Over the last two days, we have looked at the individual leaders throughout the minors for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Today we take a look at how the teams are doing compared to their league. I’m including all nine affiliates below, noting that it is still very early in the season for the GCL Pirates, while the other four short-season clubs are about halfway through their schedule. Below you’ll find the numbers for numerous offensive categories, along with that team’s rank in each category. The number of teams in their league can be found next to the team name. Stats are through games played on July 19th. I put all of the first place and last place stats in bold so they stand out.
INDIANAPOLIS (14 teams)
Average: .256 12th
OBP: .327 14th
Slugging: .425 13th
OPS: .752 13th
Runs: 446 14th
Hits: 826 11th
Doubles: 205 2nd
Triples: 19 6th
Home Runs: 101 13th
Stolen Bases: 53 11th
Walks: 313 14th
Strikeouts: 807 10th
ALTOONA (12 teams)
Average: .242 4th
OBP: .312 7th
Slugging: .363 8th
OPS: .676 8th
Runs: 375 8th
Hits: 733 7th
Doubles: 146 7th
Triples: 20 7th
Home Runs: 60 10th
Stolen Bases: 66 6th
Walks: 278 9th
Strikeouts: 829 4th
BRADENTON (12 teams)
Average: .245 4th
OBP: .315 5th
Slugging: .380 1st
OPS: .695 2nd
Runs: 389 4th
Hits: 757 6th
Doubles: 155 3rd
Triples: 17 8th
Home Runs: 76 1st
Stolen Bases: 85 5th
Walks: 273 8th
Strikeouts: 910 1st
GREENSBORO (14 teams)
Average: .251 1st
OBP: .339 1st
Slugging: .418 2nd
OPS: .756 1st
Runs: 548 1st
Hits: 795 3rd
Doubles: 173 5th
Triples: 25 5th
Home Runs: 102 2nd
Stolen Bases: 116 1st
Walks: 368 1st
Strikeouts: 850 8th
MORGANTOWN (14 teams)
Average: .227 10th
OBP: .322 8th
Slugging: .336 10th
OPS: .659 8th
Runs: 143 8th
Hits: 242 10th
Doubles: 59 3rd
Triples: 6 13th
Home Runs: 15 8th
Stolen Bases: 30 8th
Walks: 132 2nd
Strikeouts: 270 12th
BRISTOL (10 teams)
Average: .244 5th
OBP: .326 6th
Slugging: .345 10th
OPS: .671 9th
Runs: 137 9th
Hits: 241 5th
Doubles: 55 1st
Triples: 3 8th
Home Runs: 13 10th
Stolen Bases: 27 4th
Walks: 97 7th
Strikeouts: 251 8th
GCL PIRATES (18 teams)
Average: .223 14th
OBP: .330 12th
Slugging: .269 18th
OPS: .600 16th
Runs: 68 18th
Hits: 143 11th
Doubles: 16 18th
Triples: 7 4th
Home Runs: 0 18th
Stolen Bases: 37 4th
Walks: 82 11th
Strikeouts: 183 5th
DSL PIRATES1 (45 teams)
Average: .272 3rd
OBP: .359 15th
Slugging: .397 4th
OPS: .756 7th
Runs: 251 8th
Hits: 385 3rd
Doubles: 56 32nd
Triples: 22 5th
Home Runs: 26 3rd
Stolen Bases: 48 36th
Walks: 156 38th
Strikeouts: 285 34th
DSL PIRATES2 (45 teams)
Average: .312 1st
OBP: .391 1st
Slugging: .433 1st
OPS: .824 1st
Runs: 314 1st
Hits: 449 1st
Doubles: 70 9th
Triples: 21 6th
Home Runs: 21 5th
Stolen Bases: 78 6th
Walks: 161 35th
Strikeouts: 240 44th
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pittsburgh Pirates won 5-1 over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night. The Pirates will send out Dario Agrazal for the series finale this afternoon. He has thrown six innings in each of his last three starts, allowing a total of four runs. In his lone home start with the Pirates, Agrazal gave up two runs over six innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Phillies will counter with right-hander Vince Velasquez, who has a 4.87 ERA in 61 innings, with 70 strikeouts and a 1.39 WHIP. In his last three starts combined, he has allowed ten runs over 14 innings, failing to go longer than five innings in any of those games. Velasquez has a 5.26 road ERA. (UPDATE: It appears that Velasquez has been scratched from today and Drew Smyly might be the starter, though no one is listed now)
