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 (Nick Kingham, Jacob Taylor), 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 the mid-season update, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
include_once (‘./p2-stats/stats_functions.php’);
display_top30(607192,’P’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
3. Austin Meadows, CF, Bradenton -[insert_php]
display_top30(640457,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
display_top30(605137,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
5. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
display_top30(593700,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
6. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton -[insert_php]
display_top30(624512,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
7. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
display_top30(553869,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
8. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton -[insert_php]
display_top30(623912,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
9. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – Disabled List
10. Kevin Newman, SS, West Virginia -[insert_php]
display_top30(621028,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
11. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, GCL -[insert_php]
display_top30(663647,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
12. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bristol -[insert_php]
display_top30(656605,’P’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
13. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton -[insert_php]
display_top30(605280,’P’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
14. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia -[insert_php]
display_top30(605501,’P’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
15. Max Moroff, 2B, Altoona -[insert_php]
display_top30(621559,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
16. Barrett Barnes, OF, Altoona -[insert_php]
display_top30(608627,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
17. Yeudy Garcia, RHP, West Virginia -[insert_php]
display_top30(650817,’P’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
18. Trey Supak, RHP, Bristol -[insert_php]
display_top30(657022,’P’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
19. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Bristol -[insert_php]
display_top30(656543,’P’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
20. Adam Frazier, SS, Altoona -[insert_php]
display_top30(624428,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
21. Willy Garcia, OF, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
display_top30(591994,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
22. Steven Brault, LHP, Altoona -[insert_php]
display_top30(643230,’P’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
23. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Morgantown -[insert_php]
display_top30(596012,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
24. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Bradenton -[insert_php]
display_top30(621169,’P’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
25. Adrian Valerio, SS, GCL -[insert_php]
display_top30(650832,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
26. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia -[insert_php]
display_top30(656582,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
27. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
28. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia -[insert_php]
display_top30(656669,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
29. Casey Hughston, OF, Morgantown -[insert_php]
display_top30(641713,’B’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
30. Billy Roth, RHP, Bristol -[insert_php]
display_top30(624517,’P’,’20150814′);
[/insert_php]
[insert_php]
display_topperf(‘20150814’);
[/insert_php]
[expand title=”Box Score” tag=”span”]
[insert_php]
create_boxscore(‘20150814′,’ind’);
[/insert_php]
[/expand]
INDIANAPOLIS — Game One: While he has emerged as one of the top options in the upper levels for pitching depth, Radhames Liz has really struggled of late to throw strikes again this season. The trend continued again Friday night, as Liz walked three hitters in the first inning and four during the contest. After the free passes in the first innings, Liz allowed a two-run single, which proved to be the difference in the game. At the beginning of the game, the velocity was even down for Liz in the 92 to 93 range. However, it picked back up to the 95 to 96 range when he got settled in after the first frame.
After losing his 34-game on base streak on Wednesday, Keon Broxton has now been shutout in two of the past three contests. Indianapolis was only able to muster three hits for the entire game against Durham starter Blake Snell. Two came in the third innings when they broke through with a run. Tony Sanchez picked up his 17th double of the year and Dan Gamache drove him in. Though he added the third hit on the game, Alen Hanson has seen a mini slump over the past three games, going 2-for-11 over the span.
Adam Miller allowed six hits and three runs over his three innings of relief. Catcher Wilkin Castillo finished the game on the mound, by retiring the side in order in the seventh.
Game Two: In the second game, Alen Hanson made his first start of the season at third base. It also did not take him long to get the scoring started. Hanson led the game off with a triple. He didn’t need any offensive assistance to cross the plate, as he scored on a wild pitch. Hanson also picked up a single and scored an insurance run in the ninth.
Willy Garcia continued his power surge in August. Garcia added his sixth homer of the month and eighth since the all-star break in the fifth inning. Keon Broxton picked up a pair of knocks, and also drove in three runs in the game.
