A look at how the current top 30 prospects did today. If a player is in the majors for an extended time or loses his prospect eligibility (Austin Meadows, Colin Moran, Nick Kingham, Edgar Santana, Kyle Crick, Max Moroff and Dovydas Neverauskas), he will be removed from this list. 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 more active prospects on the list. Rankings are from our 2018 Prospect Guide, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Mitch Keller, RHP, Indianapolis – 6 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO
2. Cole Tucker, SS, Altoona – 0-for-3, BB
3. Shane Baz, RHP, Bristol – DNP
4. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Altoona – 1-for-4, 2B
5. Kevin Newman, SS, Indianapolis – 2-for-4
6. Lolo Sanchez, CF, West Virginia – 3-for-4, 2 SB
7. Bryan Reynolds, OF, Altoona – 3-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB
8. Jordan Luplow, LF, Pirates – In Majors
9. Luis Escobar, RHP, Altoona – DNP
10. Clay Holmes, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
11. Braeden Ogle, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
12. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Indianapolis – DNP
13. Adrian Valerio, SS, Bradenton – DNP
14. Calvin Mitchell, OF, West Virginia – 1-for-4, 2B
15. Oneil Cruz, SS, West Virginia – 2-for-4, 2B
16. Nick Burdi, RHP, Altoona – DNP
17. Dario Agrazal, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
18. JT Brubaker, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
19. Will Craig, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-4, RBI
20. Stephen Alemais, 2B/SS, Altoona – 1-for-4
21. Jason Martin, OF, Indianapolis – 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB
22. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Indianapolis – DNP
23. Eduardo Vera, RHP, Altoona – DNP
24. Mason Martin, 1B, Bristol – 1-for-5, HR, RBI, 2 BB
25. Conner Uselton, OF, Bristol – 0-for-3
26. Cody Bolton, RHP, West Virginia – DNP
27. Steven Jennings, RHP, Bristol – DNP
28. Max Kranick, RHP, West Virginia – DNP
29. Domingo Robles, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
30. Christopher Bostick, OF, Pirates – In Majors
Indianapolis lost 9-1 to Toledo.
Mitch Keller got his fifth start for Indianapolis, coming off of two earned runs over five innings in his last game. This game had one really bad inning, followed up by four shutout innings. Keller went six innings, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks. He had six strikeouts, threw 60 of 90 pitches for strikes, and had an usually high 4:7 GO/AO ratio. All four runs scored in the second inning. Michael Feliz was out next and his seventh inning was worse than Keller’s second inning. He gave up five runs on four hits and a walk. Damien Magnifico handled the eighth.
The only Indianapolis run scored in the eighth inning on doubles by Pablo Reyes and Jason Martin. Kevin Newman and Ryan Lavarnway each had two singles. Wyatt Mathisen doubled. Eric Wood returned from his second trip to the disabled list and went 0-for-3 with an error.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Altoona lost 4-3 to Harrisburg.
Scooter Hightower got the start in the rotation spot of Taylor Hearn, who was traded on Tuesday. Working on a limited pitch count, he went four innings, giving up two runs (both unearned) on two hits and two walks. Hightower had one strikeout and threw 32 of his 54 pitches for strikes. Logan Sendelbach followed with two shutout innings, as did Sean Keselica. The game went into a rain delay before the bottom of the ninth, with Altoona leading 3-2. Tate Scioneaux was on the mound when play resumed and he gave up (in order) a walk, single, walk, RBI ground out, walk, single, which ended the game.
Bryan Reynolds had himself quite a day at the plate. He went 3-for-3 with a single, double and fifth home run. He also walked, drove in two runs and scored two runs. Reynolds is hitting .284/.369/.438 in 57 games. Ke’Bryan Hayes hit his 27th double and scored a run. Will Craig drove in his 86th run and stole his fourth base.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Bradenton lost 9-3 to St Lucie.
Mike Wallace got the start and got hit around on this night. He gave up nine runs (eight earned) on ten hits and a hit batter in four innings. He had no walks and struck out five batters. Jordan Jess quieted the offense with three shutout innings. Jake Brentz followed in the eighth and allowed a run on two hits and a walk. Blake Cederlind tossed a scoreless ninth.
The Marauders were kept out of the hit column until a Casey Hughston double in the eighth. They scored a run in the third inning on a walk, hit-by-pitch, fly out and a sacrifice fly by Jared Oliva. With the game out of hand, Mitchell Tolman singled in the ninth and Hunter Owen hit his 14th home run of the season to bring home the final two runs.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
West Virginia lost 2-1 to Augusta.
Travis MacGregor allowed a high of three earned runs in his first 12 starts this season and that happened just once. In his last two starts however, he gave up four earned runs each time, so he was looking to get back on track Thursday night. MacGregor did just that, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks, with three strikeouts. He threw 57 of 84 pitches for strikes. He now has a 3.43 ERA in 57.2 innings, with 72 strikeouts. Ike Schlabach was out next and threw two shutout innings, then Matt Seelinger held them scoreless in the ninth.
