The Pittsburgh Pirates called up Billy Cook ahead of Sunday’s game, while placing Henry Davis on the 10-day injured list with left hand inflammation.
Cook was acquired by the Pirates at the trade deadline when they sent RHP Patrick Reilly to Baltimore in a rare prospect-for-prospect trade. Cook was added to boost the upper-level hitting depth for the Pirates, while dealing from their pitching depth throughout the system. So far, he’s done exactly that.
In 105 at-bats for Indianapolis, Cook hit .276/.389/.486 with five homers and nine stolen bases. This followed similar numbers with Baltimore’s Triple-A squad, including 11 homers and 12 stolen bases. In total at the Triple-A level this year, Cook is hitting .278/.377/.485 in 367 at-bats, with 16 homers and 21 stolen bases.
In his Major League debut with the Pirates on Sunday, Cook went 2-for-4 with his first double. Stepping to the plate as the seventh batter of a big first inning, Cook hit a ground-rule double to left field, scoring two runs to put the Pirates up 4-1. He later singled to lead off the eighth inning.
The Pirates had Cook playing first base, and it will be interesting to see where else he ends up. He’s got the potential to play all over the field, spending his time with Indianapolis at first base and all three outfield spots. If he continues hitting in the majors, he could position himself as a Major League bat to start next season, at the very least serving as a utility player off the bench.
Jared Jones Shines
Making his third start off the injured list, Jared Jones looked great on Sunday. The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings, with no walks and nine strikeouts.
Jones sat 98.2 MPH with his fastball, touching 99.9. He had four whiffs and six called strikes on the pitch, for a 27% CSW.
The biggest development of the game was the emergence of his curveball. Jones usually splits mostly between the fastball and slider. He worked in his curveball more often this outing, using the pitch 32% of the time. It led to seven whiffs on 11 swings, and eight called strikes for a 52% CSW, his best pitch of the day. His slider had four whiffs and seven called strikes for a 44% CSW, also looking like an effective offering.
The emergence of the curveball as another swing-and-miss pitch that can be thrown for strikes is huge for Jones. If his fastball or slider are off on a given night, he has another pitch to throw to keep hitters guessing.
Power From the Pirates
The Pirates won 7-3 on Sunday, thanks in part to a power display.
Joey Bart hit his 13th homer of the year, adding two runs in the first inning. Andrew McCutchen hit his 19th homer of the year as a solo shot in the third. Michael A. Taylor hit his fifth homer of the year as a solo shot in the sixth.
In addition to the home runs, the Pirates had three doubles, with one each from Cook, Bryan De La Cruz, and Alika Williams.
All seven of their runs, and all of the power production, came off Nationals starter Patrick Corbin.
Minor League Seasons Wrapping Up
The Bradenton Marauders played their final game of the season on Sunday.
The Greensboro Grasshoppers begin their best-of-three playoff series on Tuesday. They’ll have one more series remaining in order to win the SAL Championship.
The Altoona Curve begin their final week of the regular season in Double-A. Meanwhile, Indianapolis has two weeks remaining on their schedule. Neither team will make the playoffs.
Pirates Prospect Watch
Joshua Palacios hit a homer and two doubles on Sunday for Indianapolis. Nick Cimillo hit a homer and a double for Altoona. Yerry De Los Santos hit his first homer for Bradenton in their final game. Read about all of Sunday’s minor league action in the latest Pirates Prospect Watch.
