The month of July is always a big one in minor league baseball. The MLB Draft brings in new players. Trades can either bring in or send away prospects. Enough of a sample size exists to allow for more promotions between the levels.
Below are the top performers during the month of July at every level in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system. Some of these players have already received promotions for their outstanding results. Others look like candidates for future promotions during the remainder of the season.
INDIANAPOLIS
TOP HITTER: Seth Beer, 1B – .345/.387/.707, 6 HR, 62 PA
The Pirates added Beer in the minor league portion of the 2023 Rule 5 draft. After spending most of the season in Double-A, where he hit .281/.366/.397 with four homers, Beer was moved up to Triple-A. He’s currently batting .313/.368/.594 at the level, with seven homers. That’s fueled by a big month of July, when he hit six of those home runs. The 27-year-old could emerge as a depth option for the Pirates down the stretch.
TOP PITCHER: Jake Woodford, RHP – 2.50 ERA, 16:5 K/BB, 18 IP
The Pirates signed Woodford in early June, when their pitching depth was banged up with injuries. The 27-year-old had already made a few starts in the majors with the White Sox, before becoming a free agent and joining the Pirates’ organization. He put up a 2.29 ERA in 35.1 innings in Triple-A, including a 2.50 ERA in 18 innings during July. The Pirates called him up at the end of the month, and he’s allowed one earned run in 6.1 innings across two appearances at the big league level.
ALTOONA
TOP HITTER: Tres Gonzalez, OF – .357/.429/.393, 65 PA
Gonzalez finished his month of July with a seven game hitting streak, going 12-for-26 with a double during that stretch. He was mostly a singles hitter, with only two extra base hits on the month. Gonzalez also got on base and showed god plate patience, with seven walks and only ten strikeouts. He only had two starts this month where he didn’t reach base safely. One of those included a sacrifice for an RBI. Gonzalez isn’t a flashy player, but when he’s on his game, he does a lot of things right.
TOP PITCHER: Thomas Harrington, RHP – 0.70 ERA, 32:6 K/BB, 25.2 IP
The Pirates promoted Harrington to Triple-A by the end of the month, after he combined for a 2.24 ERA in 68.1 innings with Altoona. After starting the year with a shoulder injury, Harrington slowly built up in his first month with Altoona. He hit a stride in mid-June as a starter, and didn’t let up in July. Harrington made four starts for Altoona, allowing two runs in 25.2 innings. That included back-to-back starts with double-digit strikeouts. He allowed five runs in his first start in Triple-A. It took him a few outings in Double-A before he settled in at the level. If he settles in at the Triple-A level, he could get a look in the majors by the end of the year.
GREENSBORO
TOP HITTER: Termarr Johnson, INF – .319/.443/.528, 4 HR, 89 PA
I always go back to May 18th to mark when Termarr Johnson began hitting. He hit his second homer of the year on that day, and has hit .282/.393/.476 with ten homers since that date. He didn’t stop hitting in July, putting up a 17-game hitting streak that began during the final week of June. There was only one game in the entire month of July where Johnson didn’t reach base safely. He’s not only showing off his pure hitting abilities, but he’s also showing the ability to hit for power with the contact and on-base skills.
TOP PITCHER: Dominic Perachi, LHP – 2.33 ERA, 33:3 K/BB, 27 IP
The Pirates drafted Perachi in the 11th round in 2022. After spending a full season in Bradenton last year, he’s taken a step forward with his game in Greensboro. Perachi has a 2.08 ERA in 73.2 innings in High-A, while showing improvements to his control with 19 walks allowed. He’s struck out 81, and showed a good K/BB ratio in July, with 33 strikeouts and only three walks in 27 innings. Continuing to shut down A-ball hitters, Perachi looks like a guy who deserves a promotion to Double-A for the end of the season.
