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 – DNP
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 0-for-5
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 0-for-4, 2 BB
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – 1-for-3, BB
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 1-for-6
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – 2-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 – 2-for-6, 2B
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 – DNP
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 – 0-for-4
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – DNP
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 3-for-4
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – 1-for-3, 2B
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Extended Spring Training
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – 0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – 2-for-5, 2 2B
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Chad Kuhl, RHP – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Elvis Escobar, CF – 4-for-6
Home Runs: None
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Norfolk 2, Indianapolis 1
Starting Pitcher: Matt Benedict, RHP – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Elias Diaz, C – 2-for-3, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Alen Hanson, 2B – 1-for-3, BB
Deibinson Romero, 3B – 1-for-3, 2B, BB
Game Notes: The promotion of Wilfredo Boscan to Pittsburgh left the need for a starting pitcher in Indianapolis today. Matt Benedict was left out of the Bradenton rotation after the additions this week of Jayson Aquino and Luis Heredia. This allowed the Pirates to jump Benedict up two levels to make the spot start for Indianapolis. He profiles as an organizational starter, relying mostly on his sinker. That generated a 10:0 GO/AO ratio. Benedict isn’t likely to remain in Triple-A for the long-term, and could be the odd man out when Boscan returns.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Akron 2, Altoona 1
Starting Pitcher: Chad Kuhl, RHP – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Sebastian Valle, C – 2-for-5, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Keon Broxton, CF – 1-for-5
Game Notes: Tonight had the look and feel of a difficult and disappointing night for Chad Kuhl, but he labored through six innings without letting up a run. He threw 102 pitches in those six innings, going deep in most counts and walking four. His outing could be compared to one he started on April 18th, when he walked three in five innings without letting up a run.
Kuhl got into the most trouble in the second and third innings, when he loaded the bases and had two runners on, respectively, with no outs. In both cases, he showed a lot of poise by working out of the jam. Five strikeouts would be tied for his season high. What was different about his outing tonight was that he only had four groundouts to six flyouts. As a sinkerball pitcher, it is unusual to see that from Kuhl.
Jhondaniel Medina came in to relieve Kuhl in the seventh and struggled mightily with his control. He walked five in only 1+ innings of work. Collin Balester came in the game in the seventh after Medina walked two. Balester couldn’t hold one of the runners, but did a great job giving the Curve three innings of work. On the night, Curve pitchers had thirteen walks, and Akron had 19 players left on base.
From an offensive standpoint, the Curve couldn’t get anything going all night. Sebastian Valle had the Curve’s only extra base hit with an RBI double, and he was the only Curve player with multiple hits. Max Moroff’s 30 game on-base streak came to an end tonight after going 0 for 5 with two strikeouts and two groundouts. Keon Broxton is hitting .353 over his last eight games after going 1 for 5 tonight. – Sean McCool
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Palm Beach 8, Bradenton 6
Starting Pitcher: Luis Heredia, RHP – 0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 3-for-4
Other Notable Performers:
JaCoby Jones, SS – 2-for-6, 2B
Erich Weiss, 2B – 3-for-5
Jin-De Jhang, DH – 2-for-5
Game Notes: Luis Heredia made his 2015 debut, although it was a short outing. He struggled with his control, and ended up lasting less than an inning before being removed with 36 pitches thrown in the inning. Heredia was throwing 92-94 MPH, but was missing high and wide on the outside often. He did have a few pitches that got down in the zone with good angle, but for the most part his fastball lacked command. The curveball had some good break, but didn’t put people away on the rare chance that he got ahead of hitters. He was getting some ground balls, which was a good sign. Three of his runs scored off Felipe Gonzalez, who gave up a grand slam in relief. I’ll have a more detailed report on Heredia in the morning, complete with video and photos.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 7, Hagerstown 6
Starting Pitcher: Colten Brewer, RHP – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Elvis Escobar, CF – 4-for-6
Other Notable Performers:
Taylor Gushue, C – 2-for-5, 2 2B
Cole Tucker, SS – 1-for-6
Michael Suchy, RF – 2-for-5, 2B, BB
Tito Polo, PH-LF – 1-for-3, 2B
Game Notes: Colten Brewer made his second start since 2013, and the results were much better this time. Last time out he struggled with his control, despite consistently hitting 95 MPH. He didn’t have the control issues this time around. Elvis Escobar is on a bit of a hot streak lately, going 9-for-23 with a double and a homer in the last four games. Taylor Gushue hit two doubles tonight, giving him six on the season. Jordan Luplow had a rough night on defense, with two fielding errors and a throwing error.
