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 – 3-for-5, 2 R, RBI, 3B
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – DNP
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 3-for-4, R, RBI, BB, 2 SB
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – DNP
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 0-for-2, RBI
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – DNP
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bristol – DNP
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – Pan-Am Tournament
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 3-for-5, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI
14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis -DNP
15. Trey Supak, RHP, Bristol – DNP
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Bristol – DNP
17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Bradenton – 0-for-2, 3 BB, 2 R, SB
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Indianapolis – DNP
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 2-for-5, 2B, HR, RBI, BB
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – 0-for-3
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – DNP
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Altoona – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – Pan-Am Tournament
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – 0-for-3, R
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Yeudy Garcia, RHP – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: JaCoby Jones, SS – 3-for-5, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI
Home Runs: JaCoby Jones (10), Jordan Luplow (6), Huascar Fuentes (4), Elvis Escobar (3), Yondry Contreras (2)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Indianapolis has off until Thursday due to the International League All-Star game.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona is on their All-Star break.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 11, Lakeland 2
Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: JaCoby Jones, SS – 3-for-5, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Austin Meadows, CF – 3-for-5, 3B, RBI
Erich Weiss, 2B – 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI
Reese McGuire, C – 3-for-4, RBI, BB, 2 SB
Game Notes: Cody Dickson had a strong night on the mound, doing a good job of getting ahead of hitters and putting them away with his curveball. A lot of the times when he’s been off this year, it hasn’t been due to opponents hitting his stuff. Instead, it has been due to his command being off, missing way up and outside. There are even times when he struggles with command but puts up a good stat line. That wasn’t the case tonight, as his command was on point.
This was the first time that Dickson has pitched since July 5th. Bradenton manager Michael Ryan said after the game that this was an attempt to give him a break and limit his innings. After tonight’s outing, Dickson has 92.2 innings on the season. He threw 129 innings last year in West Virginia. The Pirates usually don’t get guys up to the 150 inning mark until Double-A. They will most likely be taking a similar approach to skip a start with their other starters, especially with Clay Holmes joining the rotation recently, and giving them six starting options.
The offense was on fire tonight, with a ton of hard hit balls all throughout the lineup. JaCoby Jones showed off some pull power, with a homer and a double to left field, along with a double to the right-center gap. He struggled in June, but seems to be rebounding well in July, with all three of his hits tonight being well struck. Reese McGuire worked the middle of the field tonight. He only had singles, but all three of his hits were hit hard, just right to fielders. He also stole two bases, showing off good speed for a catcher.
Austin Meadows has been on fire lately, ever since he was given a lengthy break last month around the All-Star break. That continued tonight as he showed off his power potential, including hitting a triple to the right-center gap that rolled to the wall. Meadows shows a lot of raw power, and eventually a lot of his extra base hits are going to turn into home runs as he fills out and matures.
Erich Weiss has been impressive this year, and is another guy who seemingly hits the ball hard every time he gets a hit. He had three singles tonight, but a lot of hard hit balls, while doing a good job of hitting to all fields. – Tim Williams
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Hagerstown 3, West Virginia 2
Starting Pitcher: Alex McRae, RHP – 4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Pablo Reyes, 2B – 1-for-3, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Michael Suchy, RF – 1-for-2, BB
Cole Tucker, SS – 0-for-2, RBI
Game Notes: In game one of a doubleheader, West Virginia’s offense got shut down and the starting pitching got them down early. The Power had just three hits in the game and both runs they scored were unearned. Pablo Reyes and Cole Tucker drove in the only runs, while Jordan Luplow’s 21st double was the only extra-base hit. Luplow also committed his 13th error at third base. Elvis Escobar was thrown out stealing for the 17th time in just 24 attempts. This wasn’t a good outing for Alex McRae, who saw his ERA go up to 4.11 after giving up three runs in 4.1 innings. He allowed seven hits and a walk, plus he hit two batters. John Sever pitched two innings and retired all six batters he faced.
Result: West Virginia 5, Hagerstown 0
Starting Pitcher: Yeudy Garcia, RHP – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Elvis Escobar, CF – 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Jordan Luplow, 3B – 1-for-2, HR, RBI, BB
Michael Suchy, DH – 1-for-3, 2B
Game Notes: The Power got all the runs they needed in the third inning off one swing of the bat from Elvis Escobar, who hit a three-run homer as part of a five-run inning, to salvage a split in Wednesday’s doubleheader. Jordan Luplow added a solo homer and Yeudy Garcia lowered his ERA to 2.16 through 75 innings, by throwing five shutout frames in this game. Garcia and two relievers held Hagerstown to three hits, all coming off the bat of Bryan Mejia. His teammates went 0-for-20 in the game and Mejia was thrown out stealing for the other out.
Luplow hit his sixth homer of the season, giving him 29 extra-base hits on the year. The homer by Escobar was his third of the season and Michael Suchy added his 18th double.
A: WEST VIRGINIA BLACK BEARS
Result: State College 10, West Virginia 7
Starting Pitcher: JT Brubaker, RHP – 3.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Logan Hill, RF – 3-for-5, 3 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Kevin Newman, SS – 1-for-4, BB, 2 R
Daniel Arribas, C – 2-for-5, R
Game Notes: The West Virginia Black Bears fell to the State College Spikes Wednesday night by a score of 10-7, despite the Spikes’ sloppy defense. With the loss, the Bears drop to 10-14 on the season. Though the box score will look good for the home-standing Bears (ten hits), they had multiple bunt singles, infield singles and a pop fly that dropped in short right field without the Spike second baseman even laying a glove on the ball. The Spikes also committed three errors and had multiple wild pitches and passed balls which were large contributors to the Bears’ seven runs.
