It’s a less than traditional Sunday for three of the four full season teams. Where this is usually the end of their series, with the All-Star break coming up, Greensboro is the only team with an off-day on Monday.
The rest of the full season teams play in game five of their week long series, with Bradenton and Altoona finally getting one in the win column. Greensboro wraps up their road series against Hickory looking to avoid a six game sweep.
Indianapolis will look to clinch a series win with Jared Jones on the mound, making his third start in Triple-A. Check out all of the daily updates below.
TIM WILLIAMS: Endy Rodriguez, C, Indianapolis (AAA)
Endy Rodriguez can hit. He’s got the hand/eye coordination, the ability to track the baseball like very few players on the field, and a quick adjustable swing that can generate some power. He can hit, but he hasn’t been hitting a lot this year at the Triple-A level. He had a .250 average in April and a .225 average in May, with a .333 on-base percentage in each month.
Ryan Palencer wrote recently about Rodriguez putting his focus into his defense, and how that might be impacting the bat. This has been my suspicion. The amount of work that catchers need to do on a daily basis is largely unappreciated. They’re usually the first on the field, in full gear, helping the daily starter to get ready. They need to game plan the entire opposing offense, while preparing the entire pitching staff for that day. As every other position is practicing their hitting and defense, catchers barely start to focus on themselves.
Last year, we saw Endy Rodriguez emerge as the top catching prospect in the system. This year, we’re seeing the divergence of that emergence. Rodriguez is in Indianapolis, working on his defense and game calling behind the plate, with his offense suffering. Meanwhile, Henry Davis is hitting in the majors, playing in right field. My thought is Rodriguez wouldn’t be struggling if he was playing an easier position. I also believe that he’s going to eventually hit his way out of those struggles.
We might be seeing the start of this. Rodriguez had a .296 average in the month of June, along with an improved .360 OBP. The power numbers took a drop, but he showed the ability to get on base. Last year around this time, Rodriguez settled in behind the plate and his bat took off. The big month that followed pushed him up to Altoona, where he didn’t stop hitting. If he has another big month, he could find himself in Pittsburgh for the final two months of 2023.
Anthony Murphy: Ryan Harbin, RHP Bradenton (A)
There may not be a player in the system more in need of a promotion than Harbin right now. In over 31.2 innings now this season with the Marauders, he has posted an 0.85 ERA and has struck out 43 batters.
With Harbin, the eye test is matching up with his insane metrics he’s posted up to this point. His slider/cutter is a very high spin pitch that has made hitters look silly this season. Clearwater hitters whiffed on all six swings against the pitch, and overall Harbin picked up eight on 13 overall.
On Saturday night he faced six hitters and only one of them put the ball in play. He struck out the other five. It’s hard to get excited about relievers at times, especially in the lower levels, but Harbin is doing everything right and has been long ready for a bigger challenge.
John Dreker: Jonathan Rivero, C, DSL Pirates Black (Rk)
The Pirates signed two of the top players this year when the 2022-23 international signing period began on January 15th. Jun-Seok Shim was ranked tenth in the class by MLB Pipeline, who had him second among all pitching prospects. They also signed outfielder Raymond Mola, who was ranked 26th overall. Neither one of those players got the biggest bonus that the Pirates handed out this year. That honor belonged to 17-year-old Venezuelan catcher Jonathan Rivero.
Rivero’s scouting report said that he was a lefty bat, who was very advanced for his age in all aspects. He had a bit of a late growth spurt that put him at 6’1″, 191 pounds when he signed. He put on good weight after agreeing to a deal with the Pirates, and he still had room to fill out. He was already showing nice power for his age, with a chance to add more as he gets older. The Pirates were high on everything about his defense behind the plate, noting that he was very athletic, moves well, has a strong arm and good instincts.
Rivero is being eased into the game, as these new shorter Dominican Summer League schedules that include 16 fewer games and numerous scheduled seven inning games, really limit the playing time for everyone, especially when you work with 35-man rosters. He has caught seven of the first 19 games, while serving as the DH six times. You really can’t take much from DSL stats, especially not in a small sample size, but there is a good sign behind his .227/.352/.318 slash line in 54 plate appearances. He has struck out just six times, while drawing nine walks. He has the third best strikeout rate among Pirates hitters on their two DSL affiliates, while posting a better walk rate than the two players ahead of him on that strikeout list.
Rivero should be a one-and-done player in the DSL due to his bonus status combined with being advanced for his age. The Pirates clearly thought higher of him than the people putting together the prospect lists. The early strikeout/walk rates just show some signs of being advanced at the plate. Once he gets to the U.S., then we can start looking a little more into his stats to see if he can live up to the early hype.
Yesterday’s Top Performers
- Alika Williams (AAA): 3-for-5, Double, RBI, Run
- Anthony Solometo (AA): 5 IP, H, BB, 5 K
- Derek Diamond (A): W, 6 IP, 3 H, BB, 4 K
- Ryan Harbin (A): 2 IP, 5 K
- Matt Gorski (AA): 2-for-4, Run, HR (10), RBI
- Brenden Dixon (A+): 2-for-3, HR (6), RBI, BB
- Shalin Polanco (A): 2-for-3, Double, SB, 2 RBI, Run, BB
Check out yesterday’s full minor league results here.
Daily Video Rundown
Time to go home there ball. pic.twitter.com/p48SzC4TKS
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) July 2, 2023
Cal Mitchell with his eighth home run of the season for the Indianapolis Indians. It sparked a six run ninth inning that ended up propelling them to the victory. Mitchell has put up some strong exit velocity numbers, but has struggled with strikeouts this season.