Brad Lincoln worked five scoreless innings in his first start since July 12th and only his second of the season. Over the outing, Lincoln allowed just three hits, a walk, while striking out four. Jeremy Bleich worked the final two innings, allowing just an unearned run. – Ryan Palencer
[expand title=”Box Score” tag=”span”]
[insert_php]
create_boxscore(‘20150814′,’alt’);
[/insert_php]
[/expand]
After allowing three runs to cross the plate in the bottom of the ninth, Altoona successfully wasted another quality start from Steven Brault, who worked seven strong innings. In those frames, Brault allowed just three hits and two runs, while striking out five. Over his last ten starts, Brault has only allowed more than three runs once and twice overall since making the jump to Double-A. Additionally, he has only allowed six total runs in his past six starts.
John Kuchno allowed just one hit, which striking out another hitter in a scoreless inning of relief of Brault. However, Jhondaniel Medina got hit around and took the loss on the walk off. Medina allowed three hits, three walks, and three runs.
Sebastian Valle added two hits, including his fourth home run of the season in support of Brault. Valle is now riding an eight-game hit streak. Over the span, he has picked up three doubles and a pair of home runs. Mel Rojas, Jr. and Eric Wood also added two hits each in the losing effort.
[expand title=”Box Score” tag=”span”]
[insert_php]
create_boxscore(‘20150814′,’bra’);
[/insert_php]
[/expand]
Cody Dickson has not had the most success so far in the 2015 season. While Friday night was one of the more fine starts in the recent history, he took the tough luck loss. Dickson worked eight strong innings, allowing four hits and two runs, while striking out one. The start marked the only the second time that Dickson had worked into the sixth in his last six starts. Last time out, Dickson allowed seven hits and four runs in 2.2 innings of work.
Bradenton was only able to pick up four hits. Justin Maffei picked up a pair of those out of the lead off spot. Maffei extended a four-game hit streak with the effort. His double also marked the second straight day with an extra base hit, as he had a triple yesterday. One of the other knocks was the 12th double of the season by Jin-De Jhang, which extended his hit streak to seven consecutive games. Along with the double, Jhang has added a pair of home runs over the span.
Junior Lopez allowed a solo home run in his inning of work to put the deficit further out of reach.
[expand title=”Box Score” tag=”span”]
[insert_php]
create_boxscore(‘20150814′,’wva’);
[/insert_php]
[/expand]
While Jordan Luplow has seen a strong season as a whole with West Virginia, he has been out of sight in August. For the month, Luplow has hit .354 with a 1.092 OPS in 12 games. This continued on Friday night, as Luplow added a pair of hits, including his 35th double of the campaign. The hot stretch continued in July, as he hit .305 for that month with a .995 OPS.
The power for Michael Suchy has been similar for the season as well. Suchy picked up his 30th double of the season. He has seen a .942 OPS in the first 12 games in August as well. Taylor Gushue picked up two hits, including his fifth home run of the season.
After one of his strongest outings of the season on August 4, going seven innings of five-hit ball, Austin Coley had his second straight tough start on Friday. During the game, Coley allowed 10 hits and six runs in five innings. The Power were just not able to overcome that hole.
[expand title=”Box Score” tag=”span”]
[insert_php]
create_boxscore(‘20150814′,’wev’);
[/insert_php]
[/expand]
In his second pro start, Brandon Waddell allowed just one hit in four strong innings of work. Waddell struck out three over the span and did not walk a single batter. In his first start, Waddell fanned four in three innings, while allowing a run on three hits.
In the contest behind Waddell, five players for West Virginia had multi-hit efforts. Kevin Kramer picked up a pair of knocks out of the lead off hole. The second round pick in the most recent amateur draft as seen some ups and downs this season, but has been much better over the week. In the past seven games, Kramer has a hit in six of them. With the two hits on Friday night, it marks his third multi hit game of the week.
Albert Baur continued his strong season with three hits of his own. However, the three hits did break a streak where he had one hit in his previous 11 at bats. Mitchell Tolman also added his second multi-hit game of the week and sixth in the month of August.