JT Brubaker, recently drafted in the 6th round out of Akron, pitched well for the first three innings. His fastball was clocking between 92-94 mph and his curve ball was especially effective. However, he ran into trouble in the fourth and never got out of the inning. With two outs and a runner on, Brubaker gave up a walk and three singles, before the final nail in the coffin; a bases-clearing three run triple. When the dust had settled, State College had put five on the board to take a 5-4 lead. Brubaker was hit hard in the inning with all five runs being earned.
The Bears had taken a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third despite only hitting one ball out of the infield; a check-swing flair over the first baseman’s head.
Brubaker was relieved by Jerry Mulderig, who was effective. He got out of the fourth and pitched a scoreless fifth. However, Juan Paula was brought in to pitch the sixth and gave up three earned runs in his one inning of work. Paula took the loss.
One positive for the Bears was the play of Daniel Arribas, who has been catching more as the season has gone along. On defense, he threw a strike to second to nail a runner attempting to steal. He also made a very good play with a runner on third and two out. The batter attempted to push a bunt down the third base line. Arribas came out of the catcher’s box quickly, grabbed the ball, and dove for the runner who was attempting to score from third, as he had no play at first. He was able to get his glove on the runner for the final out of the inning. He also hit three line drives in his five at-bats, finishing 2-for-5. He has been earning the additional playing time with his bat and solid play behind the dish.
First round pick, Kevin Newman, had a line drive single, but also struck out in the 8th with the tying run on second. He finished 1-for-4 with a walk. He was solid in the field and made an excellent play early in the game when he dove in the hole and speared a hard shot to save a run.
Second round pick, Kevin Kramer, who started at second base, was strong defensively as well. He started a 4-6-3 double play by ranging far to his left and making a strong throw to second. He finished 1-for-3 at the plate.
Logan Hill continues to have good at-bats. He is the best hitter on the team at this point. He had three RBI for the night.
Right-hander, Nick Hibbing, who entered the game with a 0.00 ERA was touched up for two runs in the 9th inning. He gave up two doubles and a single.
Despite their ten hits, the Bears failed to record an extra-base hit. They played well defensively, but the pitching just wasn’t there. – Jamey Conlin
RK: BRISTOL PIRATES
Bristol was rained out on Wednesday. They will play a doubleheader on Thursday.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Yankees2 10, Pirates 2
Starting Pitcher: Luis Escobar, RHP – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Raul Siri, 2B – 2-for-3, 2B, BB, R
Other Notable Performers:
Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B – 2-for-3, BB, R
Edison Lantigua, LF – 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Jhoan Herrera, 1B – 2-for-4
Game Notes: Luis Escobar has been great after a tough opener to his season. The 19-year-old righty only went four innings in this game, though that was partially due to a delay caused by lightning. In his last four starts combined, he has allowed two earned runs on seven hit in 18.2 innings. He has a 5:17 BB/SO ratio this year in 19.1 innings and his only weakness seems to be that he is getting more fly balls than grounders. On this team with all their outfield speed, that isn’t bad, but they also have a very strong left side of the infield on defense that he could take advantage of by keeping the ball on the ground. Escobar did have a 5:3 GO/AO ratio in this game, which is what you like to see, so this could be a step in the right direction.
This game got ugly after Escobar left, with two relievers giving up four earned runs each. The Pirates had to call on backup catcher Garrett Russini to pitch for the second time in a week. The 3-5 hitters in the lineup, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Raul Siri and Jhoan Herrera, each had two hits. Hayes now has a .404/.485/.509 slash line in his first 15 pro games. Edison Lantigua has had a tough time since his return from an injury that occurred during the end of Extended Spring Training. He has a .174/.174/.174 line in 23 plate appearances over seven games. He drove in two runs in this game. Adrian Valerio committed two errors in this game and had one in the last game. While he obviously has all the tools to be a Gold Glove caliber shortstop, at 18 years old, he still needs to find the consistency in the field to reach his huge upside.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Mets2 8, Pirates 5
Starting Pitcher: Argenis Romano, RHP – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Yondry Contreras, CF – 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Jeremias Portorreal, RF – 1-for-4
Melvin Jimenez, 2B – 2-for-4
Game Notes: The Pirates got strong starting pitching from Argenis Romano in a spot start, but Adonis Pichardo followed him and got lit up in his only inning. Romano was signed late in Spring Training after a tryout and he is already 20 years old, so while it’s good to see him succeed, you would rather have seen Pichardo follow him with a strong outing. He is the higher upside prospect, with a fastball that touches mid-90’s. That potential got him a six-figure deal last July. In his only inning of work, Pichardo allowed five runs on five hits and a walk.
Yondry Contreras hit his second homer of the season. He has two hits in each of his last three games. Right before this current mini-streak, he was in a 2-for-28 slump. Jeremias Portorreal had a single to extend his on-base streak to 17 games. He also picked up an outfield assist. Huascar Fuentes hit his fourth homer of the season. Mikell Granberry is 3-for-28 in his last ten games.
