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-4, BB, SB
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 0-for-5, BB
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 2-for-5, 2B
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 – 1-for-5, SB
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – DNP
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
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – 6.0 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Indianapolis – 0-for-3
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 1-for-3, BB
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – 1-for-4, 2B, BB
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 3-for-5, HR
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Altoona – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – 2-for-3
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – 2-for-4, 2B
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Angel Sanchez, RHP – 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 3-for-5, HR
Home Runs: Wyatt Mathisen (1), Carlos Munoz (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 3, Columbus 1
Starting Pitcher: Angel Sanchez, RHP – 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gift Ngoepe, SS – 1-for-2, 2B, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Brent Morel, 3B – 1-for-4, 3B
Keon Broxton, LF – 0-for-2, 2 BB, SB
Corey Hart, 1B – 1-for-4
Game Notes: Angel Sanchez had easily his best start since being promoted to Indianapolis. Sanchez possessed plus movement and location, which showed in the results of nine strikeouts. With a fastball in the low 90s, and off speed pitches in the mid 80s, Sanchez possessed a nice split in velocity as well.
Brad Lincoln allowed a run on a hit and a walk in relief of Sanchez. Yhonathan Barrios worked the ninth to nail down the save.
Brent Morel continued his hot streak to wrap up June with a triple, while Gift Ngoepe picked up a double for his first Triple-A hit. Corey Hart added an RBI single and scored from first in his first game of a rehab stint. – Ryan Palencer
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Trenton 4, Altoona 3
Starting Pitcher: Chad Kuhl, RHP – 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Max Moroff, 2B – 3-for-5, 2B, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Adam Frazier, SS – 3-for-6
Sebastian Valle, C – 2-for-4, BB
Brett McKinney, RHP – 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Adam Frazier picked up his second three hit game in his last three games, and his fourth multi-hit game in his last seven. Frazier played shortstop again, which is a position he has taken over the last few games since Gift Ngoepe’s promotion to Indianapolis. He played the position last year in Bradenton, before moving to more of a super utility role this year with Ngoepe on the same roster. Max Moroff was Frazier’s double play partner last year at second base, and the two are united once again in Altoona. They worked well together at the top of the lineup tonight, with Moroff also picking up three hits, for his third straight multi-hit game.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 12, Brevard County 6
Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP – 6.0 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 3-for-5, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Chris Diaz, SS – 3-for-5
Austin Meadows, CF – 3-for-4, BB, SB
Erich Weiss, 2B – 2-for-4, 2B
Barrett Barnes, LF – 1-for-3, BB
Reese McGuire, C – 2-for-5, 2B
Michael Fransoso, RF – 2-for-5, 2B
Game Notes: Bradenton’s offense exploded tonight for 12 runs on 18 hits. That was led by Wyatt Mathisen, who had three hits, including his first homer of the year. Chris Diaz and Austin Meadows also had three hit games. Meadows is on a mini-hot streak, going 11-for-18 in his last four games. He also stole his 11th base of the year. Erich Weiss, Reese McGuire, and Michael Fransoso all had multiple hits, and a double. It was the 12th double of the year for Weiss and the 9th for McGuire. Cody Dickson had some control issues his last few outings, with 12 walks in 17.2 innings over three starts. He didn’t have control problems tonight, but was giving up a lot of hits, with his ten hits being just one shy of the combined total from the previous three games.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Kannapolis 7, West Virginia 3
Starting Pitcher: Colten Brewer, RHP – 5.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Taylor Gushue, C – 2-for-4, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Jordan Luplow, 3B – 1-for-3, BB
Connor Joe, 1B – 1-for-4, 2B, BB
Chase Simpson, DH – 2-for-4
Tito Polo, CF – 2-for-3
Game Notes: Colten Brewer is having some tough luck with his numbers this year. He has been giving up about a hit per inning, and hasn’t given up many walks, with 15 in 53 innings after tonight’s outing. He has been striking out a lot of batters, now having 48 strikeouts on the season. Despite this, his ERA jumped to 5.43 after tonight’s outing. A big reason for his poor ERA is due to an unlucky strand rate, which was 60% before the game. Connor Joe hit his eighth double of the year. Taylor Gushue added his ninth double of the season.
