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 – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 12 SO
2. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Indianapolis – 1-for-3, RBI, 2 BB
3. Cole Tucker, SS, Indianapolis – 2-for-4, RBI, BB
4. Oneil Cruz, SS, Altoona – 1-for-4, 3B
5. Travis Swaggerty, CF, Bradenton – 2-for-3, 2 BB, SB
6. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Indianapolis – 1-for-4, 2B
7. Will Craig, 1B, Indianapolis – 0-for-4, HBP
8. Jason Martin, OF, Indianapolis – 2-for-3, RBI, HBP
9. JT Brubaker, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
10. Calvin Mitchell, OF, Bradenton – 1-for-3, RBI, 2 BB
11. Cody Bolton, RHP, Altoona – DNP
12. Tahnaj Thomas, RHP, Bristol – DNP
13. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Morgantown – DNP
14. Lolo Sanchez, CF, Bradenton – 2-for-4
15. Pablo Reyes, Util, Pirates – In Majors
16. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
17. Michael Burrows, RHP, Morgantown – 4.0 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
18. Jared Oliva, CF, Altoona – DNP
19. Ji-Hwan Bae, SS, Greensboro – 1-for-4, BB, SB
20. Max Kranick, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
21. Luis Escobar, RHP, Indianapolis – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
22. Osvaldo Bido, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
23. Eduardo Vera, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
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 – DNP
29. Jesus Liranzo, RHP, Altoona – DNP
30. Rodolfo Castro, 2B, Bradenton – 0-for-4
Indianapolis lost 5-3 to Columbus. Mitch Keller was having a career night until the sixth inning. Through five frames, he gave up one hit, one walk and he struck out 12 batters, throwing 71 pitches. The sixth inning included four runs on five hits, with three of them going for extra bases. Keller came into the game as the International League leader in ERA, WHIP and strikeouts. He improved on the last two categories, but he’s now second in ERA. Dovydas Neverauskas followed with two scoreless innings, then Luis Escobar allowed a ninth inning run.
Indianapolis had 14 base runners and came up with three hits with runners in scoring position, but they pushed just three runs across the plate. Ke’Bryan Hayes had a single and two walks, picking up an RBI on a bases loaded walk in the ninth. Will Craig had a chance to win the game at that point, but he struck out with the bases loaded. Cole Tucker reached base thrice on two singles and a walk, while driving in a run. Kevin Kramer hit his 26th double and scored a run. Jason Martin had two hits, a HBP, a run scored and an RBI. Christian Kelley reached three times on a single and two walks. He scored a run.
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Altoona lost 5-3 to Reading. After two rough outings, Sean Brady returned to form with two earned runs over six innings tonight. He gave up seven hits and a walk, with four strikeouts. This is his 11th start since late May in which he has pitched 6+ innings and allowed 1-2 earned runs. Cody Ponce, who was acquired in the Jordan Lyles trade, made his first appearance since joining the Pirates. One his lone inning, he allowed two runs on one hit and one walk, striking out one batter. Joel Cesar took over in the eighth and put two runners on base before striking out the next three batters.
The Curve made the most of their hits, collecting just four of them all night, with three going for extra bases. They had one walk and 13 strikeouts, which didn’t help their effort. Oneil Cruz had his first triple since joining Altoona. He scored a run. He’s 3-for-19 with no walks in Double-A, but all three hits went for extra bases. Jerrick Suiter and Brett Pope each hit doubles. Pope had an RBI, Suiter scored a run. Robbie Glendinning pinch-hit for Pope and collected the fourth hit, then scored a run on a Chris Sharpe sacrifice fly.
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Bradenton won 7-2 over Dunedin. Gavin Wallace put up a big night on the mound, going seven innings with one run on five hits. He didn’t walk anyone and struck out 11 batters, which was three more than his previous career best. He threw 102 pitches, with 71 going for strikes, and he posted a 7:2 GO/AO ratio. Conner Loeprich followed with an unearned run in the eighth and Nick Mears retired the side in order in the ninth.
The offense had a big night, thanks in part to a wild Dunedin pitching staff. Travis Swaggerty reached base four times on two singles and two walks, while scoring three runs. He stole his 18th base. Mason Martin also reached four times on a single, double and two walks. He drove in two runs. Calvin Mitchell had a single and two walks. Deon Stafford drove in three runs with a bases loaded double in the fourth inning. Lolo Sanchez collected two hits.
