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Prospect Watch: Tarpley Strikes Out Nine, Holmes Goes Four Shutout Innings

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P2 Top 30

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 (Nick Kingham, Jacob Taylor), 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 the mid-season update, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.

1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List

3. Austin Meadows, CF, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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4. Josh Bell, 1B, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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5. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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6. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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7. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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8. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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9. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia -Disabled List

10. Kevin Newman, SS, West Virginia -[insert_php]
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11. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, GCL -[insert_php]
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12. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bristol -[insert_php]
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13. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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14. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia -[insert_php]
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15. Max Moroff, 2B, Altoona -[insert_php]
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16. Barrett Barnes, OF, Altoona -[insert_php]
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17. Yeudy Garcia, RHP, West Virginia -[insert_php]
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18. Trey Supak, RHP, Bristol -[insert_php]
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19. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Bristol -[insert_php]
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20. Adam Frazier, SS, Altoona -[insert_php]
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21. Willy Garcia, OF, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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22. Steven Brault, LHP, Altoona -[insert_php]
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23. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Morgantown -[insert_php]
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24. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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25. Adrian Valerio, SS, GCL -[insert_php]
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26. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia -[insert_php]
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27. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List

28. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia -[insert_php]
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29. Casey Hughston, OF, Morgantown -[insert_php]
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30. Billy Roth, RHP, Bristol -[insert_php]
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P2 Top Performers

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Indianapolis Indians Prospect Watch

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P2 Game Notes

Keon Broxton extended his on base streak to 33 games with a walk in the third inning. By the end of the night, he also collected three base hits. He scored his 72nd run of the season, which is tops among all Pirates’ minor leaguers and equals last year’s leader in the system.

Josh Bell had a nice game, with two walks and his first AAA homer. He had five homers with Altoona. His homer in this game was off a right-handed pitcher, which continues the trend of showing some power from the left, but none from the right side of the plate. His last homer off a lefty was back on June 10,2014.

Elias Diaz drove in three runs, including a two-run triple in the eighth inning. He also drove in the go-ahead run with a ninth inning sacrifice fly. Another catcher on the roster had a big game, but it wasn’t at the plate or on defense. Wilkin Castillo recorded the final five outs and picked up the win.

A.J. Morris made his second start of the season and it didn’t go well, ending early after he took a liner off the leg in the fourth inning. Morris left with two men on and they both ended up scoring. He gave up three runs in the game, but only one was earned. The Indianapolis staff was short-handed due to the bullpen being used a lot and Wilfredo Boscan being designated for assignment.

Altoona Curve Prospect Watch

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P2 Game Notes

Max Moroff homered for the second straight game, but he still isn’t hitting well lately. He went 1-for-5 in this game, striking out twice. Moroff has struck out in each of his last ten games, 16 times total. He is 5-for-36 over that stretch. Sebastian Valle hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, his third home run of the season. Jose Osuna had two hits and scored two runs. Adam Frazier went 1-for-5 and his average dropped to .338, losing 15 points in the last five games. He is 17 points ahead of the Eastern League leader, and should qualify for the batting title by next weekend if he plays everyday.

Zack Dodson didn’t pitch well in this game, but he put up one very impressive stat. He had a 14:0 GO/AO ratio in this game, which isn’t something you would expect from a pitcher with a 1.17 ratio across the season. It also stands out compared to the hits he gave up, with nine of the 11 being line drives or fly balls.

Bradenton Marauders Prospect Watch

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P2 Game Notes

Clay Holmes started for the first time since July 28th and had a great outing on Sunday. In that last start, he was pulled after two innings and it was said afterwards that it was planned as part of his return from Tommy John surgery. They wanted to limit his workload. While he only had 32.2 innings now total between the GCL and Bradenton in eight starts, he was pitching in Extended Spring Training games a month before his first official game. Before that, he was throwing simulated games, so he has been pitching, but half of his time on the mound won’t show up in the stats.

As for this game, Holmes threw four shutout innings and allowed three base runners. He faced one over the minimum due to two double plays. Holmes kept the ball on the ground, with a 7:2 GO/AO ratio. One of the hits he allowed was an infield single, and he also hit a batter. He retired the last five hitters he faced. The plan was to limit him during the season so he can finish the season strong and then likely see time in instructional ball, which should happen if all goes well from here on out.

The Bradenton bats had a big day, led by homers from Harold Ramirez and Jin-De Jhang. Ramirez connected on a three-run shot in the ninth inning, which put the game out of reach. It was his fourth of the season, one short of his career best set in 2103 with Jamestown. Jhang also hit a three-run homer, which gave the Marauders an early 7-0 lead. His .305 average is just one point behind Austin Meadows, leaving them 5th/6th in the FSL. Six players in the lineup had at least two hits, including Meadows, who hit his 18th double and drew a walk. He leads the FSL with 128 hits. Meadows drove in two runs in the game. Edwin Espinal had three hits, one day after reaching base three times, snapping an extended slump.