Hitting streak: 9⃣ games
On the board thanks to Alika's stick.
When he was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays, he was really only known for his glove but Alika Williams has been one of the hottest players in the system with the bat. He’s had three multi-hit games among the eight straight he’s reached safely.
"That was an all-or-nothing play!" @Pirates prospect Chavez Young lays out to make the catch in center field for the @AltoonaCurve. pic.twitter.com/KunSSiepOo
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 1, 2023
Chavez Young was one of the more exciting players during the WBC, and he flashed a little bit of why on Saturday for Altoona. He’s struggled offensively, but he’s been one of the better defensive players in the system this season.
Pirates Minor League Results
By John Dreker
INDIANAPOLIS (36-42) AT Louisville
Game Time: 1:05 pm ET
Indianapolis Starter: Jared Jones (0-1, 5.06 ERA)—Line: Louisville 7, Indianapolis 4
Player of the Game: Miguel Andujar 2-for-4, RBI
Recap:Jared Jones hasn’t had an easy transition to Triple-A, after not even putting in a full season in Double-A Altoona. His control/command got the best of him on Sunday, as he allowed four runs over 4.2 innings on six hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. He needed 95 pitches to get through part of the fifth inning. He now has a 5.87 ERA in three starts with Indianapolis.
Cody Bolton allowed two runs in an inning, while Chase De Jong also gave up a run.
The Indians took a 1-0 lead on a Miguel Andujar single in the first. They were down 4-1 when backup catcher Grant Koch doubled in a run. A sac fly by Cal Mitchell and an RBI single by Ryan Vilade tied the game in the sixth. The rest of the scoring belonged to Louisville.
Andujar, Chris Owings, Aaron Shackelford and Canaan Smith-Njigba each had two hits.
ALTOONA (35-37) AT Harrisburg
Game Time: 7:00 pm ET
Altoona Starter: Aaron Shortridge (3-5, 5.54 ERA)—Line: Altoona 2, Harrisburg 0
Player of the Game: Aaron Shortridge 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 SO
Recap:It hasn’t been an easy season for Aaron Shortridge, but he had quite a Sunday night. He struck out nine batters over five shutout innings, with two hits and two walks. He now has a 5.14 ERA over 70 innings this year.
Grant Ford, Cameron Junker and Noe Toribio combined for four shutout innings.
Mason Martin drove in both runs, scoring first on a solo homer, his 14th of the season. The was followed two innings later in the sixth with an RBI single that scored Matt Fraizer.
Altoona had seven hits in the game. Lolo Sanchez hit his fifth double and drew a walk.
Liover Peguero went 0-for-4. Tsung-Che Cheng went 1-for-4.
GREENSBORO (37-35) AT Hickory
Game Time: 6:30 pm ET
Greensboro Starter: TBD—Line: Hickory 8, Greensboro 7
Player of the Game: Wyatt Hendrie 3-for-6, HR, 3 RBI
Recap:Greensboro batters only have themselves to blame for Sunday’s loss. They scored seven runs, which included two of the extra-inning free runners, but they should have had more. They had plenty of chances with runners in base, but it’s hard to drive them in when you pile up 23 strikeouts in one night.
Wyatt Hendrie had a good game, with three hits and three RBIs, which included his third homer.
Jase Bowen had three hits, a walk and a run scored. He also stole his 12th base.
The pitchers did a mediocre job as a group, Four of the eight runners were unearned, three were the free runner in extra innings. JP Massey started, going four innings on three hits, one earned run, two walks and one strikeout.
Jack Carey tossed two scoreless. Santiago Florez allowed three runs in the eighth while recording one out.
Eddy Yean faced the minimum in two innings, yet he has the odd looking line of allowing two runs (unearned) due to the free runners.
BRADENTON (39-33) VS Clearwater
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
Bradenton Starter: Wil Crowe, RHP (Rehab Appearance)—Line: Clearwater 9, Bradenton 6
Player of the Game: Wilbur Dotel 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 SO
Recap:Bradenton was cruising along for seven innings on Sunday until three relievers combined to allow eight runs, leading to a 9-6 loss.
Wil Crowe started, his first action since April 17th when he suffered right shoulder discomfort that was probably bothering him earlier than he let on. He had a quick inning, needing just eight pitches to retire the side.
Wilbur Dotel was originally slated to start. He took over in the second, then posted five shutout innings, despite some control issues that led to four walks and a low strike percentage.
Carlos Lomeli, Darvin Garcia and Miguel Fulgencio allowed those eight earned runs in the eighth.
Josiah Sightler had a big game on offense, going 2-for-3 with two homers and five RBIs. They were his first two homers since joining Bradenton not long ago.
No one else for Bradenton reached base more than once. They had a walk and eight hits, including a triple by Enmanuel Terrero and a pinch-hit single late by Termarr Johnson.
Bradenton hitters struck out 14 times. They lead the league with 758 strikeouts in 13 games.
Prospect Watch Player Archives
6/30: Owen Kellington, Alika Williams, Jackson Grounds
6/28: Lonnie White Jr., Kelvin Diaz, Yojeiry Osoria
6/25: Quinn Priester, Canaan Smith-Njigba, Jhonson Pena
6/24: Nick Gonzales, Jared Triolo, Adolfo Oviedo
6/23: Michael Kennedy, Po-Yu Chen, Wyatt Hendrie
6/22: Braxton Ashcraft, Jase Bowen, Maikol Escotto
6/21: Termarr Johnson, Connor Scott, Enmanuel TerreroThe Prospect Watch runs every day at noon, featuring three players from the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system.
