Today’s action included great pitching from Jared Jones and Thomas Harrington, along with the return of Travis Swaggerty.
Aaron Shortridge pitched a terrific game for Altoona. The Curve batters were stacking up the hits, but it almost wasn’t enough by the end of the game.
Bradenton saw Josiah Sightler continue to pound the ball since joining the team recently. Brandan Bidois also returned to action in tonight’s game.
The FCL Pirates had a field day with the pitching of the Orioles affiliate, while the two DSL Pirates teams played each other for the second time this year. They have four more head-to-head games left.
Anthony Murphy: Bubba Chandler, RHP Greensboro (A+)
Statistically speaking, this hasn’t been the prettiest of seasons for Bubba Chandler, as he continues to sit with an ERA over six in July. On the surface it was another rough outing on Thursday, allowing five runs and nine hits across 5.1 innings pitched.
The book on Chandler hasn’t really changed, the stuff is electric, he’s just struggled adjusting to High-A due to his control, and when he tries to force it, the ball is left over the plate and gets hit hard.
He bounced back after a lead off home run in the first inning to strikeout the top prospect in the game, Jackson Holliday. He also strung together a decent amount of outs in a row in the middle innings. It was just the start and finish that did him in.
Someday things will eventually click for Chandler, and he will start to unlock that insane potential he has. It would be nice to see some results at some point this year, but the way I think of it, if he went to college he would have just wrapped up his sophomore year at Clemson.
Best case scenario, he was probably the Sunday starter, perhaps not even that yet. Instead he’s facing older and far more advanced professional hitters in High-A.
If there was one final ‘plus’ to take away from his last start, quite a few hits – especially towards the end — weren’t severely hit hard and were bloop shots barely making it out the infield.
JOHN DREKER: Andre Jackson, RHP, Indianapolis (AAA)
TIM WILLIAMS: Tsung Che-Cheng, SS, Altoona (AA)
The Pirates promoted Liover Peguero from Altoona recently, but not before Tsung-Che Cheng took over as the everyday shortstop. Cheng, who is one of the best pure hitting talents in the system, went 2-for-25 in his first six games at the new level. He’s recorded a hit in each of the first seven games of July, including two hits and a triple tonight.
Cheng was 7-for-24 this month, heading into tonight. A concern with him has been the lack of power potential to back up his contact skills. The triple tonight was his first extra base hit at the new level. That’s a positive thing to see in the midst of a seven game hitting streak. He added four stolen bases during a two hit game on Wednesday.
The contact/speed profile from Cheng, combined with his ability to stick at shortstop defensively, means that he doesn’t need much more than extra base power to reach the majors.
Prospect Watch Player Archives
7/6: Kyle Nicolas, Nick Dombkowski, Tyler Samaniego
7/5: Matt Gorski, Liover Peguero, Wilber Dotel
7/4: Esmerlyn Valdez, Joshua Loeschorn, Andres Silvera
7/3: Jared Jones, Derek Diamond, Josiah Sightler
7/2: Endy Rodriguez, Ryan Harbin, Jonathan Rivero
6/30: Owen Kellington, Alika Williams, Jackson Grounds
6/28: Lonnie White Jr., Kelvin Diaz, Yojeiry Osoria
Yesterday’s Top Performers
- Josiah Sightler (A): 3-5, RBI
- Shalin Polanco (A): 2-4, 2B
- Joshua Loeschorn (A): 2 IP, 2 H, ER, 5 K
- Tres Gonzalez (A+): 2-4, R, 2B, HR (3), RBI
- Endy Rodriguez (AAA): 2-4, R, BB
- Quinn Priester (AAA): 7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 K
- Check out yesterday’s full minor league results here.
Daily Video Rundown
Two outfield assists in one inning for @chavezyoung242! pic.twitter.com/95O7UzjMSM
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) July 7, 2023
While his offense has never come around after making some noise in Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic, the defense has remained at an elite level for Chavez Young. He picked up a pair of outfield assist in a single inning for the Altoona Curve.
