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
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – DNP
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – Disabled List
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 1-for-4, 2B
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – DNP
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Extended Spring Training
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – 3-for-7
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 2-for-6, 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 – 0-for-6, BB
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Indianapolis – DNP
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 1-for-4
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – 0-for-3, BB
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 1-for-6, BB
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Altoona – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – 0-for-3, BB
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – 1-for-4, 3B
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Chad Kuhl, RHP – 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-3, 2B
Home Runs: None
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Indianapolis was off on Thursday.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 2, Akron 0
Starting Pitcher: Chad Kuhl, RHP – 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-3, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Adam Frazier, CF – 1-for-4, 2B
John Kuchno, RHP – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Chad Kuhl went seven innings for the first time this season, and the fourth time in his career. He was efficient, needing just 93 pitches to get through the outing. On the season, Kuhl has a 3.24 ERA in 75 innings, with a 53:24 K/BB ratio and a 52% ground ball rate. And speaking of ground ball rates, John Kuchno has an extreme 70% ground ball rate, and saw his numbers improve to a 2.78 ERA in 35.2 innings out of the bullpen this year, with a 14:13 K/BB ratio. He hasn’t been striking out a lot of guys, but with those easy ground outs, he doesn’t really need to strike anyone out. Max Moroff extended his hitting streak to nine games, and had multiple hits in five straight games. He has also reached base safely in 12 straight games.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Tampa 5, Bradenton 4
Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Erich Weiss, 2B – 2-for-6, 2B, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Harold Ramirez, RF – 3-for-7
Justin Maffei, CF – 3-for-7, SB
Edwin Espinal, 1B – 2-for-4
JaCoby Jones, SS – 2-for-6, 2B
Game Notes: Bradenton played their longest game in franchise history for innings, with 17. They played their second longest game in time, clocking in at four hours and 46 minutes. On a somewhat related note, I’m glad I was covering extended Spring Training today, and draft news tonight, which led to me missing covering this game.
Cody Dickson continued a trend of not giving up a lot of hits, but giving up a lot of walks and striking out a good amount of hitters. That’s going to be a concern as he moves up, since he’s not dominant enough to get by with these issues going forward. When I’ve seen him this year, he’s been effectively wild, and that approach won’t work against more experienced and disciplined hitters. On offense, JaCoby Jones and Erich Weiss both hit their ninth doubles of the year. Harold Ramirez picked up three hits for the third time in his last five games, and is now batting .395 on the season. Jin-De Jhang returned from a minor leg injury, and went 0-for-6. Austin Meadows remains out with a bruise on the palm of his hand.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Charleston 4, West Virginia 3
Starting Pitcher: Yeudy Garcia, RHP – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Pablo Reyes, 2B – 1-for-3, 3B, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Sam Street, RHP – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Taylor Gushue, C – 1-for-4, 3B
Cole Tucker, SS – 1-for-4, 2B
Game Notes: West Virginia didn’t do much on offense tonight, getting just four hits. Three of those went for extra bases, with two triples and a double. Both triples were the third of the year for the guys who hit them — Pablo Reyes and Taylor Gushue. Meanwhile, Jeff Roy created another triple by stealing second and third base after reaching on an error in the third inning, giving him 11 steals on the year. Yeudy Garcia only pitched two innings, most likely due to a high single inning pitch count, as he walked two, struck out one, and had a fielding error that extended the inning. Sam Street stepped up and saved the day with six solid innings.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Marlins 9, Pirates 8
Starting Pitcher: Domingo Robles, LHP – 4.0 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Huascar Fuentes, 1B – 2-for-4, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Felix Vinicio, LF – 2-for-5
Mikell Granberry, DH – 1-for-5, 2B
Williams Calderon, 2B – 3-for-4
Game Notes: The Pirates lost 9-8 on Thursday, falling just short with their comeback from an early 9-1 deficit. Lefty starter Domingo Robles allowed seven of those runs in his fourth start as a pro. He signed for a six-figure bonus last July and now has a 5.29 ERA in 17 innings. Reliever Julian Villamar threw the last four innings and gave up two runs, cooling off the Marlins’ bats while the offense put runs on the board to make it a game.
Huascar Fuentes and Mikell Granberry each drove in two runs. Fuentes has 16 RBIs in 17 games. Felix Vinicio continued to be the hottest hitter on the team collecting two hits and scoring two runs. He is hitting .400 in 55 at-bats. Shortstop Christopher Perez got his third start of the season, as he returns slowly from a Spring Training injury. He is 1-for-11 in five games. Perez signed for $150,000 back in July.
