall over the left fielders head on back-to-back at bats, with both coming close to going over.
Over the past two nights, Max Moroff has three sacrifices, two sac flies and a sac bunt. He also had a deep flyout to right last night resulting in a runner moving over to third (who eventually scored). Before tonight, Moroff wasn’t getting statistical results, but he has still been hitting the ball hard and well, no different than from when he was on his hitting streak. Currently, Moroff and Bell both have a batting average of .318, leading the team in average for those with enough qualified at bats. Frazier is batting .358 in 104 at bats on the year. – Sean McCool
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 6, Charlotte 3
Starting Pitcher: Luis Heredia, RHP – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Edwin Espinal, 1B – 2-for-4, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Harold Ramirez, RF – 2-for-4
Reese McGuire, C – 2-for-4
Jin-De Jhang, DH – 1-for-3, BB
Game Notes: This was the eighth start of the season for Luis Heredia and it was easily his best performance. For the first time this season, he didn’t have issues with his pitch count, so he was able to get through five innings. He only had one strikeout, but Heredia used his fastball often, which was sitting 91-94 MPH, to get ten ground ball outs. He breezed through the first three innings and only ran into trouble in the fourth inning when he allowed two doubles. Heredia threw 55 pitches, 34 for strikes, so it is a bit surprising that they didn’t allow him to go out for the sixth inning.
This was the last game of the first half for Bradenton. They finished with a 32-38 record. Harold Ramirez, Reese McGuire and Edwin Espinal each had two hits. For Ramirez, that raised his average to .402 through 25 games. Austin Meadows hit his 11th double, scored two runs and stole two bases, giving him nine steals on the season. Every player in the Bradenton lineup reached base at least once.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
West Virginia is currently on their All-Star break. They resume play on Thursday
A: WEST VIRGINIA BLACK BEARS
Result: Williamsport 2, Morgantown 1
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow, RHP – 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Kevin Newman, SS – 1-for-5, BB, R
Other Notable Performers:
Danny Arribas, DH – 1-for-5, 2B
Kevin Kramer, 2B – 0-for-5
Casey Hughston, CF – 0-for-5, BB
Game Notes: Tyler Glasnow made his second rehab start for Morgantown and it was much better than his first outing on Opening Day. In that game on Friday, he lasted just 1.1 innings before being pulled. In this game, he went four innings, allowing one unearned run, although it scored on his own error. He walked one, had four strikeouts and four ground outs. Glasnow threw 45 pitches, 32 for strikes. With this solid performance, he could return to Altoona for his next outing. Nick Hibbing, drafted in the 16th round, threw a scoreless inning of relief in his pro debut. Edgar Santana threw three scoreless and struck out five batters.
The Morgantown offense was awful on Wednesday, as they collected just five hits and two walks in 15 innings. Kevin Newman scored the only run and Logan Hill had the only RBI. Danny Arribas’ double was the only extra-base hit. Newman had one hit in this game, but picked up two hits today when an error from last night was changed to a single. Third round pick Casey Hughston is still looking for his first pro hit after three games and 15 at-bats. Kevin Kramer was kept off the bases for the first time in five games. He is 3-for-19 with two walks.
RK: BRISTOL
Result: Bristol 4, Greeneville 3
Starting Pitcher: Trey Supak RHP – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Sandy Santos, CF – 2-for-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Carlos Munoz, 1B – 2-for-4
Julio de la Cruz, 3B – 2-for-5, RBI
Game Notes: Trey Supak was dominant, throwing 45 strikes on 63 pitches and topping out at 93 MPH. Supak threw his last 15 pitches for strikes. He was touched for three hits in the fourth inning when he allowed both his runs. Astros first baseman Justin Garcia pulled a double to right field off a changeup to give Greenville a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Otherwise, Supak was masterful when changing speeds.
Center fielder Sandy Santos had a fine game, collecting two long hits and barely missing a home run to left centerfield with his second inning triple off Greeneville lefty Johan Acosta, which drove in Jordan George and gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead. He also drove in the winning run of the game in the bottom of the 10th with a sacrifice fly to center. George made his first pro start, serving as the designated hitter, and collected an infield single in his first professional plate appearance.
Tomas Morales started behind the plate and threw out three runners trying to steal in four attempts. Jess Amedee came back from early control problems to strike out the final two hitters he faced in the ninth-inning on just seven pitches. He finished with three strikeouts, two walks, no runs, and no hits allowed in two innings.
Third baseman Julio De la Cruz collected two hits from his cleanup spot in the order. However, he fared poorly when asked to sacrifice in the eighth-inning and then was caught stealing trying to redeem himself. However, De la Cruz redeemed himself after defensively fouling off three pitches on hitters counts by collecting a game-tying hit in the bottom of the 10th through the box and into centerfield. He has also shown an ability to pick it at third base in the early going, which is something he didn’t do so well last year. – Marky Billson
You can view the Bristol season preview here.
RK: GCL PIRATES
The Pirates had their game postponed due to rain. They will play a doubleheader tomorrow. You can view the GCL season preview here.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 12, Mets2 4
Starting Pitcher: Domingo Robles, LHP – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Mikell Granberry, 1B – 3-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, HBP
Other Notable Performers:
Yondry Contreras, CF – 0-for-3, RBI, R, BB
Eddy Vizcaino, LF – 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB
Jeremias Portorreal, RF – 0-for-2, 2 R, 3 BB, SB
Game Notes: The DSL Pirates had the bats working on Wednesday night, putting 12 runs on the board. Mikell Granberry had three hits, a walk and a HBP, plus drove in two runs. Jeremias Portorreal had three walks and scored two runs. He has 17 walks in 19 games this year. Eddy Vizcaino returned after missing over a week with a leg infection that came as a result of the injury that occurred during a bad slide. He had two hits and a stolen base in this game.
Lefty Domingo Robles left with his team down 3-0, but still managed to pick up his second win. He gave up two earned runs in his five innings, giving him a 4.91 ERA through five starts. The Pirates scored four runs in the top of the sixth, then put four more on the board in the seventh inning and repeated the feat in the ninth.
With the game out of hand, Rudy Guzman got into the game and struck out in his only at-bat. He hasn’t played since 2013 due to visa issues, but he is an extremely talented player, who was scheduled to come to the U.S. for the 2013 Fall Instructional League. Shortstop Christopher Perez went 0-for-4, leaving him 2-for-26 this year. He signed for $150,000 back in July.