BRADENTON
TOP HITTER: Esmerlyn Valdez, OF – .220/.304/.600, 6 HR, 56 PA
Bradenton has a group of hitters with power who haven’t been doing much else beyond hitting for power. Valdez is one of the biggest examples. After hitting six home runs in the month of July, the outfielder has 16 homers on the season. He’s done one of the best jobs on the team of also getting on base, with a season .342 OBP. That dipped in July. He’s a three-outcomes hitter right now, but is showing the ability to hit for power at the age of 20, which is a good foundation to build upon.
TOP PITCHER: Carlos Jimenez, RHP – 2.21 ERA, 22:10 K/BB, 20.1 IP
Jimenez has a mid-90s fastball and one of the best changeups in the system. He’s been held back in the past by detrimental control, which led to a 10.8 BB/9 rate last year. That is starting to drop, with Jimenez walking ten in 20.1 innings during a very good month of July. He had two starts where he struck out seven batters, and pitched four innings or more in four of his five appearances. The other was a relief appearance. The 21-year-old has potential with his fastball/changeup combo, and a curveball that gets swing and miss. The trio of pitches makes him difficult to hit, which could mean good things if he continues to limit the walks.
FCL PIRATES
TOP HITTER: Yordany De Los Santos, INF – .382/.421/.544, 2 HR, 10 SB, 77 PA
The Pirates gave De Los Santos an aggressive push to Single-A last year, during his age-18 season, and his first year outside of the DSL. He struggled with a .578 OPS and was sent down to rookie ball. De Los Santos returned to the FCL this year, and was the best hitter at the level from start to finish. He hit .344/.407/.505 with five homers and 24 stolen bases. That production increased in July, and he provided a spark for the team in the playoffs. He’s since been moved back up to Single-A, where he’s got a .368 OBP in his first four games.
TOP PITCHER: Zander Mueth, RHP – 1.45 ERA, 20:8 K/BB, 18.2 IP
Mueth was drafted 67th overall last year out of the high school ranks. Making his debut in the FCL this year, he had a 1.58 ERA in 51.1 innings, with a 56:26 K/BB. The right-hander had an impressive month of July, allowing three runs in 18.2 innings of work, with a 20:8 K/BB. He had a six start stretch from June 13th through July 19th where he allowed two earned runs in 30 innings, with a 33:9 K/BB. After the FCL season ended, Mueth was promoted to Single-A Bradenton.
DSL PIRATES
TOP HITTER: Edward Florentino, 1B/OF – .312/.455/.590, 3 HR, 77 PA
Florentino was part of the 2024 international signing class, and the first baseman has been one of the best hitters for the Pirates in the DSL. He hit three of his five homers on the year during the month of July, while reaching base at a .455 clip. He was named to the DSL All-Star team, and has since been getting more time in the outfield, playing in center.
TOP PITCHER: Cesar Aquino, RHP – 0.84 ERA, 17:4 K/BB, 21.1 IP
Aquino was also part of this year’s signing class, and has stood out with a 1.00 ERA in 36 innings this year, along with a 25:6 K/BB. Aquino began his season in the bullpen, throwing 9.2 innings without an earned run in June. He continued that shutdown pitching in July, moving to the starting rotation and allowing two earned runs on 13 hits in 21.1 innings, with 17 strikeouts and only four walks.
ROOKIE BALL MONDAY RECAP
DSL PIRATES BLACK lost 2-0.
Bralyn Brazoban went 1-for-3, picking up one of two hits on the day for the Pirates. He also stole his ninth base of the season. Brazoban was the top international signing this year. He’s batting .164 with a .533 OPS.
DSL PIRATES GOLD lost 3-2.
RHP Cesar Aquino pitched five innings, allowing two runs on five hits, with no walks and four strikeouts. CF Edward Florentino went 1-for-3 with a walk, and his sixth stolen base of the season. SS Adbiel Feliz, the second biggest signing of the most recent class, went 1-for-4 with a double.
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 7:35 PM – TBD
- Double-A: Altoona, 6:00 PM – TBD
- High-A: Greensboro, 6:30 PM – TBD
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:10 PM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Black, 10:00 AM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Black, Game Two – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, 10:00 AM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, Game Two – TBD