West Virginia Power Prospect Watch

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P2 Game Notes

Stephen Tarpley wasn’t at his best early on Sunday, but he certainly finished strong. He went seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits, two walks a hit batter. Three of the hits he gave up were doubles. He allowed solo runs in the third and fourth, after the Power staked him to an early 3-0 lead. Tarpley didn’t retire the side in order until the fifth inning when he struck out the side, giving him seven strikeouts in the game. In the sixth, he needed just five pitches to get three ground ball outs, giving him an 9:0 GO/AO ratio in the game.

Tarpley finished strong in the seventh, with two strikeouts and a ground out. The nine strikeouts are a season high and one short of his career high set last August. He threw 100 pitches in the game, 62 for strikes. Tarpley now has a 2.34 ERA, which would be top five in the SAL, but he’s about 5-6 innings short of having enough to qualify for league leaders. In 84.2 innings, he has 85 strikeouts. He has allowed two earned runs or less in 13 of his 15 starts.

Jordan Luplow continued his strong season, hitting his tenth homer and drawing three walks. He leads all Pirates’ players with 33 doubles and the ten homers tie him for third highest. His .810 OPS coming into Sunday’s action, was tied with Michael Suchy for ninth best in the SAL. Luplow drove in two runs and scored twice. He now has an eight-game hit streak. Chase Simpson also connected on his tenth homer, a two-run shot in the second inning. Pablo Reyes had three hits, a walk and he stole his 20th base. Along with Cole Tucker and Tito Polo, the Power now have three players with 20 or more steals. Earlier in the day, Tucker was placed on the disabled list and first round pick Kevin Newman will take his place, making his debut on Monday.

 

West Virginia Black Bears Prospect Watch

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P2 Game Notes

Pirates’ fifth round pick Brandon Waddell made his pro debut on Sunday. He last pitched on June 24th for Virginia in the final game of the College World Series. He was scheduled to go three innings in this game and almost didn’t get out of the first inning. There were two hard hits in the first, with a run scoring on a long double. He also walked a batter, running up his pitch count. All three outs in the inning were ground outs. In the second, he settled in and retired the side in order with a ground out and his first two strikeouts.

Waddell started the third inning with another strikeout, then another grounder for the second out. He couldn’t retire eight batters in a row to end his night though, going 0-2 on the third batter, before he gave up a 3-2 line drive single to right field. He finished the third with his fourth strikeout. It was a solid debut for the lefty on 45 days rest.

The offense was very quiet in this game, except for All-Star Logan Hill. He drove in the tying run in the sixth inning, then put the Black Bears ahead in the top of the ninth with a solo homer. It’s his sixth homer of the season, which is one more than all of his teammates combined this year. His homer was the only extra-base hit for Morgantown.

Mitchell Tolman had a good game in the lead-off spot, with two hits, a walk and he scored the run driven in by Hill in the sixth. He was replacing two people in this game, taking the top spot in the order from Kevin Newman, who was promoted. He was also playing second base in place of the injured Kevin Kramer, who should return in the next 2-3 days. Tolman was the college Gold Glove winner this year at third base. He also leads the team in on base percentage, so if he’s able to play above average defense at multiple positions and get on base often, he could be a valuable player down the line.

Shortstop Logan Ratledge has started off 0-for-14 for Morgantown since joining the team last week. With Bristol, the 13th round pick was 1-for-26 in his first six games.

 

Bristol Pirates Prospect Watch1

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P2 Game Notes

 

Tenth round pick Logan Sendelbach has had a tough time in pro ball, giving up a lot of runs and hits. This game didn’t hurt his ERA, since only one of the five runs he allowed was earned. He has a 7.96 ERA in seven starts and a relief appearance. Sendelbach did good in a couple areas, with no walks and four strikeouts, plus a 9:4 GO/AO ratio.

Bristol’s only run came from a lead-off homer in the ninth inning from Henrry Rosario, his second of the year. Unfortunately, the Pirates were already down 8-0 at that time, as the offense had a terrible time getting runners into scoring position. They had six singles and a double, which came from Nick Buckner, who ended up getting thrown out at home on a single by the next hitter. That kept the game scoreless early and the single ended up being their only hit all game with runners in scoring position. Carlos Munoz had two hits. Trae Arbet committed his 13th error.

GCL Pirates Prospect Watch

The GCL Pirates are off on Sunday.

 

DSL Pirates Prospect Watch

The DSL Pirates are off on Sunday.

John Dreker
John Dreker
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball. When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.

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