A: WEST VIRGINIA BLACK BEARS
Result: West Virginia 6, Hudson Valley 4
Starting Pitcher: Hector Garcia, LHP – 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Ty Moore, LF – 3-for-4
Other Notable Performers:
Logan Hill, RF – 2-for-4, 2B
Kevin Newman, SS – 2-for-4, 2B
Game Notes: The West Virginia Black Bears, played with resolve and defeated the Hudson Valley Renegades at Monongalia County Ballpark by a score of 6-4. The win was especially satisfying as the team has been struggling offensively and looked listless in the first two games of the series.
It was an interesting night in Morgantown, as Steve Blass was on hand to throw out the first pitch. Due to heavy rain, the start of the game was delayed over an hour. Once the game got under way, starting pitcher, Hector Garcia, who entered the game with a 0.00 ERA after two starts, promptly walked the first two batters. After a strike out, a walk, and another strike out, Garcia was poised to escape the inning without any damage. However, with the bases full of Renegades, without a ball having been put in play, Garcia walked the 6th hitter in the Hudson Valley line up, on four pitches, to force in the first run of the game. That proved the end of Garcia’s night. Jonathan Minier came on in relief and ended the threat by striking out Hudson Valley’s number seven hitter to get out of the jam.
The control issues were out of character for Garcia, who entered the game having walked just one batter in his first two starts (8 total innings pitched). Garcia, who is just 19 years old, is a left-hander from the Dominican Republic. He had been the Bears’ most effective starter entering the game. Opponents were only batting .107 against him and he had a WHIP of 0.50. Both lead the league. Manager Wyatt Toregas said he wasn’t sure if the rain delay affected his pitcher, but that he just could not command his fastball.
The Bears answered in the bottom of the first with a little two-out lightning. Ty Moore, who has been red hot at the plate, went the opposite way for an infield single. Logan Hill, drafted in the 25th round out of Troy, and one of the biggest characters on the team, drilled a rocket off the 375-foot marker on the left field wall, driving in Moore. Hill was stranded at second when 3rd round pick, Casey Hughston, struck out. Hughston entered the game mired in a 1-26 slump to start his season. Hill has been driving the ball as well an anyone on the team.
Moore and Hill were at it again in the bottom of the third. With two out, Moore singled sharply up the middle. Then, with the count full, Hill bounced a single up the middle. Moore, who was running on the pitch, motored to third, but never broke stride as Manager Wyatt Toregas was waving him home. The Hudson Valley center fielder, was nonchalant and it cost them as Moore came all the way around to score. It was good to see the aggressive mentality, as Toregas had been upset with his team’s “focus, mind-set and effort” the night before. Hill was left stranded a second time, as Hughston again struck out swinging. This play seemed to set the tone for the Bears.
Minier, who worked out of the first inning, was exceptional as he did not allow a run through the fifth. He threw a nice breaking ball to keep the hitters off-balance and his fastball touched 95 MPH. He threw both a two-seam and four-seam fastball.
“He was the player of the game,” Toregas exclaimed. “He came in and shut them down.”
The Bears had a chance to break the game open in the bottom of the fifth, but were only able to score one run. Fifth round pick out of Oregon, Mitchell Tolman, led off with a single. Kevin Kramer followed with a line drive single to left that skidded under the left fielders glove, on the wet turf, as the ball rolled to the wall allowing Tolman to score and Kramer to move to second. Top pick, Kevin Newman, who has been struggling at the plate, laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line for a hit, moving Kramer to third. With runners on first and third, and nobody out, Moore hit a line shot to right. The right fielder broke in and short-hopped the ball. Kramer, who was tagging on the play as it was a difficult read, was thrown out at the plate trying to score. The official scorer ruled it a single for Moore, though it should have been a 9-2 fielder’s choice. With runners now on first and second with one out, Hill followed with a fly ball to center for the second out and Hughston weakly grounded to third to end the inning.
Six-foot, eight inch Eric Dorsch relieved to start the sixth. Dorsch gave up a walk, two singles and a double which resulted in Hudson Valley taking the lead, 4-3. A key play occurred with runners at first and third. The Renegade runner at first attempted to steal second; the throw glanced off the glove of shortstop Kevin Newman, who should have gloved the throw though the error was charged to catcher, Christian Kelley. This allowed the runner on third to score as the ball rolled away. Dorsch settled down to pitch a scoreless 7th and 8th.
The Bears rallied in the bottom of the seventh, Kramer worked a one-out walk and Newman followed with a line drive double, down the left field line, putting runners on second and third with one out. With the infield playing back, Moore hit a sharp ground ball to second scoring Kramer which tied the score at 4 apiece and moving Newman to third. It was a very good at bat for the left-handed hitting Moore who was facing a left-handed pitcher. Hill made the final out with a lazy fly ball to right.
