Pirates Prospect Watch: Tsung-Che Cheng Homers Twice

This weekend’s action in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system was capped off by two home runs from Tsung-Che Cheng. Check out the recap of the best performers below, along with the game recaps for Sunday.

Player of the Day

TSUNG-CHE CHENG, 2B, ALTOONA

Cheng homered twice for Altoona on Sunday. In the third inning, he hit a three run shot to put Altoona on the board. He added a solo homer in the ninth inning. Both home runs went to the pull side right field. One was on a high hanging breaking pitch, with the second coming on a 2-2 fastball down the middle.

The third home run in Altoona for Tsung-Che Cheng puts us on the board! pic.twitter.com/kHABe30KHq

— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) September 3, 2023

Two home runs today for Tsung-Che Cheng! pic.twitter.com/FuusXI1cb3

— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) September 3, 2023

WEEKEND PERFORMERS

NICK GONZALES, SS, INDIANAPOLIS

Gonzales went 1-for-4 with a homer on Sunday, his third since being sent down to the minors at the start of last month. In one month at the level, he’s hitting .273/.369/.455. More impressive is his 23.3% strikeout rate and 10.7% walk rate. Those numbers are similar to his first three months at the level (.257/.370/.450), though he’s improved on his swing and miss issues.

BUBBA CHANDLER, RHP, GREENSBORO

Chandler pitched five innings on Saturday night, allowing a run on four hits, with two walks and four strikeouts. The right-hander shut down for ten days in July, and returned hoping to give people something to talk about with his game. In eight starts back, he has a 1.85 ERA in 43.2 innings.

HUDSON HEAD, RF, GREENSBORO

Head followed a three hit day on Friday with two hits and a double on Saturday. He went 0-for-3 with a walk on Sunday. Head is returning from an injury that kept him out of action for three months.

LUKE BROWN, CF, GREENSBORO

Brown went 1-for-7 at the plate with a triple and two walks this weekend. His biggest impact was on the field, with this home run stealing catch.

OH MY GOODNESS🤯🤯🤯

Luke Brown with the snag!!! #ESPNTop10 #SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/m9rC3SGBmO

— Greensboro Grasshoppers (@GSOHoppers) September 2, 2023

LONNIE WHITE JR., CF, BRADENTON

White had a big weekend at the plate. On Saturday, he went 2-for-3 with his seventh homer of the year, his ninth double, and two walks. He went 1-for-6 with a double and a walk in a double-header on Sunday. White is batting .262/.403/.496 in 141 at-bats in his first extended playing time in pro ball.

MITCH JEBB, SS, BRADENTON

Jebb picked up three hits on Saturday, followed by two more on Sunday. The hits on Sunday were both doubles. The second round pick is 6-for-13 this month, after posting a .238/.337/.310 line in August.

OMAR ALFONZO, C, BRADENTON

Alfonzo picked up four hits, with two doubles and a triple, on Saturday night. He added a home run on Sunday, his fourth of the season. Alfonzo is now batting .260/.384/.405 with four homers in 131 at-bats.

Sunday’s Home Runs

• Chris Owings, CF, Indianapolis (11)
• Nick Gonzales, SS, Indianapolis (9)
• Tsung-Che Cheng, 2B, Altoona x2 (4)
• Eli Wilson, C, Altoona (2)
• Omar Alfonzo, C, Bradenton (4)

Sunday’s Minor League Results

INDIANAPOLIS (59-71) AT Buffalo

Score: Buffalo 8, Indianapolis 3
Indianapolis Starter: Cam Alldred, LHP (4.93)
–Line: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Nick Gonzales, SS (1-for-4, HR [9])
Attendance: 7,099

Notable Performers

• Domingo Leyba, DH (3-for-4)
• Chris Owings, CF (1-for-4, HR [11], 2 RBI)

ALTOONA (58-65) AT Erie

Score: Erie 13, Altoona 5
Altoona Starter: Aaron Shortridge, RHP (5.19)
–Line: 2.2 IP, 12 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
Player of the Game: Tsung-Che Cheng, 2B (2-for-3, 2 BB, 2 HR [4], 4 RBI)
Attendance: 2,051

Notable Performers

• Noe Toribio, RHP (2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K)
• Tahnaj Thomas, RHP (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K)
• Eli Wilson, C (2-for-4, HR [2])

GREENSBORO (65-58) VS Hickory

Score: Hickory 9, Greensboro 0
Greensboro Starter: Derek Diamond, RHP (4.91)
–Line: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Player of the Game: Brendan Dixon, 3B (2-for-3, BB)
Attendance: 7,020

Notable Performers

• Termarr Johnson, 2B (1-for-4)

BRADENTON (72-52) VS Palm Beach

Game One Score: Bradenton 3, Palm Beach 1
Bradenton Starter: Dominic Perachi, LHP (4.67)
–Line: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Player of the Game: Omar Alfonzo, C (1-for-3, HR [4])
Attendance: 520

Notable Performers

• Antwone Kelly, RHP (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K)
• Jesus Castillo, 2B (1-for-2, BB, SB [36])

Game Two Score: Bradenton 5, Palm Beach 4
Bradenton Starter: Drake Fellows, RHP (12.38)
–Line: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Mitch Jebb, 2B (2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, SB)
Attendance: 520

Notable Performers

• Lonnie White Jr., CF (1-for-4, 2B)