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 – 1-for-4, HR (8), 2 RBI
3. Cole Tucker, SS, Indianapolis – 1-for-5, 2B
4. Oneil Cruz, SS, Altoona – 1-for-3
5. Travis Swaggerty, CF, Bradenton – DNP
6. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Indianapolis – 1-for-4
7. Will Craig, 1B, Indianapolis – 0-for-4
8. Jason Martin, OF, Indianapolis – 0-for-4
9. JT Brubaker, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
10. Calvin Mitchell, OF, Bradenton – DNP
11. Cody Bolton, RHP, Altoona – DNP
12. Tahnaj Thomas, RHP, Bristol – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
13. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Morgantown – DNP
14. Lolo Sanchez, CF, Bradenton – 0-for-2, HBP
15. Pablo Reyes, Util, Pirates – In Majors
16. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Bradenton – 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 S0
17. Michael Burrows, RHP, Morgantown – 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
18. Jared Oliva, CF, Altoona – 0-for-3, HBP
19. Ji-Hwan Bae, SS, Greensboro – 1-for-4, SB
20. Max Kranick, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
21. Luis Escobar, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
22. Osvaldo Bido, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
23. Eduardo Vera, RHP, – Released, article here
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, Indianapolis – 1.0 IP, 6 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 0 SO
29. Jesus Liranzo, RHP, Altoona – DNP
30. Rodolfo Castro, 2B, Bradenton – 2-for-5, HR (5), 3 RBI
Indianapolis lost 9-5 to Durham. Brandon Waddell got the start and he has been nothing like the pitcher we recently saw cruise through seven starts in Altoona. Waddell pitched a scoreless first inning, then the first seven batters reached base and scored in the second inning before he was removed. Tyler Lyons followed with three shutout innings, then Yacksel Rios tossed two scoreless frames in his second appearance since joining the Pirates. Yefry Ramirez returned to Indianapolis from the majors and gave up two runs on three hits and three walks in two innings.
Ke’Bryan Hayes hit his eighth home run of the season in the fourth inning, bringing in the first two runs for the Indians. Trayvon Robinson and Hunter Owen each added solo shots in the ninth inning. Cole Tucker hit his 12th double, but also went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts.
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Altoona won 1-0 over Reading. Domingo Robles had his best performance since being promoted to Double-A in late May. After posting a 5.22 ERA in his first 13 starts, he went seven shutout innings, giving up seven hits and one walk. Robles had three strikeouts and an 11:5 GO/AO ratio, while throwing 66 of 100 pitches for strikes. Blake Cederlind handled the eighth and Matt Eckelman recorded his 21st save.
The only run of the game scored in the bottom of the eighth when Mitchell Tolman singled, then came home on a double by Darnell Sweeney. Bligh Madris had two hits, including his 23rd double. Chris Sharpe hit his ninth double for Altoona, and his 26th on the season. He now has 40 extra-base hits. Oneil Cruz went 1-for-3 with a single. He is now hitting .231/.286/.385 in 12 games. This is his first Altoona game without at least one strikeout. Cruz committed an error for the third straight game.
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Bradenton lost 7-5 to Dunedin. Brad Case started and had a bit of a rough outing, giving up four runs over five innings. For the fourth time in his last five starts, he allowed both seven hits and two walks. The difference this time is that he picked up seven strikeouts, which is his new high since being promoted to High-A ten starts ago. It’s one short of his career high set with Greensboro earlier this year. Case threw 60 of 86 pitches for strikes.
Braeden Ogle returned from a period of rest and had a rough sixth inning, giving up three runs, while throwing 12 of 24 pitches for strikes. He last pitched on June 30th, though he wasn’t injured, just limiting his innings after missing four full months last year with a shoulder issue. Shea Murray followed with two shutout innings, picking up two strikeouts. He has given up one run over his last 20 innings, while piling up 34 strikeouts. Joe Jacques recorded two outs in the ninth before the game went into a delay, but it was short enough that he could come back out for the final out.
Rodolfo Castro drove in three runs, collecting two hits, including his fifth home run for Bradenton. He hit 14 homers before being promoted from Greensboro. Lucas Tancas and Daniel Amaral also added solo homers. Amaral had a double, walk and two runs scored. Deon Stafford reached on a single and a walk.
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Greensboro won 2-1 over Asheville. Will Kobos threw four no-hit innings in his last start. He was almost as good in this one, going five innings, with an unearned run on three hits and two walks, with three strikeouts. Cody Smith followed with 2.2 shutout innings, before Cam Alldred retired the final four batters in order.
Fabricio Macias was the hero on offense in this game. He drove in the first run of the game on a first inning single and then gave the Grasshoppers all the runs they would need with a third inning single that scored Jack Herman. Greensboro had just five hits total (all singles) and one walk. Ji-Hwan Bae singled, stole his 25th base, then scored on the first Macias hit.