"Fastball… There's the end of the game!"
Celebrations like these are our favorite. pic.twitter.com/8ostOxUKES
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) July 7, 2023
Miguel Andujar comes up with this sacrifice fly to win the game for the Indianapolis Indians. After being DFA for the second time this season, Andujar has been destroying Triple-A pitching as of late. He was named the Indianapolis Player of the Month for June, after batting .362/.430/.585.
Got him.
The progress that Endy Rodriguez has made over the last year or so defensively is really impressive. While his trademark remains his versatility and plus hit tool, this is a reminder that he is still a legitimate catching prospect.
Today’s Minor League Results
By John Dreker
INDIANAPOLIS (39-44) VS Memphis
Game Time: 7:05 pm ET
Indianapolis Starter: Jared Jones (0-1, 5.87 ERA)
–Line: 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 SO
Player of the Game:
Final Score: Indianapolis 2, Louisville 1JC Flowers actually started this game, but Jared Jones still put in starter work on his scheduled day to pitch. After Flowers threw a scoreless first, Jones pitched four innings in which he allowed one run on one hit, two walks and seven strikeouts. He had rough innings in each of his first three Triple-A starts, so this was a nice performance. He threw 62 pitches, 39 for strikes.
Jose Hernandez continued his rehab with a scoreless inning. Andre Jackson followed with two shutout frames in his Indianapolis debut. Colin Selby closed out the win with two strikeouts in the ninth.
Miguel Andujar, Ryan Vilade, Vinny Capra and Alika Williams each had two hits. Vilade and Williams each had one double and one RBI.
Liover Peguero collected his first hit for Indianapolis (1-for-9 in three games). He also drew a walk and stole his second base since being promoted.
ALTOONA (37-40) VS Erie
Game Time: 6 pm ET
Altoona Starter: Aaron Shortridge (4-5, 5.14 ERA)
–Line: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
Player of the Game: Aaron Shortridge 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
Final Score: Altoona 8, Erie 7Altoona had an 8-2 lead late on Friday, which turned into an 8-7 nail-biter. The Curve collected 17 hits in the game, including seven multi-hit games.
Lolo Sanchez, Claudio Finol, Chavez Young, Jacob Gonzalez and Tsung-Che Cheng each had two hits. Cheng had a triple. Finol had two doubles.
Jackson Glenn and Matt Fraizer had three hits. Fraizer hit his 13th double. Both of them stole two bases, giving Fraizer 15 on the season.
The Curve went 9-for-22 with runners in scoring position.
Aaron Shortridge pitched a terrific game, allowed two runs over seven innings on four hits, a walk and five strikeouts.
Cameron Junker gave up three runs in his one inning. Braeden Ogle got the save, despite allowing two runs in the ninth.
GREENSBORO (38-38) VS Aberdeen
Game Time: 6:30 pm ET
Greensboro Starter: Thomas Harrington (0-1, 4.56 ERA)
–Line: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
Player of the Game: Thomas Harrington 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
Final Score: Greensboro 5, Aberdeen 4Thomas Harrington had a strong start, but it was some timely hitting by Luke Brown that won the game for Greensboro. Brown homered in the seventh, then hit a two-run walk-off single in the tenth.
Tres Gonzalez hit his fourth homer earlier in the game. Jase Bowen singled home rehabbing Travis Swaggerty in the third inning for the second run. Gonzalez had three hits, Bowen stole his 13th base. Swaggerty went 1-for-3 with a triple and two walks.
Harrington allowed one run over six innings, with five hits, two walks and five strikeouts. He has a 3.98 ERA over seven starts for the Grasshoppers. He has a 3.31 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 70.2 innings between Bradenton and Greensboro.
Michell Miliano gave up two runs (one earned) in two innings. Dante Mendoza allowed one run in his two innings, but that run was the free runner in the tenth.
