Prospect Watch: Anthony Solometo Pitches Altoona to a Win

There was a full day of action in the minors, led by Anthony Solometo fueling the Altoona Curve to a 5-3 win. Greensboro saw a trio of home runs from Tres Gonzalez, Will Matthiessen, and Jack Brannigan, leading them to a 6-5 win. Malcom Nunez made another rehab appearance in a blowout loss for Bradenton. Esmerlyn Valdez had a four hit day with a walk in the FCL. Check out all of the daily highlights below.

Player of the Day

ANTHONY SOLOMETO, LHP, ALTOONA

Making his sixth start at the Double-A level, Solometo gave up two runs on five hits in five innings of work. He walked one and struck out five. In his overall time with Altoona, the 2021 37th overall pick has a 3.14 ERA. He has displayed impressive control, with a 33:6 K/BB ratio in 28.2 innings. Already shutting down the Double-A level in his age-20 season, the young lefty could be on a progression to make his MLB debut by the middle of next season.

Ten More to Follow

ANDRE JACKSON, RHP, INDIANAPOLIS

The Pirates added Jackson a month ago from the Dodgers for cash considerations, after he had been designated for assignment with a 5.86 ERA in 27.2 innings. Today was his longest outing since being acquired: Four innings, three hits, two runs, two walks, five strikeouts. The strikeouts mostly came early. He gave up back-to-back two-out hits in the first for a run, and a solo homer with one out in the second. Jackson worked around two walks in the third, and had a clean inning with one strikeout in the fourth.

MIGUEL ANDUJAR, LF, INDIANAPOLIS

Andujar continues to hit in Triple-A, adding a solo homer in the seventh inning to pull Indianapolis to within three runs. He had three hits total on the day, knocking in two runs. Andujar hasn’t stopped hitting in Triple-A. His seven-figure deal will keep him stashed as depth throughout the year. Andujar is hitting .364/.408/.523 in the month of July.

Miguel Andújar: Hotter than the sun.

JACKSON GLENN, 3B, ALTOONA

Glenn hit his second homer of the year, breaking a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning with his three run shot. He started the at-bat with a foul bunt attempt, before hitting the 1-1 pitch over the fence. Glenn was promoted to Altoona at the start of July. He has two homers in his last four games.

Glenn says goodbye! @JacksonCGlenn knocks his second home run at the Double-A level and we have jumped out to a 5-2 lead! pic.twitter.com/PWWncek14r

— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) July 28, 2023

WILL MATTHIESSEN, LF, GREENSBORO

Matthiessen was busy running around the bases to give Greensboro an early lead. In the first inning, he hit an inside the park homer to center field, putting the Grasshoppers up 3-0. He followed with a two run double in the third inning, extending the lead to 5-0. Matthiessen has a .936 OPS this month, with five homers.

Inside the park…HOMER from Will Matthiessen!!

Hoppers: 3 | Dash: 0 pic.twitter.com/jWQ2Z8NvRB

— Greensboro Grasshoppers (@GSOHoppers) July 27, 2023

JACK BRANNIGAN, 3B, GREENSBORO

Brannigan gave the Grasshoppers some insurance, hitting his eighth homer of the year to pad the lead in the bottom of the eighth — which proved important after a run allowed in the ninth inning. The homer was one of two hits on the day, with Brannigan also adding a triple. This was his third multi-hit game in his last four games.

New kids on the block….rake!! Jack Brannigan HOMER!

Hoppers: 6 | Dash: 4 pic.twitter.com/LFfdbg7YEC

— Greensboro Grasshoppers (@GSOHoppers) July 28, 2023

TRES GONZALES, CF, GREENSBORO

Gonzales led off the Greensboro victory with a solo homer, his fifth of the season at the level. The 2022 5th rounder is hitting .283/.398/.404 at the level, with 17 stolen bases in 22 attempts. After rough months in May (.741 OPS) and June (.690), Gonzales has rebounded to hit for a .342/.444/.553 line this month, with three of his homers.

Lead-off BOMBS!!! Tres Gonzalez homers to put the Hoppers on board first!

Hoppers: 1 | Dash: 0 pic.twitter.com/EoflbKD1qr

— Greensboro Grasshoppers (@GSOHoppers) July 27, 2023

JESUS CASTILLO, 3B, BRADENTON

Bradenton was blown out 17-3, and only four batters in the game had hits. Castillo hit his first homer of the year, and first of his three-year pro career, putting the Marauders on the board in the fifth inning. The infielder has a .221/.389/.263 line this year, showing little power, but great speed and plate patience. He’s got 23 steals in 29 attempts, plus 71 walks to 61 strikeouts in 285 at-bats.

