The quantity of opposing top prospects this week is light, but the Pittsburgh Pirates affiliates will be heading into competitive battles against division rivals.
At this point, we’re beginning to see teams for a second time, and rosters may have changed a bit with prospect movement. In addition, some lists are being updated, as Baseball America just released an updated list for May (sub. required).
Starting with the Indianapolis Indians, they are currently the only Pirates affiliate that is sub-.500, but they are riding a five-game winning streak into the week. They take on Minnesota Twins affiliate, the St. Paul Saints. The last time they faced off, Top 100 prospect Edouard Julien played one game, and then was promoted for his MLB debut. He was returned after a mixed eight-game stint. The roster as a whole has four of the Twins Top 15 prospects. The Saints sit one game behind the division leading Memphis Red Birds.
With the Altoona Curve, we see some one of the most affected rosters with injuries and movement. The prized prospect on the Akron Rubberducks is RHP Daniel Espino, but he has since received shoulder surgery, and will be out till at least 2025 now. Gavin Williams has moved up to the Columbus Clippers, where he actually made his Triple-A debut against the Indianapolis Indians. Truth be told though, Angel Martinez as the Cleveland Guardians number nine prospect isn’t too shabby. Considering the Guardians have generally seven Top 100 prospects, depending on the publication. Most of those prospects have either debuted in the majors, or are in Triple-A (here is where I make a facetious comment about how the Pirates believe Triple-A equals Double-A).
In High-A, the Greensboro Grasshoppers have slid behind Hudson Valley by two games for the division lead. They’ll take on the Jersey Shore Blueclaws who are only two games behind them. The Philadelphia Phillies affiliate has a Top 5 prospect in Hao-Yu Lee, but only two other Top 30 prospects on the roster, and one of them is on the 60-Day injured list.
The Bradenton Marauders get to take on Detroit Tigers affiliate, Lakeland Flying Tigers. The Marauders find themselves now five games back of the division lead, as Phillies affiliate Clearwater Threshers are tearing through the league, currently on a 13-game winning streak. Lakeland sits at the bottom of the Florida State League West, so hopefully the Marauders themselves can get on a bit of a hot streak. The Flying Tigers top prospect is 2022 second rounder out of University of Oklahoma, shortstop Peyton Graham.
Triple-A: Indianapolis Indians
Opponent: ST. PAUL (TWINS)
Opponent Stats
Team OPS: .777 OPS
Rank: 11/20
Team ERA: 4.61
ERA Rank: 7/20
Top Prospects
Player | Position | Pipeline Ranking
- EDOUARD JULIEN | 2B | 4
- Pipeline Top 100: 92
- Baseball America Top 100: 92
- MATT WALLNER | OF | 7
- SIMEON WOODS RICHARDSON | RHP | 8
- AUSTIN MARTIN (7-Day IL) | SS/OF/2B | 12
- JORDAN BALAZOVIC | RHP | 21
- BRENT HEADRICK | LHP | 25
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
Opponent: AKRON (GUARDIANS)
Opponent Stats
Team OPS: .632 OPS
Rank: 11/12
Team ERA: 3.69
ERA Rank: 5/12
Top Prospects
Player | Position | Pipeline Ranking
- DANIEL ESPINO (60-Day IL) | RHP | 1
- Pipeline Top 100: #14
- Baseball America Top 100: #86
- ANGEL MARTINEZ | SS/2B | 9
- PETEY HALPIN (7-Day IL) | OF | 15
- JOEY CANTILLO | LHP | 17
- TANNER BURNS | RHP | 20
- JOSE TENA | SS/2B | 22
- DOUG NIKHAZY | LHP | 29
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
Opponent: JERSEY SHORE (PHILLIES)
Opponent Stats
Team OPS: .735 OPS
Rank: 7/12
Team ERA: 4.75
ERA Rank: 7/12
Top Prospects
Player | Position | Pipeline Ranking
- HAO-YU LEE | 2B | 5
- CHRISTIAN MCGOWAN (60-Day IL) | RHP | 16
- TOMMY MCCOLLUM | RHP | 28
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Opponent: LAKELAND (TIGERS)
Opponent Stats
Team OPS: .725 OPS
Rank: 4/10
Team ERA: 5.48
ERA Rank: 9/10
Top Prospects
Player | Position | Pipeline Ranking
- PEYTON GRAHAM | SS | 6
- CRISTIAN SANTANA (7-Day IL) | SS/2B | 9
- MANUEL SEQUERA | INF | 16
- TROY MELTON | RHP | 17
- LUKE GOLD | 2B/3B | 18
Song of the Day
Pirates Prospects Daily
By John Dreker
**Mitch Keller Ends the Pirates’ Losing Streak With a Complete Game Shutout
**Chris Owings was added to the roster officially. Mark Mathias headed back to Indianapolis. There’s also some Luis Ortiz news there, which is exactly what everyone has assumed since he left his start early on Friday. More on him later today.
**Greensboro is up to five catchers in the last four days due to some more moving around, as Wyatt Hendrie gets promoted.
**Top Performers: Aaron Shackelford and Caleb Smith Lead the Way The best in the minor league system over the past week
**Wyatt Langford is starting to show why some people liked him better than Dylan Crews. Things are getting a bit interesting. Our weekly look at how the draft is shaping up.