Hughston drew a walk to lead off the 8th, after a sacrifice moved him to second, Daniel Arribas hit a soft bouncer to the third baseman who threw the ball away. However, Hughston had not been moving to third on the soft bouncer and was unable to score. It became a moot point when Kelley lofted a sacrifice fly to center scoring Hughston. Arribas scored, pushing the lead to 6-4, when the Renegade first baseman bobbled Tolman’s grounder which should have been the third out. However, Tolman deserves credit on this play as it was an easy, routine ground ball to the first baseman, yet Tolman hustled all the way, beating the play at first.
Julio Eusebio came on in the 9th to close things out setting the Renegades down in order.
Besides the aggressive base-running, highlights included the following: Kramer had three quality at bats despite only one hit. Newman had two hits, along with Hill. Ty Moore stayed hot at the plate with four good at bats in four plate appearances.
In the not so good category, Hudson Valley ran at will on the Bears’ pitchers and catcher, Christian Kelley. They had six stolen bases in seven attempts. Casey Hughston continues to struggle. He is now 1-for-29 on the season.
As a team, the Black Bears definitely played with more hustle, desire and showed some fight. They played hard, which is a step in the right direction.
“There is no quit in this team,” Toregas said after the game. “We were aggressive in everything we did tonight. We were aggressive at the plate, on the mound and on the bases.”
In addition, the verbal communication was better. In a replay of last night, Hudson Valley’s runner broke from second with the pitcher in the set position. Last night, there was no communication and the runner was able to get back to his base safely. Tonight, the “step off” call from the infielders quickly alerted Dorsch, who stepped off the rubber and easily threw out the runner attempting to take third. – Jamey Conlin
RK: BRISTOL PIRATES
Result: Elizabethton 3, Bristol 1
Starting Pitcher: Marek Minarik, RHP – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Carlos Munoz, DH – 1-for-3, HR, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Henrry Rosario, LF – 1-for-4, 2B
Carlos Ozuna, 2B – 1-for-3
Game Notes: Bristol didn’t have a great night on offense, getting just three hits. One of those hits was a home run from Carlos Munoz. He was a designated hitter tonight, and outside of that position, he is limited strictly to first base due to his size. Munoz has shown a good ability to hit for average and get on base, with almost twice as many walks as strikeouts in his career. He has lacked power at times, but improved on that last year, and is doing well in a small sample size this year. Munoz is a big player, and his size raises doubts that he can continue with this success in the higher levels as he gets older and potentially adds more weight to his frame.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Yankees 5, Pirates 4
Starting Pitcher: Jacob Taylor, RHP – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Luis Benitez, RF – 2-for-5, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Jared Lakind, LHP – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Ke’Bryan Hayes, DH – 1-for-4, SB
Raul Siri, 2B – 1-for-4, BB, SB
Game Notes: Fourth round pick Jacob Taylor made his debut today, throwing two shutout innings with no hits or runs. He did have some control problems, walking three batters, while striking out two. Jared Lakind went two shutout innings, giving up a hit, no walks, and striking out one. This was his third rehab outing, and the first one where he went multiple innings, which is a good step for a reliever’s rehab process. Ke’Bryan Hayes stole his first base of the year in his second game.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Braves 13, Pirates 7
Starting Pitcher: Domingo Robles, LHP – 4.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Felix Vinicio, DH – 3-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Yondry Contreras, CF – 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI
Christopher Perez, SS – 1-for-2, RBI, BB
Game Notes: The DSL Pirates lost 13-7 to the Braves in a game that included a total of 30 hits. The Braves scored in every inning from the 2nd through the 8th, and likely would have scored in the ninth if they weren’t the home team. Pirates’ starter Domingo Robles gave up six of those runs and three relievers each got touched up for at least one run. Robles was a six-figure signing on July 2nd last year and he has not looked good through six starts. He has a 5.88 ERA, a .327 BAA and a 1.73 WHIP through 26 innings.
The pitching was bad, but the batters had a good day. Yondry Contreras had two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs. Felix Vinicio had a single, double and a triple, giving him a .382 average on the season. Everyone in the starting lineup except Jeremias Portorreal had at least one hit and he drew two walks. He has walked 20 times this season in 23 games.
