Bradenton’s offense was led by one member of the 2023 draft class, Tsung-Che Cheng extended his hitting streak in a powerful way, and there were a lot of high upside prospects to follow in the lower levels. Below you’ll find a recap of the minor league action in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system from Tuesday.
Player of the Day
CHARLES MCADOO, LF, BRADENTON
The Pirates drafted McAdoo out of San Jose State in the 13th round this year. The infielder/outfielder has only played four games, but on Tuesday he showed that he’s clearly more advanced than the Single-A level. McAdoo went 6-for-6 with two homers and eight RBIs on the day, helping to lead the Marauders to a 13-9 victory. McAdoo has hits in all four games he’s played, with multiple hits in his last three games. Getting a hit in every at-bat, and 12 total bases on the day is a different level entirely.
Ten More to Follow
TRAVIS MACGREGOR, RHP, INDIANAPOLIS
Indianapolis went with a bullpen game, with no pitcher going three innings, and six pitchers used the entire game. Travis MacGregor had the best results, taking over in the third inning and throwing 2.2 shutout. He allowed an inherited runner to score in the third, but got through his innings with four strikeouts. MacGregor has a 3.55 ERA in 25.1 innings with Indianapolis this year, with a 22:10 K/BB ratio.
TSUNG-CHE CHENG, SS, ALTOONA
There probably aren’t many hitter in baseball who are more consistent than Tsung-Che Cheng right now. Entering this week with an active 14-game hitting streak, following hits every day in each of the last two weeks, Cheng took things to another level on Tuesday. He went 2-for-4, picking up a double and his second homer of the year for Altoona. The hitting streak is now at 15 games.
Tsung-Che smacked the salami outta that one! His second home run with Altoona gets us on the board! pic.twitter.com/PRlvgUmeUJ
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) August 9, 2023
NICK DOMBKOWSKI, LHP, ALTOONA
Dombkowski got the start for Altoona and pitched five innings. He allowed three runs on six hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. The left-hander profiles as a reliever in the majors, with the chance to go multiple innings. Since the start of June, he’s increased his innings, getting more of a starter workload with a lot of 4-5 inning appearances. Dombkowski has a 3.09 ERA in 64 innings for Altoona this year.
One strikeout for @NickDombkowski7 in a scoreless first inning!
LISTEN: https://t.co/aioWvW3Svf
WATCH: https://t.co/6GP894jPtF pic.twitter.com/FyB3lPsF0X— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) August 8, 2023
JACK BRANNIGAN, 3B, GREENSBORO
Brannigan picked up three hits for Greensboro, including his fourth homer of the year. The infielder was drafted by the Pirates in the third round last year, and has split this year between both A-ball levels. In 52 at-bats with Greensboro, he has a .327/.400/.654 line with his four homers and four stolen bases.
LONNIE WHITE, CF, BRADENTON
After being the best player in the system last week with three home runs, White continued hitting for power. On Tuesday, White went 2-for-6 with two doubles. He now has five doubles in the month of August.
MITCH JEBB, SS, BRADENTON
The Pirates’ second round pick this year exploded onto the scene by going 10-for-20 in his first four games. He followed that by going 2-for-12 in his next three. Jebb went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and three runs scored on Tuesday.
LUIS PERALTA, LHP, BRADENTON
Peralta pitched two perfect innings in relief, striking out three. Last week, he went 3.2 shutout innings in a short start, allowing three hits, three walks, and striking out six. Peralta has a 2.70 ERA in 16.2 inings since the start of July, with 24 strikeouts and nine walks.
MICHAEL KENNEDY, LHP, FCL PIRATES
Kennedy entered the game in the fifth inning, pitching five shutout frames to close out the game. This was the second outing in a row, and the third in his last four appearances where he pitched five shutout innings. He didn’t allow a walk in any of those starts, combining for 20 strikeouts. The other start saw him give up four runs in three innings, with three walks and one strikeout. The Pirates drafted Kennedy in the fourth round last year, signing him to an over-slot deal out of high school.