ESMERLYN VALDEZ, RF, FCL PIRATES

Valdez had a huge day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and a walk, while knocking in three runners. His lone mistake on the day was getting caught stealing. After signing in January 2021, Valdez has emerged as one of the best offensive performers for the 2023 FCL team. He’s got a .391/.448/.620 line in 92 at-bats, with five homers. That’s a big jump from his .232/.371/.394 with three homers in 99 at-bats last year at the same level.

EDDY RODRIGUEZ, 1B, FCL PIRATES

Rodriguez has been hitting the ball consistently in the FCL, going 2-for-4 with a double on Thursday. It was his second straight multi-hit day, and he’s got two homers in the three games he’s played this week. Rodriguez has an .811 OPS this month, with five stolen bases in six attempts added to the mix. He’s also walked more than he’s struck out (8:7).

ANTWONE KELLY, RHP, FCL PIRATES

The FCL Pirates used an opener, before Kelly pitched 4.2 innings, allowing just one unearned run. He gave up two hits and one walk, while striking out five batters. On the season, he has a 2.33 ERA in 27 innings, with a 33:12 K/BB ratio. Kelly signed out of Aruba in January 2021, throwing a fastball that gets up to mid-90s and a curve. He’s seen an increase to his workload this year, already surpassing last year’s innings totals.

Yesterday’s Minor League Results

INDIANAPOLIS (46-52) VS Louisville

Score: Louisville 9, Indianapolis 6
Indianapolis Starter: Andre Jackson, RHP (3.72)
–Line: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Player of the Game: Miguel Andujar, LF (3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI)
Attendance: 8,736

Notable Performers

• Ryan Vilade, RF (2-for-4, BB, 2B)
• Domingo Leyba, 2B (2-for-5, 2B)
• Jason Delay (2-for-4, 2B)

ALTOONA (44-45) AT Harrisburg

Score: Altoona 5, Harrisburg 3
Altoona Starter: Anthony Solometo, LHP (3.14)
–Line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Solometo
Attendance: 4,251

Notable Performers

• Jackson Glenn, 3B (1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI)
• Connor Scott, RF (1-for-4, 2B)
• Tsung-Che Cheng, SS (1-for-4, 2B, RBI)
• Tahnaj Thomas, RHP (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K)
• Justin Meis, RHP (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R,m 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR)

GREENSBORO (47-43) VS Winston-Salem

Score: Greensboro 6, Winston-Salem 5
Greensboro Starter: Jack Carey, RHP (4.85)
–Line: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Will Matthiessen, LF (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI)
Attendance: 4,677

Notable Performers

• Jack Brannigan, 2B-3B (2-for-4, 3B, HR)
• Tres Gonzalez, CF (1-for-2, 2 BB, HR)
• Joshua Loeschorn, RHP (2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR)

BRADENTON (53-39) AT St. Lucie

Score: St. Lucie 17, Bradenton 3
Bradenton Starter: Alessandro Ercolani, RHP (4.50)
–Line: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Jesus Castillo, 3B (1-for-2, 2 BB, HR)
Attendance: 985

Notable Performers

• Malcom Nunez, 1B (0-for-1, 2 BB)

FCL PIRATES (26-10) AT FCL Red Sox

Score: Pirates 9, Red Sox 2
FCL Pirates Starter: Luigi Hernandez, RHP (6.75)
–Line: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Esmerlyn Valdez, RF (4-for-4, 2B, BB, 3 RBI)
Attendance: N/A

Notable Performers

• Antwone Kelly, RHP (4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR)
• Jhonson Pena, CF (2-for-3, 2 BB)
• Javier Rivas, SS (2-for-5, BB)
• Eddy Rodriguez, 1B (2-for-4, 2B)
• Eybert Escalona, DH (3-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI)

DSL PIRATES BLACK (13-22) VS DSL Red Sox Blue

Score: Red Sox 6, Pirates 2
Pirates Black Starter: Jose Regalado, LHP (5.50)
–Line: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Carlos Caro, 3B (2-for-2, 2B, HR)

DSL PIRATES GOLD (25-10) VS DSL Red Sox Blue

Score: Pirates 2, Cubs 1 (Suspended, 4th inning)
Pirates Gold Starter: Carlos Castillo, RHP (2.42)
–Line: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Roinny Aguiar, 2B (2-for-2, RBI)