[expand title=”Box Score” tag=”span”]
[insert_php]
create_boxscore(‘20150814′,’bri’);
[/insert_php]
[/expand]
Mitch Keller made his third start of the season and this one didn’t go so well, even though he didn’t allow an earned run. Keller was in trouble all game, loading the bases in the first inning on two singles and a walk. With two outs, he got a ground out to end the inning. In the second, he started with a strikeout and a ground out, before giving up a single. The runner got to second on a steal, but that’s as far as he would get. The third inning began with a single then a walk. The next batter reached on an error from Carlos Ozuna, loading the bases. Keller struck out the next two hitters, but he walked in a run with two outs. After a single to right field to bring in two more runs, Keller was replaced. Another run came around to score, which was credited to him, but none of the runs were earned due to the Ozuna error.
Keller worked three innings in his first game, then upped it to four in his second outing. That was by design each game, as he was returning from a forearm strain and slowly building back up. He would have went five in this game, but he reached his single inning pitch limit in that third inning. Keller had three strikeouts and five ground ball outs.
The offense didn’t show up in this game, as the Pirates collected five hits, no walks and struck out 11 times. Nick Buckner had two hits, including his eighth double. He has reached base in 12 straight games. Trae Arbet collected his 16th double. Julio de la Cruz played in this game, but he didn’t get a chance to bat, so his 13-game hit streak and 22-game on base streak are still intact. He replaced Ozuna at third base in the top of eighth inning after he was ejected for arguing a strikeout call. – John Dreker
[expand title=”Box Score” tag=”span”]
[insert_php]
create_boxscore(‘20150814′,’pir’);
[/insert_php]
[/expand]
Shane Kemp hasn’t had the best start to his pro career. The 26th round pick started the year in Bristol, giving up 16 earned runs in eight innings. He wasn’t fooling anyone with his pitches on the July 28th outing, getting hit pretty hard and giving up five earned runs in less than two innings. He was soon demoted to the GCL, where he gave up two earned runs in three innings in his first start, which isn’t a great result for a college pitcher at the lowest level of the minors.
Kemp pitched out of relief earlier this week, throwing a shutout inning. He returned to a starting role today and threw four shutout innings, with three hits, no walks, and four strikeouts. The walks and strikeouts are significant, as he had a 4:7 K/BB ratio in Bristol, and three walks and one strikeout in his previous GCL start. However, this is still coming from a college pitcher who is now at the lowest levels of the minors. The Pirates must like Kemp to an extent, as they keep giving him extended innings and more chances, even after a lot of struggles.
The GCL offense was quiet today, with the only two hits coming from Eric Thomas. One of those hits scored the only run in the eighth inning, bringing in Victor Fernandez, who walked. Ke’Bryan Hayes went without a hit and also didn’t reach base. This was just the fifth time in 36 games that he hasn’t reached base safely in his pro debut. – Tim Williams
[expand title=”Box Score” tag=”span”]
[insert_php]
create_boxscore(‘20150814′,’dpi’);
[/insert_php]
[/expand]
The DSL Pirates won 7-6 on Friday to move to 25-40 on the season, with seven games left on the schedule. Gabriel Brito had a single, two walks and drove in two runs in this game. He has been one of the few bright spots on this team, at least when he is healthy. He missed the beginning of the year with a shoulder injury and then missed time last month with a left hand injury. Brito has reached base in 12 straight games and he’s done well behind the plate, throwing out 27% of base runners. The 17-year-old signed for $200,000 last July, the second highest bonus for any Pirates players during the last signing period.
Outfielder Eddy Vizcaino has been hitting well recently, batting .423 over his previous ten games. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and drove in a run in this game. He also picked up his ninth steal. Vizcaino had 22 walks and 11 strikeouts in 139 at-bats this season. Yondry Contreras had a walk, sacrifice fly and a HBP on Friday, but he also struck out, setting a DSL/VSL Pirates team record with 76 strikeouts. Melvin Jimenez had two hits, two walks and scored two runs.
Coming into this game, starter Argenis Romano had either allowed no earned runs or four earned runs in each of his last seven starts. He broke that odd streak by allowing two earned over five innings for the win. Romano has made three straight starts without issuing a walk. All-Star closer Ramon Garcia got the save, but not before giving up his first earned run in exactly a month. It was just the fourth earned run he has allowed this season and he hasn’t given up two in a game. – John Dreker