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Morgantown won 6-5 over Williamsport. Michael Burrows started and had trouble throwing strikes. He finished with four innings, giving up three runs on six hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. He threw just 36 of his 70 pitches for strikes. Trey McGough tossed two shutout frames before giving the ball to Tom Koehler, who gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in his only inning.
Koehler made his first appearance on the mound since September 2017 on Tuesday in the GCL. He allowed two runs while recording two outs in that game, so it’s a little surprising that they already moved him up two levels. He has been rehabbing from shoulder surgery. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him in Pittsburgh in September, as the Pirates have a 2020 option on contract. At this point they are looking more for health from him, rather than results. Jacob Webb got the win with two scoreless innings. He has allowed one run in his last nine innings.
The Black Bears trailed 5-0 at the seventh inning stretch. Brett Kinneman brought in the first run with an RBI ground out. Dean Lockery added a second run with his second triple. Jared Triolo brought home Lockery with his 14th double. In the bottom of the ninth, Nick Patten led off the inning with his third homer. After a Kinneman walk, Lockery picked up an RBI double to tie the score. After two intentional walks loaded the bases, Matt Gorski brought in the game winner when he beat out an attempted double play instead of trying to get the runner at home.
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Bristol lost 8-6 to Kingsport. Tahnaj Thomas got the start and he went five innings, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks, with four strikeouts. He was coming off of his career high with nine strikeouts in his last outing. Thomas now has a 3.67 ERA in 34.1 innings, with 46 strikeouts. Yordi Rosario followed with three strikeouts over two shutout frames. Alex Roth (21st round pick), who had previously allowed one run over his first 13.1 innings as a pro, gave up five runs before getting knocked out of the eighth inning. Ryan Troutman gave up a home run during his 1.1 innings.
Every batter for the Pirates had at least one hit and the team drew eight walks. Jake Snider had a single, four walks and a run scored. Daniel Rivero had two singles and drove in three runs. Josh Bissonette and Jesus Valdez each had two hits and a walk. Eli Wison had a double, RBI and two runs scored. Francisco Acuna stole his seventh base. Samuel Inoa is batting .319 after a 1-for-3 night with two walks.
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The GCL Pirates lost 20-2 to the Orioles. Ryan Harbin made his third start and things did not go well for this year’s 17th round pick, which can be said about almost everyone for the Pirates in this game. He allowed three runs in 1.2 innings, while walking four batters. Bryan Torres followed with four runs in 2.1 innings and he too walked four batters. Julio Rosario couldn’t make it out of the fifth, giving up five runs. Hai-Cheng Gong got his bell rung with eight runs in two innings. Not sure who Angel Suero thinks he is, but he threw 2.1 shutout innings. Somewhat surprisingly, the Pirates didn’t commit any errors in the game, so all 20 runs were earned.
The Pirates were down 20-0 before they finally got on board in the eighth inning. Kaleb Foster hit a solo homer, keeping the Pirates from tying the 1987 Dodgers for the lowest home run total in the history of the league (1). Deion Walker had two hits and drove in a run. No one else reached base more than once.
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The DSL Pirates1 lost 11-10 to the Rays2. Whatever crazy baseball stats you’ve read/heard before, forget all about them. In the tenth inning today, Pirates pitcher Jarlin Yes threw five wild pitches, doing it somehow without a walk, but still striking out three batters. One inning, five wild pitches, zero walks, three strikeouts. You really don’t need to know more about this game, but here are some other less interesting items:
Juan Jerez hit a single and his sixth triple, driving in two runs.
Fleury Nova had three hits, a walk and his eighth stolen base.
Eliazer Montero had three hits and an RBI.
Braham Rosario started and allowed five runs over four innings, striking out seven batters.
Pirates had six players play multiple positions in the game.
Five Pirates were hit by pitches.
Jordy Ortega threw three wild pitches in the fifth inning.
The Pirates had nine wild pitches total and Rafael Escalante, who caught from the sixth through ninth, wasn’t behind the plate for any of them. He replaced Jhan Polanco in the sixth and moved to first base in the tenth, replaced by Darwin Baez. Escalante left after he was hit by a pitch for the second time.
The DSL Pirates2 won 4-1, equaling the 48 wins by their parent club in 55 fewer games. Carlos Jimenez started and threw two shutout innings. It was his first appearance in five weeks. Francisco Hodge lowered his ERA to 1.91 and improved his record to 6-0 with three shutout frames. Miguel Diaz allowed one run over three innings, before Enmanuel Mejia picked up his seventh save with a scoreless ninth. He gave up a hit that was just his third of the season. He has 26 strikeouts in 15.2 shutout innings this year.
Alexander Mojica most of the offense with a solo homer and an RBI single. It was the first home run for his since July 11th and his eighth of the season. He has a .372/.487/.609 slash line in 47 games. Randy Romero stole his 30th base in 30 attempts. Deivis Nadal had an RBI single and a walk.
You can view the season preview here.
