This is a followup from yesterday, where I looked at the promising overall start from the Pirates’ Dominican Summer League affiliates. In past years, that wouldn’t necessarily mean much because the team tended to have a lot of prospects repeating the league, often for the second or even third time. It’d also be nice if a lot of the production was coming from 16- and 17-year old players. (The signing period starts on July 2, with the top players signing at age 16 but not starting play until the following season. So all but the youngest of those players will be 17 by the time they see game action.) So let’s see whether that’s true this year. (All stats are through Tuesday’s games.)
Hitters
As I noted yesterday, the DSL Pirates2 have been very hot so far. The hottest hitter on the team has been third baseman Alexander Mojica, who signed for $350,000 as a potential power hitter. Despite a rough day yesterday, he’s hitting 333/478/639 with a pair of home runs through 13 games. The nice part is that Mojica is still just 16 and, as John Dreker has explained, has to be one of the youngest players in the DSL. Another player who’s been very hot is outfielder Jauri Custodio, who’s hitting 333/375/550, with just two strikeouts in 64 plate appearances. He’s 17 now, although he’ll turn 18 shortly after the season ends. His situation is a bit different from the norm, as he originally signed with Colorado only to have his contract voided due to a problem in his physical.
Other players on the Pirates2 who’ve been driving the offense are shortstop Dariel Lopez, infielders Deivis Nadal and Carlos Arroyo, and Rodolfo Nolasco, who so far has served strictly as a DH. All four are 17. Lopez was one of the Pirates’ more prominent signings at $400,000 and, so far, he’s hitting 333/341/487 with just five strikeouts in 41 plate appearances (he picked up five hits on Wednesday, so those numbers have improved). Nadal has moved around the infield and is hitting 349/482/512, with the same number of walks as strikeouts. Nolasco, who like Nadal got a six-figure bonus but not one of the top ones, is hitting 340/358/540. Arroyo is repeating the level from last year and will turn 18 in a month. He’s hitting 333/452/542. One thing that’s especially nice to see with players so young is that all of these guys have ISO figures that are well above the league average, which is just 105.
With the Pirates1, it’s been a bit more of a mixed bag, mainly because the Pirates’ two top international signings from the past year, both outfielders, have started slowly. That’s especially true of Sergio Campana, who got a late start and has appeared in only five games. He’s just 1-for-18. Osvaldo Gavilan has done a bit better, showing some power as he’s hitting 216/359/392. He’s not striking out much, just seven times in 54 plate appearances, but he’s also walked only once. Both players are 17.
Of the other top signees with the Pirates1, third baseman Orlando Chivilli and second baseman Juan Jerez, both 17, are off to starts about as good as Mojica’s. Chivilli, who signed for $350,000, is hitting 400/500/680. He’s played in just eight games but has five extra base hits. Jerez, who signed for $380,000, is hitting 347/377/673 and is tied for second in the league with three home runs. The team also has two prominent signees who are still 16. Shortstop Luis Tejeda ($500,000) has had some adventures in the field, which isn’t exactly unusual at this stage, but he’s doing fine at the plate with 271/327/391 line. He is striking out a third of the time, though. Outfielder Franrielis Bastardo ($260,000) has had a bit more of a challenge at 209/333/326, but he’s got just one less walk than strikeouts.
Overall, even with Campana and Gavilan not doing much yet, the results from the Pirates’ more prominent position playing signees have been surprisingly good. You’d expect to see more guys having adjustment difficulties, although that may still happen.
Pitchers
I’m going to be briefer with the pitchers, because I find DSL pitching stats to be close to pointless and age/level doesn’t mean nearly as much with pitchers as it does with hitters, especially for teenagers. That said, the Pirates2 have had some good results so far.
The Pirates’ top pitching signee from the past year, lefty Adrian Mendez ($355,000), has been very solid, with a 2.92 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. Nicaraguan Sergio Umana is 19 but in his first pro season. Through three starts he’s struck out 19 and walked just one in 16.2 IP. Carlos Jimenez (we have no bonus information on him as he’s from Venezuela) is just 16 and has had some control problems with 12 walks in 16.2 IP. But he’s fanned 18 and managed a 3.78 ERA in four starts. It’s impressive simply that he’s pitching as a starter at that age. Miguel Toribio ($175,000) is just 17 and has decent numbers pitching in relief, with a 1.41 WHIP. Maybe the team’s most impressive pitcher has been second-year reliever Domingo Gonzalez, who’s 19. He’s struck out 21 and allowed just nine hits and two walks in 16 innings.
