A look at how the current top 30 prospects did today. If a player is in the majors for an extended time, 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 Mid-Season Update, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Mitch Keller, RHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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2. Austin Meadows, CF, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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3. Shane Baz, RHP, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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4. Cole Tucker, SS, Altoona – [insert_php]
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5. Kevin Newman, SS, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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6. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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7. Will Craig, 1B, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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8. Elias Diaz, C, Pirates – [insert_php]
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9. Taylor Hearn, LHP, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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10. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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11. Calvin Mitchell, OF, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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12. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Bristol – [insert_php]
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13. Edgar Santana, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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14. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Altoona -[insert_php]
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15. Steven Brault, LHP, Pirates– [insert_php]
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16. Clay Holmes, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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17. Jordan Luplow, LF, Pirates – [insert_php]
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18. Luis Escobar, RHP, West Virginia – [insert_php]
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19. Max Kranick, RHP, Bristol – [insert_php]
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20. Steven Jennings, RHP, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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21. Adrian Valerio, SS, West Virginia – [insert_php]
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22. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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23. Conner Uselton, OF, GCL Pirates – Disabled List
24. Max Moroff, INF, Pirates – [insert_php]
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25. Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP, Pirates – [insert_php]
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26. Eric Wood, 3B, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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27. Eduardo Vera, RHP, West Virginia – [insert_php]
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28. Logan Hill, LF, Altoona – [insert_php]
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29. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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30. Lolo Sanchez, CF, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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Indianapolis won game one of a doubleheader today by a 7-1 score, as Tyler Eppler pitched a complete game on 80 pitches. He gave up six hits on the day, with the only run scoring on a fifth inning home run. Eppler didn’t walk anyone and struck out two batters, while posting a 7:4 GO/AO ratio. This is his second straight start of one run on six hits and no walks in seven innings.
The Indians lost Jordan Luplow to the majors on Monday and Austin Meadows to injury yesterday, but all three outfielders helped them win this game. Joey Terdoslavich drove in three runs. Christopher Bostick had a single, walk and scored two runs. Danny Ortiz had two hits, a stolen base and a run scored. They also got help from Kevin Newman, who hit two doubles and drove in a run. Jacob Stallings continued his strong hitter by going 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.
Game Two Recap: Indianapolis lost game two in eight innings, as Brandon Cumpton served up the walk-off homer for the 4-3 loss. Cody Dickson started and allowed three runs over three innings. The bullpen of Brett McKinney, Dan Runzler and Cumpton kept Louisville off the board again until that home run with two outs.
The big hit in the game for Indianapolis was a two-run homer from Danny Ortiz, his 15th of the season. Eric Wood connected on his 24th double and also walked and scored a run. Kevin Newman and Barrett Barnes each struck out as pinch-hitters.
Indianapolis had a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a win in this game, as second place Columbus lost earlier to drop the magic number down to one.
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RICHMOND, Va. – Altoona lost to Richmond, 2-1, in 15 innings. Starter Alex McRae struggled with the strike zone but hung on to allow just one run in six innings. That came quickly as the first three batters got hits, leaving runners at the corners with no outs. McRae got a popup and a double play to end the threat.
McRae threw the standard four pitches, with a fastball mostly 90-92. He didn’t show any swing and miss pitch. His out pitch is generally his slider and he threw it a lot. The pitch wasn’t effective, though, because he seldom threw it for strikes and the hitters didn’t chase it. McRae’s curve and change were actually more effective, although he threw them less often. He ultimately allowed seven hits and three walks, but was helped by two double plays and a caught stealing on a perfect throw by Jin-De Jhang. McRae threw 56 of 98 pitches for strikes.
Altoona meanwhile couldn’t get the offense going. The Curve were hitless through four innings against Richmond starter Dillon McNamara, who came in with an ERA well over 8.00. They finished with just six hits in 44 at-bats and three of those hits were bunts. The Curve finally tied the game, 1-1, when Jonathan Schwind hit a pinch-hit double in the 8th and scored on a two-out single by Pablo Reyes.
Richmond couldn’t do anything with the Curve’s bullpen, which got strong outings from Sean Keselica, Johnny Hellweg, Luis Heredia and Jake Brentz. Those four combined for seven scoreless innings, but Altoona blew several scoring chances in extra innings that were set up by some of the dozen walks the Curve drew. In the 11th, they loaded the bases with one out against former Pirate Vic Black. Although Black was struggling with his control, Jin-De Jhang chased a 2-0 pitch and popped it up. Wyatt Mathisen then lined out to deep left. In the 13th, the Curve got Cole Tucker to third with one out, but Jerrick Suiter hit a weak chopper to a drawn-in third baseman on which Tucker couldn’t score and Jhang grounded out weakly. In the 14th, with Richmond’s center fielder on the mound, the Curve loaded the bases with two out, but Mathisen was caught trying to score on a pitch that got not-quite-far-enough away. The center fielder couldn’t throw strikes — he and Black combined to walk seven in five innings — but the Curve couldn’t score in two innings against him. Altoona finally went with backup catcher Tomas Morales and he gave up the winning run in his second inning. Apart from some bad hitting in the clutch, Altoona also had some bad luck. Aside from Mathisen, Tucker and Suiter each had two long drives that were caught. Tucker finished 0-for-3 with four walks and a steal.
