When the rosters for Greensboro were released, eyes immediately gravitated towards the pitching staff, and for just cause. Greensboro featured some of the best young starters in the system, led by Anthony Solometo and Bubba Chandler.
Now a month into the season, the Grasshoppers are sitting in a tie for first place in the South Atlantic League North division with a 14-7 record. While the pitching staff has been solid, it’s been the offense that has really set the tone.
Mike Jarvis bounced around three levels last year filling where needed, and despite a .667 OPS, the infielder was one of the few players in the system last year to get at least 10-home runs and 20-stolen bases.
Beginning the year with Greensboro, Jarvis has been on a tear as of late, and with April done, he put a good dent in reaching that same achievement as last year. In 17 games played, Jarvis has six home runs and eight stolen bases.
Just this week along against the Rome Braves, Jarvis hit four of his six home runs, and swiped two bags.
Mike Jarvis picks up his 6th HR of the season, a grand slam, giving Greensboro a 7-0 lead #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/YNpZiC5lpQ
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) April 30, 2023
Another veteran of Greensboro, Jackson Glenn, hit just four home runs a year ago, playing all season in High-A. Sunday he picked up four hits — three of which were home runs.
Greensboro has the second most runs in the South Atlantic League, as well as hitting the second most home runs. There have been 14 players to hit at least four home runs this season, four of which are Grasshoppers (Jarvis, Glenn, Jase Bowen, and Tsung-Che Cheng).
Last year, Greensboro won just 27 of the 65 games in the first half of the season. Now 21 games into this season, they already have 14.
Obviously we know that the home park can be a hitters’ haven, and this year they aren’t wasting any time in taking advantage of that.
Prospect Notes
— If things were just based on strikeouts, Michell Miliano would be flying through the Pirates system. Control issues has kept him in High-A since coming over from the San Diego Padres in the Adam Frazier trade.
In fact, the righty had more walks than innings pitched in his time in High-A while with the Pirates. This season things have been different, as improved control has allowed the strikeouts to kick up even more.
In 12 innings this season, Miliano has walked six while striking out 24 batters. His fastball/curveball combination is really allowing him to thrive out of the bullpen this season.
— Anthony Solometo pitched four shutout innings on Sunday, his first scoreless outing of the season. While he was probably on a more limited pitch count since he started for the second time this week, walks have put a dent a bit in his ability to go deeper into games.
His walks are a little up to start the season, but on the flip side, he’s been giving batters fits. His strikeouts are up, and opponent’s are just hitting .200 against him.
Even with the walks up, he’s pitching exactly as you would hope a 20-year-old in High-A would be.
Daily Video Rundown
First pitch in the bottom of first and Greensboro has a 1-0 lead #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/HybfwMXhUS
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) April 30, 2023
Tsung-Che Cheng took the first he saw in the bottom of the first out of the park for his fourth home run of the day.
Back-to-back
Hudson Head joined the home run barrage in Greensboro on Sunday, hitting his third of the season.
PIRATES PROSPECTS DAILY
By Tim Williams
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Prospect Watch: Anthony Solometo Tosses Shutout Ball; Jackson Glenn Homers Three Times
Pirates Trade Tyler Heineman to Toronto Blue Jays for IF/OF Vinny Capra
SONG OF THE DAY
