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 (Kevin Newman, Nick Burdi and Pablo Reyes), 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 (Travis MacGregor), 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 our updated 2019 Prospect Guide, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Mitch Keller, RHP, Indianapolis – 4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 6 SO
2. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Indianapolis – 0-for-4, 2 BB
3. Cole Tucker, SS, Indianapolis – 2-for-4, HR, RBI, BB
4. Oneil Cruz, SS, Bradenton – 1-for-4
5. Travis Swaggerty, CF, Bradenton – 0-for-4
6. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Indianapolis – 1-for-5, RBI
7. Bryan Reynolds, OF, Indianapolis – 1-for-3, BB
8. Will Craig, 1B, Indianapolis – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, HBP
9. Jason Martin, OF, Pirates – DNP
10. JT Brubaker, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
11. Calvin Mitchell, OF, Bradenton – 3-for-4, HR, RBI
12. Cody Bolton, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
13. Tahnaj Thomas, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
14. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
15. Lolo Sanchez, CF, Greensboro – 0-for-3
16. Clay Holmes, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
17. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Greensboro – DNP
18. Stephen Alemais, 2B/SS, Altoona – DNP
19. Michael Burrows, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
20. Jared Oliva, CF, Altoona – DNP
21. Ji-Hwan Bae, SS, Extended Spring Training – DNP
22. Max Kranick, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
23. Luis Escobar, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
24. Osvaldo Bido, RHP, Greensboro – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO
25. Eduardo Vera, RHP, Altoona – DNP
26. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Altoona – DNP
27. Aaron Shortridge, RHP, Bradenton – 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO
28. Blake Weiman, RHP, Altoona – DNP
29. Steven Jennings, RHP, Greensboro – DNP
30. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Indianapolis – DNP
Indianapolis lost 5-4 in 11 innings on Friday night.
Mitch Keller got his first start of the season and he was facing a loaded Triple-A lineup. Columbus had Jason Kipnis, Cameron Maybin and Carlos Gonzalez at the top of the lineup, followed by veteran Ryan Flaherty, who has 500+ big league games over the last seven years. Keller didn’t get hit hard, but he had his share of control issues, walking five batters in 4.2 innings. He gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and struck out six batters. Keller’s curveball was very effective at times, but he also lost control of it quickly. The fastball was 94-96 (only five pitch speeds were given all night) and wild at times, but also got swinging strikes. The changeup was ineffective and seldom used. A single by Gonzalez was off of the changeup.
After collecting two hits in the season opener, Cole Tucker had a walk, single and his first home run of the season led off the game tonight. Will Craig hit his second homer of the season, a solo shot in the sixth. He picked up a second RBI on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch. Kevin Kramer added an RBI double. Ke’Bryan Hayes is still looking for his first hit after an 0-for-4 night, but he did reach base twice via walks.
The bullpen of Geoff Hartlieb, Tyler Lyons, Michael Feliz and Montana DuRapau struck out ten batters in six innings. DuRapau took the walk-off loss, allowing a run on a hit, two walks and a hit batter in 1.2 innings.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Altoona came back from an early 5-2 deficit to win 7-6 over Akron. The big hit of the game was a fifth inning grand slam by Hunter Owen, who drove in five runs on the night.
Dario Agrazal got the win by settling down after a rough start. He gave up a run in the first, three more in the second, and another in the third, but then ended with three shutout innings. He threw 60 of 81 pitches for strikes, had a 6:3 GO/AO ratio and a 5:0 SO/BB ratio. Pedro Vasquez and Yeudy Garcia each tossed a scoreless inning, while Tate Scioneaux worked himself out of trouble in the eighth after giving up a solo homer and two walks.
The Curve got offense from the middle of the order, with Bligh Madris going 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Jerrick Suiter had two hits, a run and an RBI. Bralin Jackson scored two runs.
Prior to the game, Jared Oliva was placed on the 7-day injured list due to a concussion. He collided with Bralin Jackson in the first inning of the season opener. Ryan Peurifoy was added to the roster.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Bradenton won 4-2 over St Lucie on Friday night. Aaron Shortridge, who was drafted in the fourth round last year, pitched five shutout innings on just three hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. He threw 47 of 62 pitches for strikes and had a 7:3 GO/AO ratio. After Ike Schlabach allowed two runs, Ryan Valdes tossed 1.2 shutout innings and Drew Fischer had a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
Calvin Mitchell had a nice day at the plate, picking up three hits, including his first home run of the season. Adrian Valerio had the big hit of the game though, driving in two runs with a fifth inning double. He would score later on a Chris Sharpe sacrifice fly. Oneil Cruz picked up his first double. Travis Swaggerty went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Greensboro won 6-0 behind an excellent start from Osvaldo Bido, and some more timely hitting from Brett Kinneman. Bido tossed five shutout innings, needing just 52 pitches to get through his night. He faced one batter over the minimum, giving up a second inning single as the only blemish on his pitching line. Bido had an 8:3 GO/AO ratio. Joe Jacques and Nicholas Economos each tossed two scoreless innings to finish off the win.
Kinneman drove in four runs on Thursday night, then followed it up with two more RBIs on Friday. He went 2-for-4 with a single and a triple. Pat Dorrian, who replaced Zack Kone mid-game at third base, hit his first homer of the season. Rodolfo Castro had two hits and a run scored. Mason Martin walked twice.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