As I mentioned yesterday, the Pirates1 haven’t had much good happen on the mound. In fact, there’s really nobody I can point to as looking especially good so far. A large majority of the known six-figure bonuses in the last signing period went to position players, which probably isn’t all that unusual, so bonus amounts aren’t much of a guide to the most promising pitchers. One pitcher with the Pirates1, Luther Sosa ($150,000), has done decently in two starts, with ten hits, three walks and eight strikeouts in 9.2 IP.
With pitchers, I find it easier to wait to see who’s making strides once they’re in the US. I learned this lesson a decade ago when I was at Pirate City in the spring and noticed a lefty named Joely Rodriguez on the camp roster. I’d never heard of him so I checked his DSL stats from the previous year. They were bad, as many walks as strikeouts, and I wondered why they’d brought him to the US after a year like that. Then I saw him throwing 95 mph (this is back when not many kids just up from the DSL reached 90), which explained it. And he went on to become a legit prospect and reach the majors. So until we can see these young guys throw and until they’ve had time to start developing professional mechanics and command, I don’t feel like we know anything.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pittsburgh Pirates won 8-7 over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night. The Pirates have off today. They begin a three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Friday. Joe Musgrove will get the start on Friday night. He went just four innings in his last start, allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks. That was three days after he was ejected in the first inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves. The Padres will counter with 24-year-old lefty Eric Lauer, who has a 4.60 ERA in 74.1 innings, with 59 strikeouts and a 1.36 WHIP. He allowed five runs on ten hits in just 2.2 innings in his last start against the Colorado Rockies. He faced the Pirates back on May 16th and gave up one earned run over 5.2 innings.
The minor league schedule includes Dario Agrazal’s first start back with Indianapolis since making his big league debut. Before recently falling under the minimum innings requirement for league leaders, Agrazal led the International League with a 3.10 ERA and an 0.97 WHIP. Braxton Ashcraft will make his second start of the season for Morgantown. He allowed two runs over five innings in his first start, giving up just two hits and one walk. Cody Bolton will make his first start of the second half for Bradenton. He has a 1.72 ERA, which ranks second in the Florida State League. He’s also second with an 0.92 WHIP.
Greensboro returns from the All-Star break with Luis Nova on the mound, making his third start. He threw six shutout innings in his debut, then lasted just two innings due to a high pitch count in his second outing. Bristol will send out 20-year-old right-hander Jose Maldonado, who gets his first official start in the U.S. after pitching in the DSL last year. He went four innings in a GCL late season start, but the stats were wiped away when the game had to be canceled due to rain. Altoona has off today.
MLB: Pittsburgh (33-40) vs Padres (38-37) 7:05 PM 6/21
Probable starter: Joe Musgrove (4.87 ERA, 61:22 SO/BB, 77.2 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (37-32) @ Buffalo (33-36) 1:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Dario Agrazal (3.10 ERA, 39:10 SO/BB, 49.1 IP)
AA: Altoona (36-32) @ Hartford (37-30) 7:05 PM 6/21 (season preview)
Probable starter: Domingo Robles (2.78 ERA, 17:6 SO/BB, 22.2 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (37-32) vs Tampa (29-39) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Cody Bolton (1.72 ERA, 64:14 SO/BB, 57.2 IP)
Low-A: Greensboro (44-25) VS Delmarva (48-21) 7:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Luis Nova (2.25 ERA, 7:3 SO/BB, 8.0 IP)
Short-Season A: Morgantown (3-3) vs Mahoning Valley (4-2) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Braxton Ashcraft (3.60 ERA, 3:1 SO/BB, 5.0 IP)
Rookie: Bristol (0-2) vs Burlington (2-0) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Jose Maldonado (NR)
DSL: Pirates1 (5-11) vs Rays2 (10-6) 10:30 AM (season preview)
DSL: Pirates2 (14-2) vs Colorado (7-9) 10:30 AM (season preview)
HIGHLIGHTS
From Indianapolis, here’s Will Craig’s 16th home run of the season.
