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 (Clay Holmes, Jacob Stallings, Kevin Newman and Bryan Reynolds), 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, Nick Burdi and Stephen Alemais), 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 – DNP
2. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Indianapolis – 3-for-6, 2B, HR (4), RBI
3. Cole Tucker, SS, Indianapolis – 0-for-4
4. Oneil Cruz, SS, Bradenton – 1-for-4, HR (3), 2 RBI
5. Travis Swaggerty, CF, Bradenton – 4-for-4, SB
6. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Indianapolis – 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB
7. Will Craig, 1B, Indianapolis – 0-for-3
8. Jason Martin, OF, Indianapolis – 0-for-3, SB
9. JT Brubaker, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
10. Calvin Mitchell, OF, Bradenton – 2-for-4
11. Cody Bolton, RHP, Altoona – DNP
12. Tahnaj Thomas, RHP, Bristol – DNP
13. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Morgantown – DNP
14. Lolo Sanchez, CF, Bradenton – 0-for-3, RBI
15. Pablo Reyes, Util, Indianapolis – 0-for-3
16. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
17. Michael Burrows, RHP, Morgantown – DNP
18. Jared Oliva, CF, Altoona – 2-for-3, RBI, SB
19. Ji-Hwan Bae, SS, Greensboro – DNP
20. Max Kranick, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
21. Luis Escobar, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
22. Osvaldo Bido, RHP, Greensboro – DNP
23. Eduardo Vera, RHP, Indianapolis – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
24. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Altoona – DNP
25. Aaron Shortridge, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
26. Blake Weiman, LHP, Indianapolis – DNP
27. Steven Jennings, RHP, Greensboro – DNP
28. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Altoona – 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 SO
29. Jesus Liranzo, RHP, Altoona – DNP
30. Rodolfo Castro, 2B, Bradenton – 0-for-4
Indianapolis won 4-3 over Toledo in game one of a doubleheader. Eduardo Vera got the start and did just enough to qualify for the Quality Start and the win. He allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in six innings. Vera had five strikeouts and a 7:3 GO/AO ratio. Montana DuRapau got threw ground outs in the seventh for his seventh save.
Gregory Polanco served as the DH and got one of two big hits. He belted a first inning home run to give the Indians a 2-0 lead. Polanco went 1-for-3 and struck out in his other two plate appearances. Kevin Kramer got the second big hit, driving in two runs with his 22nd double. He reached base all three times, walking in his other two plate appearances. Ke’Bryan Hayes had a single and his 21st double. He scored on both big hits mentioned above. Cole Tucker was 0-for-2 with a walk and run scored. Will Craig and Pablo Reyes each went 0-for-3.
In game two of the doubleheader, James Marvel made his Triple-A debut and left little doubt that he was ready for a promotion to Indianapolis. He tossed a complete game shutout on three hits, with no walks and six strikeouts, needing just 83 pitches to get through his night. Marvel had a 7:2 GO/AO ratio and faced just one over the minimum thanks to a pick-off and a caught stealing. Toledo never had a runner in scoring position, as Indianapolis won 3-0.
Ke’Bryan Hayes hit his fourth home run of the season. Darnell Sweeney and JB Shuck drove in the other two runs. Jason Martin picked up his fifth steal. Eric Wood hit his eighth double.
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Altoona won 3-0 over Erie. Brandon Waddell has been on quite a streak recently, but the problem is that we don’t know if it’s because he was returned to his familiar starting role, or because he was demoted to Double-A. The two things coincided, and it has led to a lot of success for the 25-year-old lefty. He now has a 1.89 ERA in four starts after tossing six shutout innings on two hits, a walk and seven strikeouts. Waddell threw 81 pitches, with 51 going for strikes, while posting a 7:3 GO/AO ratio. Beau Sulser followed with three shutout innings for the save.
The Curve had two hits each from Mitchell Tolman, Jared Oliva and Bligh Madris. Oliva had an RBI and stole his 22nd base. Tolman stole his ninth base and scored a run. Madris scored a run. Alfredo Reyes had an RBI single and a walk. Jerrick Suiter hit his 12th double (Curve’s only extra-base hit) and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
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Bradenton won 5-3 behind a dominating performance from Brad Case, and their two top prospects providing offense. Case allowed one hit over six shutout innings, giving up just a fourth inning single. He walked three batters, which is unusual for him, but it obviously didn’t hurt his performance. He threw 65 of 98 pitches for strikes, picking up five strikeouts and posting a 9:3 GO/AO ratio. Case was hitting 94 MPH consistently early in the game, which is a number he has only touched in the past. He now has a 2.70 ERA since moving up to Bradenton. Logan Stoelke had a rough seventh inning that he couldn’t get through, giving up three runs before Samuel Reyes recorded the final out. Reyes tossed 2.1 shutout innings for the save.
