The Pittsburgh Pirates are turning into a pitching factory. The major league team is led by the two top pitching prospects in the game, along with an increasingly reliable starter in Mitch Keller. The farm system is fueled by pitching talent at every tier.
One of the more long-term projectable starters is Zander Mueth. The 18-year-old right hander was drafted 67th overall last year, and given an above-slot bonus to sign with the Pirates. He’s been pitching in the Florida Complex League during his pro debut, with impressive results this month.
Mueth pitched five shutout innings on Thursday, allowing four hits, one walk, and striking out seven. This was the second start in a row where he pitched five shutout frames with seven strikeouts. On the season, Mueth has a 1.95 ERA in 27.2 innings, with 32 strikeouts and a 1.34 WHIP.
What makes Mueth stand out at a young age is his ability to work mid-90s with his fastball, touching upper 90s from a deceptive lower arm slot delivery. He also has an above-average slider and a feel for a changeup. Control has been his drawback, but not enough to prevent Mueth from putting up fantastic results this season.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS lost 1-0
- RHP Jake Woodford: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
- SS Alika Williams: 1-for-3, 2B, BB
- DH Malcom Nunez: 1-for-4, 2B
- CF Matt Gorski: 1-for-4
- LF Matt Fraizer: 1-for-3
Jake Woodford made his second start for Indianapolis after joining the Pirates this month as rotation depth. He has a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings across those two starts, with 13 strikeouts and no walks. Alika Williams had his rehab assignment ended, and he was optioned to Indianapolis. He went 1-for-3 with a double.
STATCAST HEROES
Woodford led with a sweeper/cutter combo, throwing each pitch 22 times. He had five whiffs on 12 swings against the sweeper, with six whiffs on 16 swings against the cutter. He also threw a sinker, changeup, and four-seam fastball.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA won 10-8 in 12 innings.
- 3B-2B Kervin Pichardo: 4-for-5, HR, 3 RBI
- 2B Brenden Dixon: 2-for-5, HR, RBI
- 1B Joe Perez: 2-for-6, 2B, 3 RBI
- SS Tsung-Che Cheng: 2-for-5, 2B
- RF Yoyner Fajardo: 3-for-5, 2 BB, SB
Altoona won a hitting contest, with five runs scored and three runs allowed in extra innings. The game was sent to extras thanks to a solo home run from Kervin Pichardo in the eighth inning, his fifth homer of the year. Pichardo later had a two RBI single in the 12th inning, giving Altoona the eventual go-ahead runs.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO won 4-2
- LHP Dominic Perachi: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K
- 3B Charles McAdoo: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 SB
- 1B Nick Cimillo: 2-for-3, 2 HR, BB, 2 RBI
- 2B Termarr Johnson: 1-for-3, BB
- RF Lonnie White Jr.: 1-for-4, SB
Perarchi has pitched well in Greensboro all season, and has recently moved into the rotation. He’s made four starts and five appearances since May 26th, with a combined 2.74 ERA in 23 innings, along with a 26:9 K/BB. The two homers from Nick Cimillo give him 12 on the season in High-A. He has five home runs during the month of June, and is batting .275/.396/.675 on the month. Charles McAdoo picked up his 15th double, and stole two bases, giving him 14 on the season.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON lost 4-2
- RHP Hung-Leng Chang: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
- 2B-3B Jeral Toledo: 2-for-4, RBI
- SS Javier Rivas: 1-for-4
- CF Sergio Campana: 0-for-3, SB, R
- RHP Garrett McMillan: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
The Bradenton offense combined for three hits, with zero extra base hits. Sergio Campana stole his 11th base of the season. The 22-year-old Hung-Leng Chang has a 4.20 ERA in 49.1 innings this year for Bradenton, with 49 strikeouts and a 1.42 WHIP.
STATCAST HEROES
The hardest hit ball of the game was a single by Javier Rivas at 106.3 MPH. The other two hits came from Jeral Toledo, who hit both singles in the 95-96 MPH range. I’m not sure that I trust the hit distances in Single-A. A lot of times, home runs aren’t tracked. However, Max Clark was credited with a 543 foot fly out. Apparently the walls in Bradenton have been moved back by a lot.
ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES
FCL PIRATES won 1-0, led by Zander Mueth.
- C Richard Ramirez: 1-for-3, 2B, R
- 2B Roinny Aguiar: 1-for-2, BB, SB
- LF Miguel Sosa: 1-for-3
- DH Carlos Caro: 1-for-3
- RHP Brennan Malone: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Richard Ramirez had the only run scored, after hitting his sixth double of the season. Roinny Aguiar stole his fourth base of the year. Brennan Malone made his latest rehab appearance, after exiting his last outing early due to heat complications.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES BLACK
DSL PIRATES BLACK lost 16-4
- 2B Frankeli Mesta: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
- LF Andres Villafane: 1-for-2, 2 BB
- CF Bralyn Brazoban: 1-for-2, BB, RBI
Brazoban was the top international signing of the 2024 class for the Pirates. He’s off to a slow start in pro ball, which isn’t uncommon for rookies in the DSL. He’s batting .184/.273/.184 in his first 11 games.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES GOLD
DSL PIRATES GOLD lost 3-2
- RHP Adolfo Oviedo: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
- CF Cristian Jauregui: 1-for-2, BB, 2 SB
- 2B Adbiel Feliz: 1-for-3
Oviedo pitched five shutout innings in relief, closing out the game. Jauregui stole two bases, giving him ten on the season, along with a .323 average and a .941 OPS. Feliz was the Pirates’ other top international signing this year, and currently has a .133 average with a .339 OPS.
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 7:05 PM – RHP Luis Cessa (2-2, 4.04)
- Double-A: Altoona, 7:05 PM – RHP Bubba Chandler (2-5, 5.13)
- High-A: Greensboro, 6:30 PM – RHP Derek Diamond (3-1, 3.93)
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:30 PM – RHP Khristian Curtis (2-3, 4.01)
- Rookie: FCL Pirates, 12:00 PM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Black OFF
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, 11:00 AM – TBD
