In a Pittsburgh Pirates system that has struggled from top to bottom with hitting, Jhonny Severino has been one of the biggest success stories at the plate. He continued that success in a big way on Tuesday night, hitting for the cycle.
The number 13 prospect in the system went 4-for-4 with four RBIs batting from the leadoff spot. He singled to start the game, followed by a bases-loaded, bases-clearing triple in the second to give Bradenton a 3-0 lead. Severino led off the fifth inning with a double, and later scored the fourth run of the game. He led off the seventh inning with a solo homer to complete the cycle.
The homer traveled 377 feet at 102.4 MPH. His single was hit at 101.3 MPH. The double was hit 99.2 MPH, and the triple clocked in at 98.2.
Severino was one of the best hitters for the FCL Pirates this year, batting .291/.373/.545 with ten homers and 12 stolen bases. He’s continued his hitting in Single-A, with a .269/.321/.526 line in 78 at-bats. After Tuesday’s cycle, he has three homers, three triples, and five doubles at the new level, along with three stolen bases.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS won 4-3
- RHP Mike Burrows: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
- SS Liover Peguero: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- LF Matt Gorski: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- 2B Nick Yorke: 2-for-3, 2B
- CF Billy Cook: 1-for-5, SB
Mike Burrows maintained his progress from last time on the mound. Last week he allowed one run in four innings. On Tuesday night, he threw four shutout innings, walking one and striking out five. Liover Peguero hit a two run homer, his 12th of the year, to put Indianapolis on the board in the fourth. Matt Gorski hit his 19th homer later in the inning, knocking in the other two runs for Indianapolis. Billy Cook stole his 19th base of the season.
STATCAST HEROES
Burrows averaged 95.1 MPH with his fastball, touching 97. He had six whiffs and four called strikes on the pitch. His slider had four whiffs on 12 swings and three called strikes. He also had two whiffs on four swings against the curveball. Gorski’s homer traveled 448 feet at 109.3 MPH. Peguero hit his homer 389 feet at 101.3 MPH. Nick Yorke had a 110.2 MPH single and a 100.2 MPH double.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA won 3-1
- LHP Nick Dombkowski: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 1 HR
- 1B Nick Cimillo: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
- DH Yoyner Fajardo: 2-for-4, 2B, SB
- 2B Termarr Johnson: 0-for-2, 2 BB, SB
- RF Sammy Siani: 0-for-1, 3 BB, SB, 2 R
Outside of a two-out solo homer in the second, Nick Dombkowski was untouchable on Tuesday, picking up eight strikeouts in five innings. Nick Cimillo gave Altoona their first two runs with a two RBI double in the sixth inning. Termarr Johnson made his Double-A debut. He walked in his first plate appearance, then stole second base on the first pitch of the following at-bat. He walked in his second plate appearance, then flew out in his final two trips to the plate.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO won 5-2
- RHP Garrett McMillan: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
- DH P.J. Hilson: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- 1B Omar Alfonzo: 2-for-4, RBI
- CF Mitch Jebb: 1-for-4, 3B, 2 SB
- C Shawn Ross: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
Garrett McMillan has been lights out since moving up to Greensboro earlier this month. The 2024 14th rounder has allowed one run on eight hits in 14 innings, with 25 strikeouts and three walks. P.J. Hilson gave Greensboro a lead in the fourth, hitting a two run homer for his 11th of the season. Omar Alfonzo added an RBI single in the eighth. Mitch Jebb stole two bases, giving him 39 on the season.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON won 7-2, led by Jhonny Severino’s cycle.
- RHP Zander Mueth: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
- RHP Khristian Curtis: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
- 2B Keiner Delgado: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
- C Axiel Plaz: 1-for-3, 2B, BB, RBI
- SS Yordany De Los Santos: 1-for-4
Zander Mueth had his best start in Single-A, allowing just an unearned run on one hit and two walks in five innings. He was locating his pitches well, and fooling hitters with his low arm slot delivery. Khristian Curtis followed with four innings of one unearned run. More importantly, he had no walks, putting up one of his best outings in awhile. Keiner Delgado hit his tenth double, while Axiel Plaz added his ninth.
STATCAST HEROES
Mueth sat 93.4 MPH with his sinker, touching 95.6. His slider was effective, with five whiffs on ten swings, and five called strikes, for a 48% CSW. He also threw a changeup and a cutter. Curtis threw his four-seam an average of 94.7 MPH, touching 95.8. He had two whiffs each on the four-seam and cutter, along with three whiffs each on the slider and changeup.
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 5:35 PM – RHP Bubba Chandler (1-0, 1.50)
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, Game Two – TBD
- Double-A: Altoona, 6:00 PM – TBD
- High-A: Greensboro, 7:00 PM – RHP J.P. Massey (3-5, 5.05)
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:30 PM – LHP Connor Wietgrefe (0-0, 1.80)