Lolo Sanchez had three hits and stole two bases to give him 25 steals on the season. Oneil Cruz had a single and a double, his 24th two-bagger of the season. Calvin Mitchell hit his 21st double, though he also struck out in each of his other three at-bats. Sanchez scored the lone run in the fifth inning when Robbie Glendinning grounded into a bases loaded double play
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Morgantown lost 2-1 to Williamsport.
Nicholas Economos made his first start since 2016 on Thursday. He went five innings, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk, with five strikeouts. Both runs scored on solo homers. Economos was economical with his pitches, throwing 46 of 61 for strikes. Cam Alldred, who didn’t allow a run in 13 innings last month, was out next. He finished out the night with three shutout innings.
All three runs in this game scored on solo homers. The Black Bears got their run in the sixth inning on the third homer of the season by Daniel Amaral. Travis Swaggerty had a nice game, going 3-for-4 with three singles. The only other Morgantown hits were singles by Amaral, Zack Kone and Zac Susi. Brett Kinneman drew the only walk.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Bristol lost 9-2 to Bluefield in game one of a doubleheader.
Roger Santana got the start and had major issues, allowing all nine runs in just three innings of work. He stayed in the game long enough to allow 11 hits and three walks, while throwing 77 pitches to record nine outs. The relief was excellent, with Jacob Webb and Austin Shields each throwing two shutout/no-hit innings.
The offense consisted of nine walks and a fifth inning RBI double from Mikell Granberry. That was the only hit by the Pirates. Granberry, who also drew one of the walks, posted a .920 OPS in July, which was the fourth best in the entire farm system. The only other run scored when Gabriel Brito was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. With 11 base runners in the game, everyone reached base at least once. Sherten Apostel was the only player to reach twice besides Granberry. Apostel walked twice, but he also committed his 15th error in his 30th game at third base.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
In game two, Colin Selby got the start and put together five strong innings. He was hurt by an error that allowed two unearned runs, otherwise he gave up six hits, with one walk and eight strikeouts. His previous high for strikeouts was six in a game. John O’Reilly followed and he retired just one of seven batters he faced. Four runs scored before he left and Joe Jacques stranded two inherited runners. Jacques then threw a scoreless seventh.
Bristol went with the bold strategic move of benching the only guy to get a hit in game one and they had just two hits in the second game. On the bright side, Mason Martin hit his first home run since June 28th (103 at-bats) and he also added a walk, as the Pirates lost 6-1. Sherten Apostel walked twice again, giving him four walks on the day. Victor Ngoepe had a seventh inning single for the only other hit. He also added a walk.
You can view the season preview here.
The GCL Pirates won 6-2 over the Yankees West.
Luis Arrieta got the start and went five innings, allowing one run on one hit, three walks and two strikeouts. He came into the day with a 6.75 ERA in his first seven starts. Luis Nova was out next. Today was supposed to be a doubleheader with Arrieta and Nova starting, but at some point since yesterday, they decided to play just one game. Nova took the final four innings for the save, allowing one run on three hits, with no walks and six strikeouts.
Jack Herman and Patrick Dorrian had the big days at the plate. Herman went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs. He now has a .354 average in 23 games. Dorrian went 2-for-3 with a walk, double and two RBIs. He led the entire farm system with a .943 OPS in July. Ji-Hwan Bae was 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly. John Lantigua hit an RBI double.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
The DSL Pirates1 lost 5-1 to the Rangers1
Valentin Linarez got the start and somehow managed to keep runs off the board in his 2.1 innings despite allowing two hits and five walks. He also had four strikeouts. Wilger Camacho followed and allowed two runs in 2.2 innings. Miguel Diaz was out next and allowed one run over two innings. Julio Rosario gave up two runs in his two innings, though one was unearned.
The offense had nine hits, two walks and went 4-for-4 in stolen bases, but they also went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Yoyner Fajardo had a single, double and the lone RBI. Carlos Arroyo had two singles and his tenth stolen base. Darwin Baez had a single, walk and a stolen base. Catcher Jommer Hernandez has been throwing out runners at a near 50% clip all season. The Rangers1 tested him nine times in this game and he threw out three runners.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
The DSL Pirates2 lost 10-5 to Colorado.
Estalin Ortiz got the start and went 3.1 innings, giving up four runs, three of them earned. Braham Rosario followed with 3.2 scoreless innings, though he did walk four batters. Eddy Vargas was out next with a 5-4 lead and he allowed three runs without recording an out. Then flamethrower Oliver Mateo gave up another three runs, while also striking out three batters. He has poor control, but also has 31 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.
On offense, Ronaldo Paulino had two doubles, a walk and two runs scored. Pedro Castillo had a single, run scored and his ninth stolen base. Matthew Mercedes had a single, walk, sacrifice fly and two RBIs. Eduar Ramirez had a single, double and an RBI. Angel Basabe would like a mulligan after an 0-for-5 day, which included his third error.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview for both teams here.
