A look at how the current top 30 prospects did today. If a player is in the majors for an extended time (Jose Osuna), or loses his prospect eligibility, he will be removed from this list. 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 more active prospects on the list. Rankings are from the 2017 Prospect Guide, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Austin Meadows, CF, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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2. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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3. Kevin Newman, SS, Altoona – [insert_php]
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4. Cole Tucker, SS, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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5. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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6. Will Craig, 3B, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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7. Taylor Hearn, LHP, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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8. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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9. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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10. Steven Brault, LHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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11. Clay Holmes, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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12. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Extended Spring Training – [insert_php]
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13. Max Kranick, RHP, Extended Spring Training – [insert_php]
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14. Elias Diaz, C, Pirates – [insert_php]
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15. Edgar Santana, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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16. Luis Escobar, RHP, West Virginia – [insert_php]
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17. Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP, Pirates – [insert_php]
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18. Yeudy Garcia, RHP, Altoona -[insert_php]
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19. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Altoona -[insert_php]
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20. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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21. Stephen Alemais, SS, West Virginia – [insert_php]
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22. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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23. Travis MacGregor, RHP, Extended Spring Training – [insert_php]
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24. Barrett Barnes, LF, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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25. Max Moroff, 2B, Pirates -[insert_php]
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26. Eric Wood, 3B, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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27. J.T. Brubaker, RHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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28. Chris Bostick, INF/OF, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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29. Connor Joe, 3B, Altoona – [insert_php]
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30. Pat Light, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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Indianapolis lost 8-1 on Friday night, as Nick Kingham had his second straight poor performance. He allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits, three walks and a hit batter in 4.1 innings. He gave up two long homers in this game, as well as two doubles and some other hard hits. His fastball was getting hit hard, and he didn’t have any success in the game until he started mixing his pitches better.
Despite the pitching line, his curve looked good and his changeup was terrific on this night. Kingham also went 4.1 innings in his last start before being knocked out of the game. His fastball seems to be the big issue. He’s sitting low-90s and getting nice downward plane on it, but he’s getting too much of the plate and batters are squaring him up.
Kingham’s pitching line got some help from Danny Ortiz. After exiting with the bases loaded, Cody Dickson came on and immediately gave up a liner into right field. Ortiz was playing deep and faked like he was going to catch the ball, then played it on one hop and fired a strike to home plate for a force out. Dickson got the next batter out, stranding all three inherited runners.
Antonio Bastardo had a rough game, recording just one out before being removed. He gave up a run on three walks. Josh Lindblom also made a rehab appearance and gave up one run over 1.2 innings.
The offense stranded ten runners and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Eric Wood, Barrett Barnes and Anderson Feliz each collected doubles. Feliz was the only batter with two hits. Gift Ngoepe is 4-for-29 since being sent down. Chris Bostick is now 4-for-25 this month after an 0-for-3 night.
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Altoona lost 10-1 on Friday night, as Alex McRae took one on the chin to help save the bullpen on a night when nothing was working for him. McRae lasted 5.1 innings despite allowing run in every frame except the fourth. He ended up surrendering 14 hits on the night, to go along with eight runs (seven earned), one walk and three strikeouts. It was a typical McRae day in that he threw 62 of his 98 pitches for strikes, while posting a 9:2 GO/AO ratio. His ERA has nearly doubled in the last month, going from 1.96 back on May 12th, just 3.88 after this game. His previous career high for hits allowed was 12, and his previous high this season was eight during a seven inning outing.
Jared Lakind was the only other “reliever” to pitch in this game. He gave up one run over 2.2 innings. Chase Simpson finished the game off with one run in the ninth. Despite being a 1B/3B, Simpson could have a future in pitching. During his outing earlier this season, he hit 91 MPH and flashed a decent curve that froze a batter for a strikeout. He also pitched once last year for Bradenton.
Jin-De Jhang and Wyatt Mathisen led the offense in this game. Jhang had three singles and drove in the only run. Mathisen had two hits to raise his average to .321, plus he drew a walk. Pablo Reyes batted lead-off and played shortstop. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. A Connor Joe single was the only other base runner for the Curve. Kevin Kramer dropped under .300 by going 0-for-4, while also committing an error.
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Bradenton won 8-4 on Friday night, as Taylor Hearn survived a tough second inning to pick up the win. Hearn pitched well in each of his last two starts, giving up two runs over 13 innings, while picking up 15 strikeouts. His control was off early in this game, which led to a big second inning in which Dunedin put four runs on the board. Hearn remained in and the only runners he allowed over the final 2.2 innings of his five inning performance were on an error and a fielder’s choice. He was throwing just 50% strikes through three innings, then started pounding the strike zone in the fourth and fifth for two quick frames. Hearn finished with four strikeouts and a 6:5 GO/AO ratio.
Three relievers shutdown Dunedin after Hearn left. Jake Brentz allowed one hit in his two scoreless innings while striking out three batters. Yunior Montero retired all three batters he faced, then Seth McGarry lowered his ERA to 1.16 with a scoreless ninth.
Will Craig had three hits and a walk last night. He followed that up with two doubles, a walk and a pair of RBIs. He now has 15 doubles on the season. Craig has multi-hit games in six of his last nine contests, as well as four walks over that time. Ke’Bryan Hayes hit his fourth triple, to go alone with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Christian Kelley connected on his second home run of the season. Logan Hill had a double and an RBI. He now has 12 doubles to go along with two triples and 14 homers. Logan Ratledge had two hits, two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.
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West Virginia lost 7-4 to Greensboro, as they committed three errors in the tenth inning, leading to three unearned runs and the loss. Cam Vieaux started this game and he has been off lately after an amazing start to the season. He began the year with six earned runs over seven starts. That total included one shutout performance and six games in which he allowed one run each. Since then, he has given up four runs, three runs and four runs in his last three starts. He got a little help from Dylan Prohoroff, who stranded two inherited runners during his 1.1 scoreless innings. Geoff Hartlieb was the tough luck loser, going three innings with no earned runs allowed to lower his ERA to 0.94 through 28.2 innings this season. He had four strikeouts and an 8:0 GO/AO ratio.
The offense scored twice in the second and twice in the fifth. Carlos Munoz and Hunter Owen had back-to-back doubles to start the frame. Owen would score on an Andrew Walker single. Owen and Walker combined for the three errors in the tenth inning. In the fifth, a Ty Moore double scored Walker and Clark Eagan, who reached base after failing to advance a runner to third base with a sacrifice bunt. Walker was the only Power hitter to collect two hits in the game.
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The DSL Pirates won 4-3 on Friday to move to a 4-2 record on the season. Top prospect Jean Eusebio had the big hit in this game, collecting a two-run double in the third inning to give the Pirates an early 3-0 lead. The Pirates scored a run in the first inning on two errors and added a run in the fourth on two singles and a sacrifice fly by Ronaldo Paulino. Eusebio finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk. Outfield prospect Pedro Castillo was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Emison Soto had a double, two runs scored and his fourth stolen base.
Starter Noe Toribio went five innings, allowing just one run, which was unearned. He gave up four hits and a walk, while striking out five batters and uncorking three wild pitches. Pablo Santana followed with two runs over three innings, posting an 3:0 BB/SO ratio and a 5:1 GO/AO ratio. In his second game back from Tommy John surgery, Angel Vasquez threw a scoreless ninth inning for the save. He allowed a double, but struck out the other three batters he faced.