Some notes on the relievers:
Keselica threw 90-93 with a good curve. His control was better than it is sometimes, as he threw 15 of 19 pitches for strikes.
Hellweg is a former hard-throwing, but scatter-armed top prospect with the Angels and Brewers signed recently by the Pirates out of independent ball. He threw 95-98, with a sharp curve. His control was better than I expected; he even got the curve over more often than not. He allowed one hit and struck out two over two innings.
Heredia went three innings and looked very good. In his first inning, he had to pitch out of a one-out, first-and-third situation created by an error and an infield hit. He did so by fanning the next two hitters. He finished with three scoreless innings and four strikeouts. Heredia threw his fastball 92-94 mph. Although the velocity is just average-ish for a right-handed reliever, he got swings and misses with the pitch, possibly because he throws downhill well and seems to have good life. He also threw a curve and change, and commanded all his pitches much better than he did last year.
Brentz had a rough outing the previous day and threw only one inning. His fastball was 95-97 mph and his control was better than it often is. He got threw quick outs on ten pitches. Brentz also threw a change that he tended to bury in the dirt, but he got the hitters to chase it. (Caveat: In the minors, hitters notoriously tend to chase bad pitches in extra innings, in an effort to hit a game-winning homer.) – Wilbur Miller
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Bradenton was rained out of a doubleheader, which cancels one of the games. They will try to play a doubleheader tomorrow. They haven’t played a game since Thursday due to rain, losing four games off their schedule.
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West Virginia has off today.
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Morgantown took an early 4-0 lead on Monday night and ended up losing 10-6 to State College. Tenth round pick Beau Sulser started and allowed three runs over five innings, while failing to pick up a strikeout. This was his sixth start and he currently has a 4.58 ERA through 39.1 innings. Next up was Hector Quinones and he got roughed up in his only inning of working, surrendering five runs. Joel Cesar then allowed two runs in the seventh, before Adam Oller retired the final six batters in order, three by strikeout.
Bligh Madris had a strong game in the lead-off spot, collecting a double, home run and driving in three runs, while scoring twice. He now has nine doubles and five homers. Tristan Gray hit a two-run homer in the third inning, his sixth of the season. He also had a single, walk and two runs scored. Lucas Tancas and Jose Barraza each hit their eight double.
Hunter Owen moved from the GCL rehab up to Morgantown for this game and went 0-for-4 with an error. It’s possible that he stays with Morgantown because their season runs longer than West Virginia and he would be able to make up for some lost games.
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Bristol won 6-5 in ten innings on a walk-off single from catcher Paul Brands. It’s their 16th win and puts them one victory away from avoiding 50 losses, with three games left to play. Hunter Stratton started the game and went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks. He had three strikeouts and a 7:4 GO/AO ratio. Unless he gets promoted to Morgantown, he finishes the season with a 4.81 ERA over 43 innings, with 38 strikeouts, but he also walked 32 batters.
Argenis Romano was out next and he allowed two runs (one earned) over five innings on three hits, two walks and six strikeouts. He threw two wild pitches in the top of the tenth to give Kingston the lead, before the Pirates came back with two runs on a Kyle Watson walk, Matt Diorio double and the single from Brands. Romano got the win and it was his longest outing of the season.
Yondry Contreras had two singles, a walk and a run scored. Edison Lantigua hit his 14th double and also drew a walk, but he struck out in his other three plate appearances. Ben Bengtson had a two-run homer in the fifth inning and an RBI ground out in the third.
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The GCL Pirates were eliminated from the playoffs on Monday morning during their 9-1 loss to the first place Braves. Shane Baz made the start and allowed one run over three innings on two hits and two walks, while picking up three strikeouts.He has a 3.80 ERA in 23.2 innings, with 19 strikeouts. He took the tough loss in this one, as all three relievers who followed him allowed runs, with the Braves piling on to their 1-0 lead after he left. Baz could have one more start left if they send him out on Saturday. He has pitched on five days before (including today’s game) and he was skipped a spot in the rotation to start today, so he might get Saturday’s season finale.
The Pirates had just four hits in the game, but all nine batters ended up reaching base safely at least once. That was due to seven walks. Rodolfo Castro’s 12th double of the season was the only extra-base hit. Mikell Granberry extended his hitting streak to eight games by going 1-for-3, plus he drew a walk. Gabriel Brito also had a single and a walk. Calvin Mitchell reached via walk and hit-by-pitch.
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The DSL Pirates finished with a 36-34 record.