ESTUAR SUERO, CF, FCL PIRATES
Suero went 0-for-2 with two walks and his first stolen base for the Pirates. In three games played since being acquired from the Padres for Rich Hill and Ji Man Choi, he’s gone 1-for-8. However, his OBP is .417, thanks to four walks. Suero was batting .216/.306/.345 with four homers and seven steals in ten attempts in the Arizona Complex League.
JUN-SEOK SHIM, RHP, FCL PIRATES
After pitching four perfect innings with eight strikeouts in his debut, Jun-Seok Shim left his second start after 1.1 innings. That was June 17th. He returned to the mound today, pitching 1.2 innings with two runs on a walk and a hit. Shim was removed in the second with two runners on base, and both scored off a reliever. The 19-year-old out of South Korea has been hitting triple digits in his young career, making him one of the more promising young arms in the lower levels.
Tuesday’s Home Runs
- Tsung-Che Cheng, SS, Altoona (2)
- Jack Brannigan, 3B, Greensboro (4)
- Charles McAdoo, LF, Bradenton x2 (2)
- Omar Alfonzo, 1B, Bradenton (2)
- Carlos Caro, SS, DSL Pirates Black (4)
Tuesday’s Minor League Results
INDIANAPOLIS (50-57) VS Nashville
Score: Nashville 9, Indianapolis 8
Indianapolis Starter: Beau Sulser, RHP (30.86)
–Line: 2.1 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
Player of the Game: Travis MacGregor, RHP (2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR)
Attendance: 5,895
Notable Performers
- Kyle Nicolas, RHP (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR)
- Ji Hwan Bae, 2B (0-for-3, 2 BB, SB)
- Nick Gonzales, SS (2-for-4, BB)
- Miguel Andujar, RF-1B (1-for-3, 2 BB, 2B)
ALTOONA (48-51) VS Erie
Score: Erie 7, Altoona 3
Altoona Starter: Nick Dombkowski, LHP (3.09)
–Line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Tsung-Che Cheng, SS (2-for-4, 2B, HR [2], 3 RBI)
Attendance: 5,026
Notable Performers
- Tahnaj Thomas, RHP (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR)
- Lolo Sanchez, LF (1-for-4, 2B)
GREENSBORO (53-47) AT Greenville
Score: Greenville 14, Greensboro 8
Greensboro Starter: Joshua Loeschorn, RHP (5.06)
–Line: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
Player of the Game: Jack Brannigan, 3B (3-for-5, 2B, HR [4], 3 RBI))
Attendance: 3,524
Notable Performers
- Josiah Sightler, DH (2-for-5, RBI)
- Sammy Siani, LF (1-for-3, BB, 2B)
BRADENTON (59-43) AT Fort Myers
Score: Bradenton 13, Fort Myers 9
Bradenton Starter: Hung-Leng Chang, RHP (9.49)
–Line: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Player of the Game: Charles McAdoo, LF (6-for-6, 2 HR [2], 8 RBI)
Attendance: 936
Notable Performers
- Luis Peralta, LHP (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K)
- Lonnie White, CF (2-for-6, 2 2B)
- Mitch Jebb, SS (2-for-5, SB)
- Omar Alfonzo, C (1-for-4, HR [2], BB, 2 RBI)
- Justin Miknis, C (2-for-4, BB, 2 RBI)
FCL PIRATES (28-17) VS FCL Twins
Score: Twins 3, Pirates 2
FCL Pirates Starter: Jun-Seok Shim, RHP (3.86)
–Line: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Michael Kennedy, LHP (5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR)
Notable Performers
- Braylon Bishop, LF (1-for-2, BB)
- Estuar Suero, CF (0-for-2, 2 BB, SB)
DSL PIRATES BLACK (15-26) VS DSL Red Sox Red
Score: Pirates 10, Red Sox 9
Pirates Black Starter: Dariel Francia, RHP (3.19)
–Line: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Carlos Caro, SS (4-for-5, HR [4], BB, 2 RBI)
DSL PIRATES GOLD (30-12) VS DSL Tigers 2
Score: Pirates 7, Phillies 2
Pirates Gold Starter: Pitterson Rosa, RHP (4.94)
–Line: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Juan Machado, LF (2-for-2, 3B, BB, 2 RBI)
