Shawn Ross had a career day for the Greensboro Grasshoppers. The undrafted catcher out of Puerto Rico hit three home runs in a 7-1 victory for the Pirates’ High-A affiliate, giving him 11 homers on the season.
Ross hit a solo shot in the second inning to get things going for a three run inning. He added a two run shot in the third inning, and by that point Greensboro was up 6-0. His final home run came in the fifth inning, another solo shot, making the score 7-1.
Currently in his age 24 season, Ross is older for the High-A level. This is his second year in pro ball, and second year at the level. He’s batting .179/.366/.509, with a 35.6% strikeout rate and a 17.8% walk rate. Ross doesn’t profile as a prospect who can reach the majors, due to the low average and swing and miss. However, he has some of the best power in the lower levels, and can send it a long way when he gets a hold of a pitch.
The three homers from Ross led a big day for lower level performances, including a gem from Antwone Kelly in Bradenton.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS lost 3-1
- RHP Domingo German: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
- LF Matt Gorski: 1-for-4, HR
- 2B Andres Alvarez: 2-for-3, BB
- LHP Nick Dombkowski: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
- RHP Connor Sadzeck: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Matt Gorski provided the only offense of the night for Indianapolis, hitting his 12th homer of the year in the seventh inning. Andres Alvarez had the only other hits of the game, going 2-for-3. Domingo German had his best outing in Triple-A this year, but still gave up three runs, one earned, in 4.1 innings.
STATCAST HEROES
German picked up seven whiffs on his curveball against 25 swings. He threw the pitch 34 times, the most of any offering. His changeup was second, and his four-seam fastball was his third pitch.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA lost 5-2
- RHP Po-Yu Chen: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
- CF Jase Bowen: 1-for-3, SB
- DH Joe Perez: 1-for-4, RBI
- RHP J.C. Flowers: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
- 2B Kervin Pichardo: 1-for-3, BB
Joe Perez knocked in one run with a single in the first inning. The second run of the inning scored when Jase Bowen stole home on a double steal with Perez. That was the end of the offense for Altoona on the night. Po-Yu Chen was coming off an outing where he allowed one run in eight innings. This time, he allowed three runs in the third on a home run, putting the game out of reach for the Curve.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO won 7-1, led by the three homers from Shawn Ross.
- RHP Patrick Reilly: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
- LHP Luis Peralta: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
- DH Charles McAdoo: 2-for-4, 3B, BB, 2 RBI
- SS Termarr Johnson: 1-for-4
- LHP Yoldin De La Paz: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Patrick Reilly had some control issues, which is normal for him. His stuff is good enough that he doesn’t give up a lot of hits, and can get out of jams from the free passes. He only allowed one run, despite four walks. Luis Peralta now has an 0.67 ERA in 27 innings in relief this year. Charles McAdoo remains the most consistent hitter in Greensboro.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON lost 8-4 in game one.
- C Omar Alfonzo: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- SS Keiner Delgado: 1-for-4, 2B, SB
- 1B Esmerlyn Valdez: 1-for-3, 2B
- 3B Javier Rivas: 1-for-2, SB
- 2B Jeral Toledo: 1-for-3, 3B, RBI
Omar Alfonzo hit his third homer of the season, a two run shot in the third inning. Alfonzo hits the ball hard more consistently than any other player in Bradenton. Rivaling him in hard hits is Esmerlyn Valdez, who hit his ninth double. Javier Rivas had a single and a stolen base, and stepped up in game two.
STATCAST HEROES
The home run from Alfonzo traveled 388 feet at 96.8 MPH. The double from Valdez was 97 MPH, and he also had a 100.3 MPH flyout. The hardest hit came from Shalin Polanco, who hit a 103.9 MPH single.
BRADENTON lost 2-1 in game two.
- RHP Antwone Kelly: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
- SS Javier Rivas: 1-for-3, HR
- 2B Keiner Delgado: 1-for-2, 2B, BB
- CF Sergio Campana: 1-for-3
- LF Braylon Bishop: 0-for-2, BB
Antwone Kelly pitched a complete game, with one of his best outings of the year. Kelly struck out a career best eight batters, surpassing the seven strikeout total that he set twice this year — May 22nd and June 5th. Kelly has been on fire over the last month and a half. He finished the month of May with a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings. He’s got a 2.31 ERA in 11.2 innings through his first two starts in June, with a 15:2 K/BB ratio. Javier Rivas hit his fifth homer of the year, giving Bradenton their only run.
STATCAST HEROES
The homer from Rivas traveled 344 feet at 102.9 MPH. Kelly had 20 whiffs on the day, led by eight on 16 swings against his changeup. He had five each on the four-seam and cutter, with one more each from the sinker and slider. Kelly led with the changeup, followed by a four-seamer that sat 94.5 MPH and topped out at 97.8.
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 7:05 PM – TBD
- Double-A: Altoona, 6:00 PM – TBD
- High-A: Greensboro, 7:00 PM – RHP Wilber Dotel (2-3, 6.37)
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:30 PM – RHP Carlson Reed (4-2, 2.22)
- Rookie: FCL Pirates, 10:00 AM – TBD
- Rookie: FCL Pirates, Game Two – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Black, 11:00 AM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, 11:00 AM – TBD
