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Prospect Watch: Final Regular Season Starts for Clay Holmes and Frank Duncan

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P2 Top 30

A look at how the current top 30 prospects did today. If a player is in the majors and loses his prospect eligibility, 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 the 2016 mid-season update, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.

We’re working on a solution for the PHP stat codes not working in the app.

1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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2. Austin Meadows, CF, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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3. Josh Bell, 1B, Pirates – [insert_php]
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4. Kevin Newman, SS, Altoona – [insert_php]
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5. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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7.Cole Tucker, SS, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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8. Chad Kuhl, RHP, Pirates – [insert_php]
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9. Will Craig, 3B, Morgantown –  [insert_php]
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10. Steven Brault, LHP, Pirates – [insert_php]
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11. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, West Virginia -[insert_php]
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12. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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13. Clay Holmes, RHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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14. Yeudy Garcia, RHP, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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15. Gage Hinsz, RHP, West Virginia  – [insert_php]
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16. Trevor Williams, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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17. Alen Hanson, 2B, Pirates – [insert_php]
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18. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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19. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Altoona -[insert_php]
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20. Max Moroff, 2B, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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21. Taylor Hearn, LHP, West Virginia – [insert_php]
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22. Adrian Valerio, SS – Bristol – [insert_php]
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23. Braeden Ogle, LHP, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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24. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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25. Travis MacGregor, RHP, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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26. Max Kranick, RHP, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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27. Frank Duncan, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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28. Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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29. Connor Joe, 3B, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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30. Erich Weiss, 2B, Altoona – [insert_php]
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P2 Top Performers

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Prospect-Watch-Indy

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INDIANAPOLIS — This was not how Frank Duncan wanted to end his minor league season, allowing more earned runs in the first inning than any of his previous 19 starts.

Duncan had a rough first inning against Louisville on Friday, allowing four earned runs on five hits. He wasn’t necessarily hit very hard, but allowed four of the runs with two outs.

“I didn’t like his sequences in the first inning and the balls were elevated,” Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor said. “Balls have a tendency not to sink when they’re elevated.”

Duncan had an unexpected change behind the plate about an hour prior to the game, when Elias Diaz was scratched as the starter due to a sore knee.

“I don’t think it’s a big deal,” Treanor said. “More precautionary than anything else. He said he thought his knee was sore a little bit, so I didn’t feel the need for him to squat back there for [154] pitches.”

The 10 hits Duncan allowed were a season-high, but he had other games where a higher number of hits didn’t translate to many runs.

“He’s given up his hits but he’s pitched out of trouble,” Treanor said. “He’s been able to make a pitch to get out of innings or minimize damage. He wasn’t able to do that tonight. We had a lot of chances to stop that inning and he wasn’t able to make a pitch.”

After he allowed four runs in the first inning, Duncan knew he had to move past that rough inning and salvage his outing. And while he didn’t have his best stuff, Duncan did that, giving up just one run on five hits over the final five innings. Duncan allowed five runs on 10 hits in six innings, walking three and striking out three. He threw 61 of his 93 pitches for a strike.

“I thought I did a good job of battling through some stuff and not having my best stuff,” Duncan said. “I was able to keep the ball on the ground and I had [eight] groundballs and a bunch of singles, so you take it with a grain of salt.”

Duncan had not allowed more than three earned runs in any outing this season, while he allowed two earned runs or less in 17 of his 19 starts.

“That will definitely leave a bad taste in my mouth,” Duncan said. “I definitely feel good about what I’ve done this year and I think going forward this outing is almost good. I’m not going to pitch well every single time out there. Not that I needed to be humbled, but having an outing like this I guarantee I will be excited to get back out there in spring training and whenever my next time on the mound is. You take it as a learning experience and try to build on it.”

Duncan had control issues from the beginning, falling behind lead-off hitter Juan Perez 3-0 before allowing a single to leftfield. Dilson Herrera followed with a bloop single and Hernan Iribarren had an RBI single to rightfield.

Duncan started to get out of trouble, inducing a fielder’s choice and a popout. But the Bats scored three runs with two outs, the first of those on Jacob Stallings’ errant throw to first base on a pickoff attempt. Carlos Triunfel added an RBI double, and Chris Berseret had an RBI single.

Louisville worked consecutive two-out walks in the second inning, but couldn’t score. Duncan needed 26 pitches to get out of the second inning, and threw 50 pitches in the first two innings.

In the third inning, Duncan needed just seven pitches to retire the side in order on a flyout and two groundouts. That was by far his best inning of his outing.