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Greensboro lost 8-5 to West Virginia. Alex Manasa had a night similar to Mitch Keller, minus the high strikeout total. Through five innings, he allowed one run on three hits and a walk, before things fell apart in the sixth. The first four batters reached in the sixth, knocking Manasa out of the game. All four batters would score, two off of reliever Will Gardner. Manasa finished with six strikeouts. Gardner finished with two scoreless innings, then gave the ball to Alfredo Reyes, who was making his first pitching appearance since switching full-time to the position. Things did not go well, with three runs on three hits, a hit batter and two wild pitches. Michael LoPresti recorded the final out of the inning, stranding a runner for Reyes.
Luke Mangieri led the offense with two singles, a double, a run scored and an RBI. Michael Gretler had a single, double, walk, RBI and run scored. Jack Herman and Jonah Davis each had two singles and a run scored. Ji-Hwan Bae had a single, walk, run scored and his 19th stolen base.
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Morgantown lost 5-1 to Hudson Valley. Michael Burrows returned to the mound after being skipped in the rotation to help control his innings. He went four innings, allowing two earned runs on one hit and one hit batter. Poor defense led to a third run scoring. Burrows had two strikeouts, a 5:4 GO/AO ratio and he threw 40 of 65 pitches for strikes. He has a 3.54 ERA through seven starts this season. Alec Rennard gave up one earned run over two innings. He was also hurt by an error. Xavier Concepcion took over in the seventh and threw two scoreless innings.
Jared Triolo had three hits, including his 13th double. He ranks third in the league in doubles. Nick Patten was the only other batter to reach base more than once, collecting a single and a walk. The only run came on Cory Wood’s first pro home run.
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Bristol lost 10-6 to Elizabethton. Luis Ortiz got the start and allowed four runs on four hits and three walks. Just one of those runs was earned. Ortiz was wild, adding three wild pitches to the three walks, though 42 of his 69 pitches went for strikes. He had two strikeouts. Enrique Santana pitched the fifth and gave up three runs. Lizardy Dicent followed with three runs over two frames. Luis Arrieta tossed a scoreless ninth.
The offense had a nice night despite the loss. Jesus Valdez lost a 3-for-3 night yesterday when the game was called early and announced that it wouldn’t be finished later, since the two teams don’t meet again. He came back with a 2-for-4 night tonight, driving in two runs. Matt Morrow had three hits and scored two runs. Samuel Inoa, Ethan Goforth and Jake Snider each had two hits. Goforth hit his second pro home run. Inoa had an RBI and a run scored.
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The GCL Pirates won 1-0 over the Orioles. Wilkin Ramos, who has been out of action since pitching on July 12th, got the start and threw two shutout innings. In an odd coincidence, this is his fourth appearance and all four have been against the Orioles. Mario Garcia threw 2.1 shutout innings despite five walks. Daniel Ross threw 2.2 shutout frames and stranded three inherited runners. Hai-Cheng Gong went 1.1 innings, leaving the last two outs for Angel Suero, who stranded two inherited runners.
The offense put up three hits and two walks. Andres Alvarez had a single and a walk. Norkis Marcos hit his second double. The only run happened on a fielding error that allowed Deion Walker to reach. He moved to second base on a bunt, third base on a ground out and scored on an error.
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The DSL Pirates1 lost 1-0 to the Red Sox2. Braham Rosario started and threw five shutout innings and four hits and a walk, with five strikeouts. Kelvin Disla took the loss with one run over two innings. It was the first earned run that he has allowed in 12 innings as a pro. Jordy Ortega finished off the day with two shutout frames.
The Pirates had five hits total, with two coming from Francisco Quintero. Omar Matos had a double for the only extra-base hit. He also picked up his ninth stolen base.
The DSL Pirates2 lost for the second day in a row, dropping a 6-4 decision to the Tigers2. Randy Romero had a three-hit game, collecting his 12th double and scoring a run. He’s batting .410 through 47 games. Rodolfo Nolasco had two hits, a walk, a HBP and a run scored. Juari Custodio had two hits, an RBI and his 12th stolen base. Deivis Nadal had a single and a walk.
Adrian Mendez got the start and gave up two earned runs in five innings, which would qualify as his best start since mid-June. The highest bonus pitcher for the Pirates signed in 2018-19 ($355,000), he has a 6.57 ERA and 28 walks in 38.1 innings. Miguel Diaz gave up two earned runs for the second straight outing, after posting a 1.27 ERA in his first 11 appearances. Jose Amaya recorded the final two outs.
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