.@WCraigers22, cranked up. ⬆️
As an added bonus, a slightly older clip of a nice catch by JB Shuck, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday
Here's to hoping your birthday is as great as this catch. ✊
Happy birthday, JB Shuck!
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
6/19: Pirates sign Jase Bowen and Ryan Harbin
6/19: Trevor Williams activated from injured list. Mitch Keller optioned to Indianapolis.
6/19: Hai-Cheng Gong and Yandy Vega assigned to Bristol. Emilson Rosado, Norkis Marcos, Nick Garland and Yoyner Fajardo assigned to GCL Pirates.
6/19: Daniel Amaral and Ryan Valdes placed on Bradenton injured list.
6/19: Jake Elmore placed on Indianapolis injured list.
6/18: Blake Weiman promoted to Indianapolis. Brandon Waddell sent to Altoona.
6/18: JT Brubaker and Brandon Maurer assigned to Morgantown on rehab.
6/18: Chris Stratton activated from injured list. Yefry Ramirez optioned to Indianapolis.
6/17: Pirates sign Matt Eardensohn.
6/17: Pirates sign Kaleb Foster.
6/17: Pirates sign four draft picks.
6/17: Raul Siri added to Bradenton roster.
6/16: Pirates recall Yefry Ramirez. Option Dario Agrazal to Indianapolis.
6/16: Rookie Davis sent to Indianapolis on rehab.
6/15: Pirates sign Darnell Sweeney.
6/15: Pirates add Dario Agrazal to 40-man roster and active roster. Dovydas Neverauskas optioned to Indianapolis. Keone Kela moved to 60-day injured list.
6/14: Pirates sign Sammy Siani and Ernny Ordonez
6/13: Pirates sign eight more draft picks.
6/13: Robbie Glendinning promoted to Altoona. Logan Hill promoted to Indianapolis
6/13: Indianapolis placed Ke’Bryan Hayes and Pablo Reyes on the injured list.
6/13: Pirates trade Nick Kingham to Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations.
6/12: Pirates sign eight draft picks.
6/12: Pirates recall Mitch Keller. Montana DuRapau optioned to Indianapolis.
6/11: Pirates sign six draft picks.
6/11: Dovydas Neverauskas recalled from Indianapolis. Alex McRae optioned to Indianapolis
6/11: Cody Bolton activated from injured list. Hunter Stratton added from Extended Spring Training. Dean Lockery and Matt Morrow assigned to Extended ST.
6/11: Kyle Mottice assigned to Extended Spring Training
6/11: Chris Stratton assigned to Indianapolis on rehab
6/10: Pirates sign Quinn Priester
6/10: Jordan Lyles placed on injured list. Montana DuRapau recalled from Indianapolis.
6/10: Robbie Glendinning and Jesse Medrano activated from suspended list. Allen Montgomery assigned to Greensboro.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Five former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, plus a trade of note. Starting with the 1918 trade that sent pitcher Elmer Jacobs to the Phillies for pitcher Erskine Mayer. The deal looked good short-term for the Pirates, but they ended up putting Mayer on waivers in 1919 and he ended the season with the Chicago White Sox, who were the infamous Black Sox team that threw the World Series. Jacobs lasted in the majors eight years longer than Mayer, though he didn’t do much for the Phillies.
Players born on this date include utility fielder Rob Mackowiak (2001-05), outfielder Gary Varsho (1991-92, 1994), infielder Clem Koshorek (1952-53), pitcher Ed Warner (1912) and pitcher Bill Clemensen, who pitched for the Pirates in 1939, 1941 and 1946. He never left the Pirates for another team, instead he spent the 1940 season in the minors and 1942-45 serving in the military during WWII. You can find mini bios for all of these players in the link above.
Also including in the link above is a recap of two extra-inning wins over the Cubs on this date in 1983. Those games were the beginning of a nine-game win streak by the Pirates. You can find those boxscores here: Game One Game Two
