The power is finally showing up for Henry Davis. The 2021 first overall pick hit two home runs for Indianapolis on Thursday night, giving him six since being sent down.
Davis started slow after being sent down to Triple-A, but has been hitting consistently since May 16th. He went 3-for-4 with his first homer of the year that day. He’s currently on a six-game hitting streak, with five homers during that stretch. Davis also has four doubles since May 16th. He’s 13-for-31 during that stretch, after going 3-for-6 with two RBIs on Thursday.
This is the type of production you want to see from Davis, who is a bat-first prospect with the hope of hitting for power from the catching position. I don’t think a week of hitting in Triple-A is enough for Davis to get a call back to the majors, but this puts Davis on the right path.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS won 10-8, led by the two homers from Henry Davis
- CF Matt Gorski: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
- 3B Malcom Nunez: 2-for-4, HR
- 2B Andres Alvarez: 2-for-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI
- LF Gilberto Celestino: 1-for-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI
- SS Liover Peguero: 1-for-4, 2B, BB
The two homers from Davis were part of a six home run night for Indianapolis. Matt Gorski clubbed his seventh of the season, with six of those home runs coming since May 16th. He and Davis have been a double-threat in the Indianapolis lineup over the last week-plus. Gorski also currently has a six-game hitting streak, with five homers, two triples, and a double in that stretch. More importantly he only has six strikeouts in 25 at-bats, showing a power increase without added swing and miss.
STATCAST HEROES
Despite the many home runs, the hardest hit ball came from Canaan Smith-Njigba, who went 2-for-6 from the leadoff spot. CSN hit a 110.7 MPH lineout, and also had a 105.6 MPH single. RHP Isaac Mattson struck out five in 2.2 innings, picking up 14 whiffs. Seven of those came off his four-seam fastball, which averaged 94 MPH and touched 95.6. He had three whiffs on five swings each on the curveball and slider. The hardest hit home run came from Malcom Nunez, who hit a 107 MPH blast.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA won 11-5.
- RHP Drake Fellows: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
- 1B Joe Perez: 3-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI
- 2B Tsung-Che Cheng: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, SB
- RF Sammy Siani: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, BB
- C Carter Bins: 1-for-5, HR
Altoona also had a night of many homers, combining for five total, with veteran outfielder Dustin Peterson joining the group of prospects above. Drake Fellows made his fourth appearance for Altoona, and now has a 1.69 ERA in 16 innings, with a 16:9 K/BB ratio. Fellows was added in the Joe Musgrove trade, but missed all of 2022 with Tommy John, and was limited to 12 innings in the lower levels last season. He’s in his age 26 season, and is at the right level, doing the right things, in order to keep his career trending up.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO won 5-3.
- LHP Hunter Barco: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
- LF Hudson Head: 1-for-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI
- SS Jack Brannigan: 1-for-3, BB, SB
- 3B Charles McAdoo: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
- LHP Jaden Woods: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Greensboro won after another decent start from LHP Hunter Barco, who was followed by three shutout frames combined from lefties Jaden Woods and Luis Peralta. Hudson Head got things going for the Grasshoppers, blasting his sixth home run in the first inning, helping Barco get out to a 3-1 lead, after a run allowed in the top of the first.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON won 6-3.
- RHP Carlson Reed: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
- CF Shalin Polanco: 1-for-3, 2B, BB, RBI
- LHP Yoldin De La Paz: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
- LHP Magdiel Cotto: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
- 1B-C Omar Alfonzo: 1-for-3, BB
Carlson Reed didn’t have his best outing, giving up three runs in four innings, with control issues popping up. Reed has been one of the better pitchers for the Marauders this year, making the jump from West Virginia University last year, and converting to the rotation. Bradenton got hits from eight different players, but only one extra base hit for the small ball victory.
STATCAST HEROES
The hardest hit of the game was a 108 MPH single from Keiner Delgado. The next biggest hit of the game belonged to Javier Rivas, who hit a two out RBI single at 107.3 MPH in the eighth inning, giving the Marauders a bit of insurance. Axiel Plaz went 1-for-1 with a walk and a 101.9 MPH single, before leaving the game.
ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES
FCL PIRATES lost 4-2.
- RHP Brennan Malone: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
- C Ramon Ramirez: 2-for-3
- 1B Carlos Tirado: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI
- 3B Yerry De Los Santos: 1-for-4, SB
- DH Tony Blanco Jr.: 1-for-3
The FCL Pirates were the only team in the Pirates’ minor league system that lost. The game saw the return of Brennan Malone, who was acquired in the Starling Marte trade, but has only pitched 19 innings since, due to various injuries. This outing marks his 20th inning with the Pirates. He’s in his age 23 season, so there’s a bit more time to work with in his attempt at a comeback, compared to a situation like Drake Fellows in Double-A.
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 8:08 PM – RHP Daulton Jefferies (0-0, 9.00)
- Double-A: Altoona, 6:05 PM – RHP Thomas Harrington (0-0, 0.00)
- High-A: Greensboro, 6:30 PM – RHP Patrick Reilly (1-3, 5.74)
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:30 PM – LHP Michael Kennedy (1-2, 3.71)
- Rookie: FCL Pirates, 12:00 PM – TBD