Oneil Cruz had the big hit, slugging a two-run homer in the third inning. It is his second home run since returning to Bradenton. Travis Swaggerty had a big day, extending his hit streak to eight games by going 4-for-4 with four singles, a run scored and his 15th stolen base. Deon Stafford had two hits, an RBI and a walk. Calvin Mitchell had two hits and a run scored.
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Greensboro was suspended after two innings with a 5-2 lead. They will finish the game tomorrow as part of a doubleheader. Connor Kaiser hit a grand slam.
Here’s the boxscore.
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Morgantown won 6-2 over Williamsport. Fifth round pick Grant Ford made his second start and allowed two runs on four hits and no walks, with three strikeouts in three innings. He is still building up his pitch count, so he was limited to 40 pitches tonight. Xavier Concepcion was out next and tossed two shutout innings on just 17 pitches despite hitting two batters and allowing a hit. After a long rain delay, Alec Rennard took over in the sixth and threw two scoreless frames, following by Austin Roberts, who retired all six batters he faced.
The offense came from Jared Triolo, the 72nd overall draft pick this year. He went 3-for-4 with his seventh double and his second homer. He scored twice and drove in two runs. Luke Mangieri had two doubles and drove in two runs. Victor Ngoepe is hitting .346 after collecting two hits. Third round pick Matt Fraizer is off to a 2-for-17 start.
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Bristol won 5-1 over Greeneville. Adrian Florencio made his third start and went four innings, allowing one run on four hits and three walks, with three strikeouts. He was up to 67 pitches at that point, which is close enough to his 75 pitch limit that CJ Dandeneau took over in the fifth and tossed three shutout innings. Samson Abernathy was next and he went two shutout innings to close it out.
The Pirates scored all five runs in the fourth inning. It started with a run on a bases loaded single from Francisco Acuna. Jean Eusebio then brought home two runs with a single. Matt Morrow then singled to bring home two more runs. Bristol had eight hits in the game (all singles) and five came in that inning. Morrow and Acuna each had two hits. Eusebio also had a walk and his third stolen base.
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The GCL Pirates won game one of a doubleheader by a 10-6 score over the Orioles. Wilkin Ramos made his second start for the Pirates since being acquired from the Oakland A’s for Tanner Anderson. Ramos allowed three runs over three innings on two hits and five walks. It appears that the strike zone was small on this day because seven pitchers combined for 21 walks in seven innings. Ramos was followed by Willy Basil, who allowed two runs (one earned) over two innings. Yandy Vega gave up one run in the final two innings.
Yoyner Fajardo, Emilson Rosado and Angel Basabe each drove in two runs. Basabe replaced Juan Pie, who left after being hit by a pitch, but was okay to play in the second game. Fajardo was the only player with two hits in the game. Norkis Marcos had three walks, his fourth stolen base and a run scored. Jase Bowen had a single, RBI and two walks. Sammy Siani went 0-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.
In game two, Starlyn Reynoso got the start and lasted just three innings, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks, with two strikeouts. He has had three rough outings so far, but he’s an interesting pitcher because he’s a lefty who has hit 97 MPH this spring. Bryan Torres followed with three perfect innings, picking up two strikeouts. He was the top international pitcher signed last year by the Pirates. Before today, he allowed five runs over 3.2 innings.
The Pirates couldn’t put much offense together in the game, collecting just three hits. Their only run scored on a wild pitch that brought home Norkis Marcos, who had a single and a walk. Juan Pie went 0-for-3 with a walk. Yoyner Fajardo and Andres Alvarez each added singles.
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The DSL Pirates1 won 7-1 over the Dodgers. Luis Peralta had a terrific outing, going five shutout innings on one hit and one walk, with five strikeouts. He now has a 2.88 ERA through his first six starts. Carlos Campos faced one batter, who got a hit and scored a run. His short outing may have possibly been due to the rain delay during the game, but that’s just a guess. Yeison Santos followed Campos and threw three shutout innings. Miguel Peralta (no relation to Luis) threw a scoreless ninth.
Sergio Campana ($500,000 bonus) collected his fifth triple and scored two runs. He now has a .295 average and an .846 OPS. Osvaldo Gavilan ($700,000) hit his second double and drove in two runs. He’s hitting .209 with a .630 OPS. Eliazer Montero had a single, walk and two RBIs. Darwin Baez hit his eighth double.
The DSL Pirates2 moved to 24-6 on the season with a 2-1 win over the Mariners. Carlos Jimenez got the start and went 5.2 innings, giving up one run on five hits and a walk, with seven strikeouts. Still nine days shy of his 17th birthday, Jimenez has a 2.70 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 30 innings. Jose Amaya got the win with 3.2 shutout innings and five strikeouts.
The Pirates scored two runs in the seventh to get the win. Alexander Mojica hit his fifth home run for the first run. The second run scored on a Juan Mena infield single. Mojica is second in the league with a 1.114 OPS and he doesn’t turn 17 until next month. Jommer Hernandez had three hits, including his third double. Randy Romero had a single, walk and run scored.
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