BRADENTON (43-34) AT Daytona
Game Time: 6:35 pm ET
Bradenton Starter: Derek Diamond (6-3, 3.94)
–Line: 6 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
Player of the Game: Josiah Sightler 4-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Final Score: Bradenton 9, Daytona 5
Josiah Sightler had himself a day on Friday. He had two singles, a double and a homer. He scored twice, drove in a pair a drew a walk. He has a 1.512 OPS during his limited time with Bradenton.
Derek Diamond didn’t have a good start on Friday, but he still got the win by battling through a rough fourth inning to throw six innings total. He gave up five runs on seven hits, with all five runs scoring in the fourth.
Brandan Bidois returned from a short Injured List stint to throw a scoreless seventh inning, striking out three batters. Yoldin De La Paz finished things off with two scoreless frames.
Bradenton hitters had 11 walks in the game, including two each from Termarr Johnson, Alexander Mojica, Jesus Castillo and Enmanuel Terrero.
Geovanny Planchart had two hits, two runs and two RBIs.
It was not a good day for Yordany De Los Santos, who went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts. Lonnie White Jr was only slightly better with three strikeouts in his 0-for-5 day.
Shalin Polanco went 0-for-4 with a walk.
FCL PIRATES (16-7)
Game Time: 12 pm ET
FCL Pirates Starter: Michael Kennedy (0-0, 2.41)
–Line: 4 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
Player of the Game: Rafael Escalante 2-for-3, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 2 BB
Final Score: Pirates 20, Orioles 4
The Pirates had their offense working all game, coming up with eight hits with runners on scoring position. They won 20-4, putting up multiple runs in five innings.
Starter Michael Kennedy allowed four runs over four innings in this contest, after giving up one earned run in his first four starts. However, three of those runs scored when a routine fly ball turned into a triple, while falling between two outfielders. There were two outs when that happened. The other scored on a legit homer.
The bullpen of Keneth Quintanilla, Antwone Kelly and Eliecer Romero combined for five no-hit innings.
Rafael Escalante had a career day, driving in five runs on two doubles. He also had two walks and three runs.
Juan Jerez also had a big day, collecting two homers and a triple. He drove in two runs and scored three times.
Kelvin Diaz had a single, homer, three runs and three RBIs.
Jeral Toledo homered as well. He had three runs, three RBIs and two walks.
Miguel Sosa had two hits, two walks and four runs scored.
DSL PIRATES BLACK (8-14) vs DSL PIRATES GOLD (15-7)
Game Time: 11 am ET
DSL Pirates Black Starter: Carlos Castillo 0-2, 3.18
–Line: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
Player of the Game: Miguel Rodriguez 1-for-3, 3B, 2 RBI, BBDSL Pirates Gold Starter: Pitterson Rosa (1-1, 6.23)
–Line: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO
Player of the Game: Ruben Vizcaya 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB
Final Score: Black 5, Gold 4
The Pirates Black won 5-4 over Pirates Gold, with three runs in the bottom of the seventh of a seven-inning game.
Black scored runs in the second on an Alex Aquino double and a Yosmar Gimenez single.
Gold picked up a run on a Ruben Vizcaya double in the third to make it 2-1.
Gold took the lead in the fourth on an error, followed by RBI singles from Daje Morales and Roinny Aguiar.
Down 4-2 in the final inning, Black got a single by Gimenez, a one-out HBP to Carlos Caro, a game-tying two-run triple by Miguel Rodriguez, who then scored on a walk-off single by Jonathan Rivero.
Gimenez had three singles and his fourth steal. Aquino had two hits.
Gold starter Pitterson Rosa lasted just 1.2 innings, leaving after three hits and three walks resulted in two innings.
Black starter Carlos Castillo gave up an unearned run and just one hit in his three innings. He had three walks and four strikeouts.
