Lonnie White Jr. hit his eighth homer of the year on Wednesday for the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers. The homer gave Greensboro a 5-4 lead in a game they would eventually win 6-5.
This was the second day in a row that White had a big hit to lead Greensboro to victory. On Tuesday, he went 2-for-4, hitting an RBI single in the bottom of the tenth inning to walk off the 5-4 victory.
On the season, White is batting .171/.273/.386 with eight home runs in 161 plate appearances. He was drafted as an over-slot, multi-sport athlete with the 64th overall pick in 2021. White signed with the Pirates over a two-sport commitment to Penn State. This is his first full season, after injuries derailed him the previous few years. While the numbers aren’t there, he’s shown power, and the occasional clutch hitting, like he’s shown twice this week.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS won 11-6
- SS Andres Alvarez: 4-for-5, 3B, SB
- DH Brenden Dixon: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
- CF Matt Gorski: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI, SB
- 3B Jackson Glenn: 1-for-4, 2B, BB
- LHP Josh Fleming: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
The Pirates recently sent Brenden Dixon and Jackson Glenn to Triple-A, filling roster spots after the recent promotions to the majors. They combined for three hits on Wednesday, with a homer from Dixon and a double from Glenn. Matt Gorski hit his eighth double of the year, and stole his fourth base. After Daulton Jefferies allowed five runs in five innings, Josh Fleming came on for three scoreless innings of relief.
STATCAST HEROES
The home run from Dixon traveled 422 feet at 100.9 MPH. Andres Alvarez had four hits, with his hardest being a 100.6 MPH triple, which traveled 421 feet. The double by Gorski traveled 348 feet at 99.6 MPH.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA lost 10-6
- SS Tsung-Che Cheng: 1-for-5, HR
- CF Jase Bowen: 3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, SB
- 2B Kervin Pichardo: 1-for-4, HR, RBI
- LHP Anthony Solometo: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
- RHP Thomas Harrington: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Anthony Solometo got the start, after pitching his previous outing in relief. He only went two innings, retiring his first five batters, before allowing a walk and a home run with two outs in the second. Thomas Harrington came on for five innings in relief, allowing six runs, five earned, with no walks and six strikeouts. Tsung-Che Cheng hit his sixth homer of the year, while Kervin Pichardo hit his fourth homer. Jase Bowen had the biggest day, picking up three hits, with his eighth double and his eighth stolen base.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO won 6-5, helped by Lonnie White’s home run.
- LHP Hunter Barco: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 2 HR
- RHP Alessandro Ercolani: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
- SS Termarr Johnson: 1-for-3, 2B, BB
- CF Hudson Head: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
- 2B Mitch Jebb: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
Hunter Barco had a rare bad outing, allowing four runs in two innings of work. After Jaycob Deese threw two shutout innings in relief, Alessandro Ercolani came on for three innings. Ercolani has worked in the rotation this year, but has more recently worked as a multi-inning reliever. Termarr Johnson picked up his ninth double. Mitch Jebb hit his third double.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON lost 7-2
- RHP Antwone Kelly: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR
- 2B Keiner Delgado: 1-for-3, SB
- SS Javier Rivas: 1-for-3, 2B
- 3B Wesley Zapata: 1-for-3, SB
- CF Shalin Polanco: 0-for-3, BB, RBI
Antwone Kelly has been one of the more interesting pitchers in Bradenton this year. The 20-year-old from Aruba finished the month of May with a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings, along with a 23:11 K/BB ratio. He opened the month of June with a decent start on Wednesday. Kelly struck out seven and walked one in 5.2 innings, but didn’t get much help from the offense or the bullpen. Javier Rivas had the only extra base hit.
STATCAST HEROES
Kelly led with his changeup, which got eight whiffs on 24 swings. His four-seam fastball averaged 94.6 MPH, touching 97.4. It led to five whiffs on 15 swings. The sinker was slightly harder at 95 MPH and a 97.5 max velocity. He also threw a cutter for strikes, and a slower slider as a situational pitch.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES BLACK
DSL PIRATES BLACK lost 9-2
- CF Iverson Allen: 2-for-4, 3B, RBI
- C Jesus Lizardo: 1-for-3, 2B
- RF Bralyn Brazoban: 1-for-4
- SS Kendrick Herrera: 2-for-4
- DH Deshandro Tromp: 0-for-3, BB, SB
The DSL Pirates Black saw hitting from some of the more notable 2024 international signings. Bralyn Brazoban was the top signing of the class, and picked up his second hit of the season. Iverson Allen was probably the most notable name, picking up two hits, including his first triple. Or, I guess you could say Iverson hit a three.
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 7:05 PM – RHP Domingo German (0-2, 6.46)
- Double-A: Altoona, 6:35 PM – RHP Braxton Ashcraft (1-2, 3.47)
- High-A: Greensboro, 6:30 PM – RHP Patrick Reilly (2-4, 4.79)
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:30 PM – RHP Carlson Reed (3-2, 2.50)
- Rookie: FCL Pirates, 12:00 PM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, 11:00 AM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Black, 11:00 AM – TBD
