The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted Omar Alfonzo to High-A Greensboro on Tuesday, and he didn’t waste time making an impact. Alfonzo went 4-for-4 with his first homer at the new level, while also drawing a walk.
The homer from Alfonzo came in the first inning with one on and two outs, putting Greensboro up 2-1. He led off the fourth with a single, but was stranded. Alfonzo singled in the fifth with the bases loaded, knocking in two runs. He also singled in the sixth, and drew a walk in the ninth.
Alfonzo was one of the best hitters in Bradenton this year, hitting .253/.353/.388 with eight homers and 15 doubles. He was consistently putting up triple-digit exit velocities, though he had some poor luck, with a lot of those hard hits going on the ground. His power should play well in the hitter friendly environment in Greensboro.
Making his debut as a designated hitter, Alfonzo is normally a catcher. The son of former big league catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, the younger Omar has the potential to catch in the big leagues one day. His power potential and ability to get on base should get him to the upper levels to help make that a reality.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS lost 8-4
- 2B Nick Yorke: 2-for-3, BB
- 1B Malcom Nunez: 1-for-3, HR, BB, RBI
- RF Matt Gorski: 1-for-4, HR, RBI
- SS Liover Peguero: 1-for-2, 2B, 2 BB
- LF Billy Cook: 1-for-3, SB
Malcom Nunez hit his 11th home run of the season, launching a solo shot in the second inning. Matt Gorski hit his 17th homer with a solo shot in the ninth inning. Nick Yorke had two hits, extending his hitting streak to ten games. The streak dates back to his time in the Boston system. He’s 8-for-21 with three doubles since being acquired by the Pirates. Liover Peguero hit his 20th double of the year.
STATCAST HEROES
The homer from Gorski traveled 429 feet at 103.8 MPH. Nunez’s home run traveled 391 feet at 101.6 MPH. Yorke had a single at 100.6 MPH and a lineout at 102.7.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA lost 7-0
- 1B Nick Cimillo: 3-for-3, 2B, BB
- DH Yoyner Fajardo: 1-for-4, SB, HBP
- 2B Kervin Pichardo: 1-for-5, SB
- LHP Dominic Perachi: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
- RHP Emmanuel Chapman: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Nick Cimillo is heating up in Altoona. He’s reached base safely in nine straight games, hitting three doubles during that span. He hit his third double at the level on Tuesday night, in a 3-for-3 performance. Cimillo hit for a 1.038 OPS in High-A, before being promoted to Double-A in mid-July. He’s batting .286/.386/.469 in Altoona, with two homers to give him 19 between the two levels. Dominic Perachi was just promoted to Altoona, and gave up three runs after starting with two shutout innings. The lefty made an appearance in Altoona earlier this season as a depth option, before going to Greensboro and resuming a 2.08 ERA in 73.2 innings.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO won 9-5, led by Omar Alfonzo’s 4-for-4 debut.
- 2B Mitch Jebb: 4-for-4, 2B, BB, SB
- SS Termarr Johnson: 1-for-4, BB
- RHP Wilber Dotel: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 2 HR
- LF P.J. Hilson: 1-for-4, RBI
- CF Lonnie White Jr.: 1-for-5
Mitch Jebb also had a 4-for-4 day, hitting his ninth double and stealing his 31st base of the season. Jebb is 7-for-9 with three walks and two stolen bases in his last three games. Wilber Dotel had a quality start, getting hit for two solo homers, while striking out six. This was the second outing where he hasn’t issued a walk. He did the same in five innings last month, only to follow that up with seven walks in eight innings over his next two starts. Dotel has been difficult to hit this season, and when he limits the walks, he looks like a promising starting prospect.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON
- RF-1B Esmerlyn Valdez: 1-for-4, HR, BB
- 1B Axiel Plaz: 1-for-3, 2 BB, 2 RBI
- C Justin Miknis: 1-for-2, 2B, 3 RBI
- RHP Zander Mueth: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
- RHP Carlos Jimenez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Zander Mueth made his second start at the High-A level. He’s dealt with control issues so far, walking nine in 4.2 innings. He’s also had four unearned runs allowed. This follows a debut in the FCL with a 1.58 ERA in 51.1 innings, along with a 56:26 K/BB. Esmerlyn Valdez hit his 17th homer of the year. Axiel Plaz reached base three times, and knocked in two runs on a single in the second inning. Carlos Jimenez was the best pitcher at the level in July, and got a one inning relief appearance on Tuesday.
STATCAST HEROES
The homer from Valdez traveled 385 feet at 107.6 MPH. Mueth’s sinker sat 93.5 MPH, touching 95.9. He had eight whiffs on 20 pitches (40%), along with seven called strikes for an overall 38% CSW. He also had one whiff on two swings against his slider, which sat mid-80s. Mueth also threw a mid-80s changeup, and mixed in an upper-80s cutter. Carlos Castillo made his Single-A debut, sitting 92.4 MPH with his sinker and touching 94.3. He threw an 80 MPH curveball that got one whiff and two called strikes on six pitches. Castillo had a 2.86 ERA in 34.2 innings during his FCL debut.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES BLACK
DSL PIRATES BLACK lost game one 4-3.
- 3B Frankeli Mesta: 2-for-4, 2 3B
- 1B Anthony Sosa: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
- C Jesus Lizardo: 1-for-2, 2B, BB
Anthony Sosa, the nephew of former big leaguer Sammy Sosa, hit his first homer of his pro career. Frankeli Mesta picked up two triples, giving him three on the season. Jesus Lizardo hit his third double. All three players were part of this year’s international signing class.
DSL PIRATES BLACK lost game two 2-1.
- LHP Janderson Linares: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
- PH Yosmar Gimenez: 1-for-1, 3B
- CF Phillando Williams: 1-for-2, BB
Yosmar Gimenez stole two bases in the first game, then entered the second game as a pinch hitter and hit a triple. Janderson Linares is in his second year in the DSL. He’s improved on his ERA (4.60 vs 2.88), while reducing the amount of hits against (.316 vs .215 batting average against).
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES GOLD
DSL PIRATES GOLD won game one 6-5.
- RHP Adolfo Oviedo: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
- LF Isaias Dipre: 2-for-3, 2B
- 2B Kendrick Herrera: 1-for-2, 2B, 2 BB, RBI
Adolfo Oviedo is in his third year in the DSL. He improved on his ERA in year two, but has shown improvements with his control this year. He’s only walked nine batters in 33.1 innings, after 27 walks in 34.2 innings last year. Isaias Dipre has a .953 OPS this year, after missing all of 2023 with an injury. The 2019 signing was named to the DSL All-Star Game last month.
DSL PIRATES GOLD lost game two 4-1.
- SS Kendrick Herrera: 1-for-3, SB
- 3B Daje Morales: 1-for-2, BB, SB
- C Joseph Sequera: 1-for-2, BB
Kendrick Herrera stole his ninth base of the season. Part of this year’s signing class, Herrera has a .259 average and a .753 OPS in his pro debut. Daje Morales also stole his ninth base.
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 7:35 PM – RHP Luis Cessa (4-4, 4.27)
- Double-A: Altoona, 6:00 PM – TBD
- High-A: Greensboro, 12:00 PM – RHP Derek Diamond (5-3, 4.78)
- Single-A: Bradenton, 1:10 PM – TBD
- The DSL teams are off.
