The New York-Penn League named their All-Star teams on Monday and it will basically be like watching a Morgantown game. The Black Bears will be represented by six players and their entire coaching staff, including manager Wyatt Toregas. The game will be held on August 16th, and will be played at the home of the Hudson Valley Renegades. Here’s a look at the six players on the team and how they got there.
Two pitchers made the team, one starter and one reliever. Danny Beddes has been the best starter on the staff this season, so there is no surprise he made the All-Star roster. The 15th round pick out of Utah Valley this year, has a 2.22 ERA in 48.2 innings, with 36 strikeouts, a .211 BAA, a 1.07 WHIP and a 1.20 GO/AO ratio. Beddes had one outing in which he allowed four runs over 3.1 innings, and he’s allowed less than two runs in eight of his other nine games.
Reliever Brandon Bingel was also picked for the team. The 21-year-old righty was a 22nd round pick out of Bryant this year. He goes against the conventional Pirates draft pick, standing just 5’10”, 185 pounds. The results are there though, as he has allowed just one run in his 17 innings, with a .180 BAA and an 0.88 WHIP. It’s interesting to note that he has pitched just once in the last 15 days, and it was an abbreviated outing following six days rest, so there’s a chance he may not be available for the game.
Catcher Kevin Krause makes the team after missing all of last year due to Tommy John surgery. He played in the NYPL in 2014 after he was drafted in the ninth round. Krause showed power potential that season, but now at 23 years old (24 in November) he is one of the older players in the league. He’s hitting .270/.397/.400 in 30 games. He has played 17 games as a catcher and nine in right field, serving as the DH in the other games.
Kevin Mahala was selected in the 18th round this year out of George Washington. He is hitting .296/.372/.370 in 33 games. Most of his starts have come at second base, but he has also played shortstop and third base.
The lowest 2016 draft pick going is Hunter Owen, who has started games at four different positions (2B, 3B, LF, RF). Drafted in the 25th round, Owen got off to a strong start before slumping recently. He is hitting .276/.319/.480 in 34 games. He ranks fifth in the NYPL in slugging. On the downside, he has a 4:31 BB/SO ratio.
Sandy Santos is easily the most interesting player going to the All-Star game from Morgantown. He is a very toolsy player, who can play center field, has a strong arm, speed on the bases and raw power. His story is similar to Hunter Owen. Santos also got off to a very strong start and now he is in a slump, plus his BB/SO ratio is a concern. His overall stats still look decent with a .275/.324/.382 slash line in 37 games, but the 10:40 BB/SO ratio will need to improve. The 22-year-old makes a ton of mental errors on the field, so it is a bit surprising he made the All-Star team. Santos easily has the highest upside of this group.
** Some minor league playoff notes. Indianapolis dropped below .500 last night, as they have faltered without their top pitchers. Their playoff hopes are diminishing quickly with less than four weeks left in the season. In any other division, the GCL Pirates would be closer to elimination than first place, but they are just one game out with a 16-22 record. The Power are in sixth place in their division, yet they trail by 3.5 games, which means they could be on top with a few good days in a row, especially with a doubleheader today. The DSL Pirates could be eliminated from their division today, but not the wild card for at least a couple days. Altoona looks like the best bet to make the playoffs along with Bradenton (first half winners in their division), but that might be it.
** Delvin Hiciano will be pitching soon in the GCL after throwing a bullpen yesterday. It’s probably not a name you recognize, but the reports so far are good. He spent parts of two seasons in the DSL, getting shutdown early due to an arm injury in 2014. He came to the U.S. in 2015 and went through rehab work before being shutdown again, then undergoing Tommy John surgery last June. While he is a bit raw with limited mound time, he was sitting 93-94 MPH last time he pitched and he’s apparently back where he was pre-injury. So he’s an interesting arm, even if he’s a bit older. We have seen Edgar Santana shoot through the system, going from too old for every level in 2014-15, to a normal prospect age for Triple-A now.
PLAYOFF PUSH
Indianapolis is in second place in their division, trailing by seven games. They trail by 12.5 games for the lone wild card spot.
Altoona leads their division by 1.5 games. The top two teams in the division go to the playoffs, with the first place team getting the home field advantage in the first round.
Bradenton won the first half title. They have home field advantage in the playoffs.
West Virginia is in sixth place in their division, trailing first by 3.5 games.
Morgantown is tied for fourth place in their division, trailing first place by 13 games. They are seven games back for the lone wild card spot.
Bristol is in fourth place, trailing by 7.5 games. The top two teams in each division go to the playoffs.
The GCL Pirates are one game back in their division. This is the only league where you have to win your division to make the playoffs.
The DSL Pirates trail their division by 18 games. They trail in the wild card by 15.5 games.
PIRATES GAME GRAPH
The Pirates were off yesterday
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pirates were off on Monday. They begin a three-game series at home against the Padres today with Chad Kuhl getting the start. He needs to be added to the roster before the game. Kuhl threw six shutout innings in his last start. That came nine days after leaving his prior start after one inning due to triceps discomfort. In his last start with the Pirates on July 17th, he threw one-hit ball over six shutout innings. The Padres will counter with Luis Perdomo, who has a 6.67 ERA in 89 innings, with 71 strikeouts and a 1.83 WHIP. The Pirates saw him for one inning earlier this season in relief. He allowed two hits and a walk, though no runs scored.
