TOP OF THE SYSTEM
A look at how the current top 30 prospects did today. Note that this list doesn’t include players currently in the majors. If a player is in the majors, he will be removed, everyone below him will be shifted up a spot, and a new player will be added to the bottom of the list. If a player is out for the season, he will be removed and everyone below him will move up a spot. Removing these guys doesn’t mean they have lost prospect status. It is just an attempt to get 30 active prospects on the list. Rankings are from early season update, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Altoona – DNP
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
3. Austin Meadows, CF, Bradenton – 1-for-4, 3B, BB
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-4
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 2-for-5, SB
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – 0-for-4
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 3-for-4
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – 1-for-3, BB
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Extended Spring Training
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Extended Spring Training
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, Extended Spring Training
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 1-for-4, HR, BB
14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
15. Trey Supak, RHP, Extended Spring Training
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Extended Spring Training
17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Bradenton – 1-for-3, 2B, BB, SB
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Altoona – DNP
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 1-for-3, BB
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – 1-for-4
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 2-for-4
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – 2-for-3
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Extended Spring Training
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – 0-for-3
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Zack Dodson, LHP – 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Tony Sancchez, DH – 2-for-4, HR
Home Runs: JaCoby Jones (4), Tony Sanchez (2)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 9, Norfolk 1
Starting Pitcher: Casey Sadler, RHP – 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Tony Sancchez, DH – 2-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Jose Tabata, RF – 2-for-4, BB
Deibinson Romero, 3B – 3-for-5, 2B
Brent Morel, 1B – 1-for-2, 2 BB
Gorkys Hernandez, CF – 2-for-4, 2 2B
Elias Diaz, C – 1-for-3, BB
Game Notes: Casey Sadler had another outstanding start for Indianapolis. The sinkerball pitcher has gone into the seventh inning in each of his last three outings, giving up two or fewer runs in each start. He has gone at least six innings in all six starts for Indianapolis this year, giving up two runs or less in five of those starts, and three runs in the other one. Tonight he was extremely efficient, needing just 79 pitches to get through his seven frames. Tony Sanchez hit his second home run of the season. Jose Tabata continued his hot hitting, and now has a 1.068 OPS during the month of May.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 4, Akron 2
Starting Pitcher: Zack Dodson, LHP – 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Keon Broxton, CF – 2-for-3, 2B, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-4, 2B
Josh Bell, 1B – 1-for-4
Game Notes: Zack Dodson threw an absolute gem tonight in Altoona, going seven shutout innings while throwing only 78 pitches. He allowed a ground ball double down the first base line on the first at-bat of the game and didn’t allow another hit until there were two outs in the fifth. Going into the game, Dodson had eight strikeouts in six appearances (five starts). He struck out eight to match that total tonight.
There were stretches in the game where Dodson appeared unhittable. He was able to execute his pitches down in the zone through the night. He used an extremely well located fastball, changeup, and slider, keeping batters off balanced all game. He threw 50 pitches for strikes (out of 78) and had eight groundouts compared to three flyouts.
Yhonathan Barrios came in for the save in the ninth and quickly got two outs but then walked two batters before recording a strikeout for the last out.
Keon Broxton stayed hot, going 2-3 with a walk. He doubled as the leadoff hitter for the third game in a row (and fourth overall for Curve leadoff batters when Frazier doubled to begin the game on Wednesday.) He also lined a shot to left field. Max Moroff extended his on-base streak to 30 games as he is now within three of the franchise record set by Ronny Paulino in 2004 (33 games). He hit hard lines every time he went to bat with his last two at-bats hit right at fielders. It was a great sign for Moroff, as he hasn’t looked great so far in this series.
Tonight’s win is the Curve’s sixth win in a row. – Sean McCool
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Palm Beach 5, Bradenton 4
Starting Pitcher: Jayson Aquino, LHP – 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: JaCoby Jones, SS – 1-for-4, HR, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Barrett Barnes, LF – 1-for-3, 2B, BB, SB
Austin Meadows, CF – 1-for-4, 3B, BB
Jose Osuna, RF – 3-for-4, 2 2B
Reese McGuire, C – 2-for-5, SB
Game Notes: Jayson Aquino made his debut tonight, after being added from Toronto for cash considerations. He was working mostly off the fastball tonight, primarily using a two-seam fastball and getting a lot of ground ball outs. Aquino throws from a three-quarters arm slot with easy arm action, and was sitting around 90 MPH. He was throwing to both sides of the plate, and pitching inside to both right-handers and left-handers. His slider had inconsistent command, sometimes showing very little break. When it was on, he was burying it down in the zone with sharp tilt. He was pounding the strike zone tonight, leaving a few balls up in the zone, but keeping most of his stuff down with good angle on the ball.
JaCoby Jones hit a no-doubt home run for his fourth of the year. It was a towering shot that landed on the boardwalk beyond the left field bullpen. Jones had an ugly strikeout in his next at-bat on a low and away breaking ball in a full count.
Reese McGuire showed off his arm strength tonight, throwing out leadoff hitter C.J. McElroy at second with a perfect strike that was thrown from his knees. The fact that McGuire didn’t even need to get up and throw, and still delivered a perfect strike to the second base side of the bag was very impressive. McGuire had two hits, with a single down the first base line, and a line drive single to the right-center gap on a curveball left hanging up in the zone. He showed off some smart running on the bases after the second single, scoring from second on a ground out to the second baseman when the first baseman was caught off guard checking on a close call at first.
Barrett Barnes showed off some quick bat speed, lining a double off the left field wall. He stole third base on the first pitch after the hit. Austin Meadows had one hit tonight, but made it count, lining a triple to the left field gap, right around where the notch would be at PNC Park.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Hagerstown 5, West Virginia 2
Starting Pitcher: Alex McRae, RHP – 2.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Cole Tucker, SS – 3-for-4
Other Notable Performers:
Tito Polo, CF – 2-for-3
Elvis Escobar, LF – 2-for-4, 2B
Jake Burnette, RHP – 4.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Cole Tucker was in a slump last week, but broke out of it recently, and has gone 8-for-16 in his last four games, with three multi-hit games in that span. Tito Polo missed a few games with a stomach bug, and has gone 3-for-10 in the three games since returning. This was easily the best outing of the year for Jake Burnette, who set a season high in strikeouts, and didn’t give up a hit in 4.2 innings of work. Burnette struggled with his control when I saw him last week, but obviously rebounded well from that start this time around.
