Hunter Barco threw five shutout innings for Greensboro on Saturday night, lowering his ERA at the level to 1.65. The lefty pitched five innings for the first time in his career, after pitching into the fifth twice at the end of April.
Barco was the second round pick in the 2022 draft, selected out of Florida as a junior. He had undergone Tommy John surgery, which would delay the start to his pro career. Prior to the surgery, Barco was looking like a first round talent.
After making his debut in late 2023, Barco was sent to Greensboro this year for his first full professional season. He has looked worthy of the wait for the Pirates, posting a 1.65 ERA in 27.1 innings, with 34 strikeouts and eight walks.
The focus this season will likely be on managing his season workload and building up his innings totals, which is easier in Greensboro. If Barco continues pitching like this, he should finish the year in Altoona for a bigger test of his skill level.
PIRATES PROSPECT WATCH
INDIANAPOLIS lost 6-5.
- DH Canaan Smith-Njigba: 2-for-3, HR, 2 BB, 3 R, RBI
- 2B Liover Peguero: 2-for-5, 2B
- 3B Malcom Nunez: 2-for-4, BB
- RF Matt Fraizer: 2-for-4
- RHP Chris Gau: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
ALTOONA lost 7-3 and had game two of their double header postponed.
- C Carter Bins: 1-for-2, HR, BB
- RF Joe Perez: 2-for-4, 3B
- RHP Bubba Chandler: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
- DH Seth Beer: 1-for-3
- 2B Francisco Acuna: 0-for-1, 2 BB, RBI
GREENSBORO won 6-4 in 11 innings, after Hunter Barco threw five shutout frames.
- CF Lonnie White Jr.: 1-for-4, HR, BB, 2 R, RBI
- LF Luke Brown: 1-for-3, HR, 2 BB
- DH Hudson Head: 2-for-5, BB
- 2B Termarr Johnson: 0-for-4, 2 BB
- C Geovanny Planchart: 0-for-3, 3 BB, RBI
BRADENTON won 4-3.
- 2B Keiner Delgado: 1-for-4, 2B
- 1B Omar Alfonzo: 1-for-2, 2 BB, RBI
- C Justin Miknis: 1-for-3, 2B
- RHP Khristian Curtis: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
- LHP Magdiel Cotto: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, SV
FCL PIRATES lost 4-2.
- RHP Zander Mueth: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
- 2B Carlos Caro: 1-for-3
- SS Jhonny Severino: 1-for-3
- 3B Yerry De Los Santos: 1-for-3
- CF Jhonson Pena: 1-for-3, 3B, 2 RBI
STATCAST HEROES
The home run from Canaan Smith-Njigba traveled 439 feet at 113.7 MPH. STATS
Magdiel Cotto had seven whiffs on 18 swings for a 39% rate, with three on the changeup, two on the fastball, and two on the slider. He got the save in the game, but also saved a turtle earlier in the game. STATS
SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 1:05 PM – TBD
- Double-A: Altoona, 12:00 PM – LHP Anthony Solometo (0-1, 5.06)
- Double-A: Altoona, Game Two – TBD
- High-A: Greensboro, 2:05 PM – RHP Patrick Reilly (1-1, 4.35)
- Single-A: Bradenton, 12:00 PM – RHP Carlos Jimenez (1-2, 3.38)
- Rookie: FCL Pirates OFF