In the minors, Steven Brault gets the start tonight, coming off a very poor outing in which he gave up five runs over 2.1 innings. In his previous two starts combined, he threw 12 shutout innings, giving up just three hits, while striking out 16 batters. Brandon Waddell looks to build on a start in which he gave up one run over seven innings. He has had control issues with Altoona, with 48 walks in 88 innings. He walked just two batters in 29 innings with Bradenton earlier this season.
Second round pick Travis MacGregor and Jacob Taylor are scheduled for the GCL Pirates during their doubleheader today, though they could end up pitching in the same game. The GCL Pirates were rained out yesterday. West Virginia also has a doubleheader today due to a Monday rain out.
UPDATE: The GCL doubleheader was rained out this morning. The Pirates and Yankees West don’t meet again this season, so both games have been canceled.
MLB: Pittsburgh (55-54) vs Padres (48-63) 7:05 PM
Probable starter: Chad Kuhl (4.19 ERA, 5:13 BB/SO, 19.1 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (58-59) @ Buffalo (57-59) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Steven Brault (2.91 ERA, 26:68 BB/SO, 52.2 IP)
AA: Altoona (62-51) vs Harrisburg (61-53) 7:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Brandon Waddell (4.09 ERA, 48:68 BB/SO, 88.0 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (57-55) vs Palm Beach (46-65) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Buddy Borden (7.34 ERA, 14:19 BB/SO, 30.2 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (56-56) vs Greensboro (62-51) 5:05 PM DH(season preview)
Probable starter: Logan Sendelbach (3.58 ERA, 29:79 BB/SO, 110.2 IP) and Yunior Montero (1.66 ERA, 5:26 BB/SO, 21.2 IP)
Short-Season A: Morgantown (22-28) @ State College (35-15) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable Starter: Stephan Meyer (5.40 ERA, 14:30 BB/SO, 46.2 IP)
Rookie: Bristol (17-27) vs Kingsport (17-28) 6:00 PM (season preview)
GCL: Pirates (16-22) vs Yankees West (15-21) 11:00 AM DH-Canceled (season preview)
DSL: Pirates (22-33) vs Cubs1 (21-33) 10:30 AM (season preview)
HIGHLIGHTS
Here is the sixth home run of the season from Alen Hanson.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
8/8: Delvin Hiciano assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
8/8: Josh Outman assigned to Indianapolis.
8/7: Austin Meadows activated from Indianapolis disabled list.
8/6: Arquimedes Caminero traded to Mariners for two players to be named later. Curtis Partch recalled from Indianapolis
8/6: Jason Creasy assigned to Morgantown on rehab.
8/6: John Kuchno assigned to Indianapolis. Josh Outman assigned to Altoona.
8/6: Chris Harvey assigned to Morgantown
8/4: Ryan Vogelsong activated from disabled list. Max Moroff optioned to Indianapolis.
8/4: Pirates release Wilfredo Boscan.
8/4: Kelvin Marte placed on disabled list.
8/4: Henrry Rosario promoted to Bristol. Sam Kennelly assigned to GCL Pirates.
8/3: Chris Harvey promoted to Indianapolis. Trey Haley sent to Altoona.
8/3: Elvis Escobar promoted to Altoona. Justin Maffei assigned to Bradenton.
8/3: Erik Lunde assigned to Bradenton. Jose Regalado activated from disabled list.
8/2: Wilfredo Boscan placed on disabled list.
8/2: Tomas Morales assigned to Altoona. Chris Diaz activated from temporary inactive list.
8/1: Pirates trade Francisco Liriano, Reese McGuire and Harold Ramirez for Drew Hutchison.
8/1: Pirates acquire Ivan Nova from New York Yankees for players to be named later.
8/1: Pirates trade Jon Niese to New York Mets for Antonio Bastardo and cash.
8/1: Blake Cederlind placed on disabled list. Evan Piechota assigned to Bristol.
8/1: Edgar Santana promoted to Indianapolis.
7/31: Pirates recall Max Moroff. Steven Brault optioned to Indianapolis.
7/31: Erik Lunde assigned to GCL Pirates.
7/30: Pirates trade Mark Melancon to Washington Nationals for Taylor Hearn and Felipe Rivero.
7/29: Pirates recall Steven Brault. A.J. Schugel optioned to Indianapolis.
7/29: Austin Meadows assigned to Morgantown on rehab
7/29: Jin-De Jhang sent to Altoona. Tomas Morales assigned to Bradenton.
7/28: Frank Duncan activated from disabled list.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Three former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, plus a transaction of note involving a Hall of Fame manager. On this date in 1919, the Pirates sent outfielder Casey Stengel to the Philadelphia Phillies for utility fielder Possum Whitted. Stengel refuses to report to Philadelphia after the deal, demanding a raise before he showed up. He ended up getting one the next season, but the Phillies dealt him away prior to the 1921 season. In 35 games for the Pirates in 1919, Whitted had a .389 average. Then he was a starter for the next two seasons, before the Pirates sold him to Brooklyn after the 1922 season.
The players born on this date include:
Matt Morris, 2007-08 pitcher. Sorry, it’s his birthday
Pat Mahomes, relief pitcher for 2003 Pirates. Had a 4.84 ERA in 22.1 innings over nine appearances in his only season in Pittsburgh.
Roman Mejias, member of the 1960 World Series champs. Mejias was signed by the Pirates out of Cuba in 1953 and he hit .216 in 71 games as a rookie for the 1955 Pirates. After spending the next season in the minors, he then played another five years off and on for the Pirates. During the 1960 season, Mejias spent most of the year in the minors, only getting three Major League appearances off the bench in May. After playing four games during the 1961 season, the Pirates lost him to Houston in the expansion draft.
