It’s difficult evaluating hitters in Greensboro when they’re playing at home. The field dimensions at First National Bank Field have a reduced space in the outfield, with no room in the gaps due to shallow walls. This leads to a lot of home runs. In the last two games, the Greensboro offense has hit ten home runs.
Three of those homers have come from 2023 second round pick Mitch Jebb. After hitting his first of the year in yesterday’s game, Jebb went 3-for-6 on Wednesday morning, hitting two more home runs. He also added a double and knocked in five runs on the day.
Jebb isn’t a power hitter. He’s a high-contact profile with 80-grade speed, who stands out for his all-out hustle. Two of his three homers in the last two games have come off a lefty, going to opposite sides of the park each time. Not every home run is park assisted in Greensboro, and Jebb definitely got all of the second one on Wednesday off a righty, as shown in the video below.
Mitch Jebb is in a groove for the @GSOHoppers.
The @Pirates' No. 8 prospect swats two homers, giving him three in the past two games. pic.twitter.com/5KyGi9xr4W
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 1, 2024
PIRATES PROSPECT WATCH
INDIANAPOLIS won 14-5, after scoring eight in the first two innings.
- CF Ji Hwan Bae went 4-for-6 with a double.
- 2B Nick Gonzales went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, and four runs.
- DH Jake Lamb went 3-for-5 with two doubles.
- SS Liover Peguero went 2-for-4 with two walks.
- RHP Brad Case pitched three shutout innings with three hits allowed to get the win.
ALTOONA lost 5-4.
- RHP Sean Sullivan allowed one run on three hits in five innings, with a walk and five strikeouts.
- 3B Brenden Dixon went 2-for-4 with a home run.
- 2B Jackson Glenn went 2-for-4.
- DH Jase Bowen went 1-for-3 with a double.
- C Wyatt Hendrie went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI
GREENSBORO won 14-4, hitting five homers for the second day in a row, including two from Mitch Jebb.
- RF Sammy Siani went 3-for-4 with his fourth home run, a double, a walk, and two RBIs.
- LF Rodolfo Nolasco went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs.
- 1B Maikol Escotto went 1-for-4 with a homer and a walk.
- C Geovanny Planchart went 3-for-3 with a triple, two walks, and four runs.
- DH Nick Cimillo went 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs.
BRADENTON lost 2-0, combining for one hit.
- 3B Javier Rivas had the lone hit on offense, going 1-for-3.
- RHP Hung-Leng Chang pitched 3.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits, with three walks and five strikeouts.
- RHP Garrett McMillan threw 2.1 innings, allowing a run on five hits, with a walk and a strikeout.
- RHP Tyler Kennedy pitched two shutout innings, allowing one hit, one walk, and striking out six.
- LHP Inmer Lobo pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts.
STATCAST HEROES
Andres Alvarez hit a home run for Indianapolis, with a 106.3 MPH exit velocity and a distance of 425 feet. STATS
Tyler Kennedy is one of the hardest throwers in Bradenton. The 2023 19th round pick out of the JuCo ranks has been consistently getting his fastball up to 97 MPH. He’s also dealt with prohibitive control issues. In this outing, Kennedy relied more on his curveball, getting six whiffs on six swings, and nine more called strikes for a 63% called and swinging strike rate. He also took a bit off his fastball, averaging 95.5 MPH. STATS
TOMORROW’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 6:35 PM – LHP Cam Alldred (0-3, 9.00)
- Double-A: Altoona, 5:00 PM – RHP Braxton Ashcraft (0-1, 6.91)
- Double-A: Altoona, Game Two – TBD
- High-A: Greensboro, 6:30 PM – RHP J.P. Massey (2-1, 3.86)
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:30 PM – RHP Antwone Kelly (0-2, 9.00)