Duncan retired the first two batters of the fourth inning — Louisville’s eighth hitter and the pitcher. Perez and Herrera walked, before Iribarren singled to center. On the play, Danny Ortiz’s throw home was slightly off target, but Jacob Stallings made a nice play to catch the ball and dive to tag out the runner to end the inning.

Louisville rightfielder Jesse Winker doubled with one out in the fifth inning. Duncan struck out Triunfel for the second out of the inning, but allowed an RBI single to Chris Berset.

Duncan allowed a lead-off single in the sixth inning to Beau Amaral, but he was taken off the basepaths when he was caught stealing by Stallings. A strikeout and groundout not only ended the inning, but Duncan’s 2016 minor league season.

Jhondaniel Medina pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three batters. Josh Smith did not have the same success in relief, allowing four runs on four hits in one inning.

Jesse Winker hit a three-run double with two outs in the ninth inning; and Triunfel followed with an RBI double off the leftfield wall.

After facing a 4-0 deficit before getting one at-bat, Indianapolis slowly made things slightly interesting prior to Smith allowing four runs in the ninth inning.

Duncan helped his own cause in the second inning with an RBI single that scored Danny Ortiz. The Indians loaded the bases and Max Moroff showed a good approach against El’Hajj Muhammad, who was making his Triple-A debut. Moroff jumped on the first pitch and hit a hard RBI single to rightfield.

Ortiz had a nice game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a deep home run to rightfield in the sixth inning. The homer was his 17th of the season and is the most of any player in the Pirates minor league organization. Ortiz also had a double in the game and was a triple short of hitting for the cycle.

Stallings had a nice game with a pair of singles, while throwing out a runner trying to steal and making the nice play tagging out a runner at home. But he did have the one error on the pick-off attempt. – Brian Peloza

Prospect-Watch-Altoona-Curve

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Altoona had a chance to clinch a playoff berth and first place with a win on Friday night, but they came up short, losing 4-2 to Richmond. They can still clinch a playoff spot if Harrisburg loses tonight (currently 3-3 in the 8th). Clay Holmes started and he battled some control issues through 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and five walks. He had three strikeouts and an 8:3 GO/AO ratio. Holmes finishes his first full year back from Tommy John surgery with a 4.22 ERA in 136.1 innings, compiling 101 strikeouts and putting together an extremely impressive 2.94 GO/AO ratio.

Altoona had six hits in the game, though only one of those hits came after they scored two runs in the third inning. Kevin Newman had two of those hits and drove in a run. He has been in a slump since being moved to the third spot in the order, batting .225 during the month of August. Erich Weiss drove in a run with his 24th double of the season. Anderson Feliz had two hits, while Elvis Escobar added a single and a run scored.

Prospect-Watch-Bradenton

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Bradenton had their doubleheader today rained out. They will attempt to play a doubleheader tomorrow.

Prospect-Watch-WV-Power

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West Virginia lost 8-4 on Friday night, as Bret Helton had his season end on a sour note. Helton gave up five earned runs in the second inning, then two more in the fourth before being knocked out of the game. He finished the season with a 4.44 ERA in 135.2 innings. Helton was followed by Yunior Montero, who retired all ten batters he faced, three by strikeouts.

Both Danny Arribas and Ryan Nagle collected their 20th doubles of the season. The Power had six hits in the game, with four singles added to those two doubles. Down 7-1 in the sixth, they made a small comeback by putting three runs on the board. It started with a Mitchell Tolman walk, which was followed by a Logan Hill single and the double by Arribas, which scored Tolman. Carlos Munoz then singled home both runs, with the second run scoring on a fielding error. Greenville went to their bullpen and the reliever got two fly balls to end the threat.

Prospect-Watch-Morgantown

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Morgantown won 7-4 on Friday night, getting them closer to the .500 mark with three games left on the schedule. The Black Bears have won four straight games, giving them a 36-37 record. Danny Beddes ended his season on a high note despite some control issues. He threw six shutout innings, allowing two hits and four walks. He struck out three batters and posted a 7:1 GO/AO ratio. Tenth round pick Matt Anderson had a rough game, giving up four runs in his two innings. He struck out 40 batters this season in 28.2 innings, yet he still had a 5.02 ERA. Neil Kozikowski picked up the save with a scoreless ninth, despite putting three runners on base.

Will Craig extended his on base streak to 34 games with two singles. He also drove in three runs. Sandy Santos had two hits, two runs and a walk. Ty Moore had three hits and drove in two runs. Everyone in the Morgantown lineup reached base safely at least once, and Albert Baur was the only player without a hit.

Prospect-Watch-Bristol
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The Bristol Pirates have finished their season.

Prospect-Watch-GCL

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The GCL Pirates have finished their season.

Prospect-Watch-DSL

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The DSL Pirates have finished their season.

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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