The minor league schedule includes Max Kranick getting the start for Bradenton. He has already faced Tampa three times this season, allowing a total of five runs over 19.1 innings (2.33 ERA). Kranick ranks second in the FSL with 98.0 innings pitched, 1.2 behind the league leader. Sean Brady will get the start for Altoona. He has made 12 straight starts of at least six innings. In ten of his last 11 starts, he has given up either one or two earned runs. Luis Nova gets the start for Greensboro. He has a 3.60 ERA on the road and a 6.00 ERA at home. Nova allowed two runs over 5.2 innings in his last start. His mound opponent today will be Adam Oller, who was released by the Pirates last year. The other three starters listed below are just probables (aka my best guess) and not actually listed. Keller could be held back a day while they wait to see if Trevor Williams can start on Monday. The GCL Pirates and both DSL affiliates are off on Sundays.
MLB: Pittsburgh (46-51) vs Phillies (51-48) 1:35 PM
Probable starter: Dario Agrazal (2.45 ERA, 7:8 SO/BB, 22.0 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (49-49) vs Durham (59-41) 1:35 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Mitch Keller (3.21 ERA, 101:33 SO/BB, 87.0 IP)
AA: Altoona (50-45) @ Bowie (53-44) 1:35 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Sean Brady (3.53 ERA, 47:24 SO/BB, 81.2 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (51-45) @ Tampa (43-54) 1:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Max Kranick (3.95 ERA, 71:26 SO/BB, 98.0 IP)
Low-A: Greensboro (59-39) @ Augusta (53-45) 5:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Luis Nova (4.74 ERA, 34:9 SO/BB, 38.0 IP)
Short-Season A: Morgantown (18-16) @ Auburn (15-20) 4:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Braxton Ashcraft (5.97 ERA, 20:9 SO/BB, 28.2 IP)
Rookie: Bristol (15-16) vs Kingsport (14-17) 6:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Jose Maldonado (4.66 ERA, 18:9 SO/BB, 19.1 IP)
GCL: Pirates (8-13) vs Twins (9-12) 10:00 AM DH 7/22 (season preview)
DSL: Pirates1 (22-20) vs Dodgers Shoemaker (20-22) 10:30 AM 7/22 (season preview)
DSL: Pirates2 (34-8) vs Tigers2 (18-23) 10:30 AM 7/22 (season preview)
HIGHLIGHTS
From Indianapolis on Friday, rehabbing Erik Gonzalez shows the defense that intrigued the Pirates. He also homered earlier in the game
The throw. The stretch. @31Mago and @WCraigers22 got it done.
of course we have the homer
Do your thing, @31Mago. ✊#RollTribe pic.twitter.com/FBm3MSZDa6
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) July 19, 2019
Altoona only posted one highlight, but it was a nice little double play from Gift Ngoepe
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
7/19: Jerrick Suiter placed on Altoona injured list. Bralin Jackson activated from injured list.
7/18: Mike LoPresti promoted to Greensboro.
7/17: Bear Bellomy promoted to Morgantown.
7/16: Pirates sign Jesus Castillo.
7/16: Hunter Owen activated from Indianapolis injured list.
7/16: John O’Reilly promoted to Bradenton. Matt Eardensohn assigned to Bristol.
7/16: Lizardy Dicent assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
7/13: Ryan Valdes activated from Bradenton injured list. Raul Siri placed on injured list.
7/13: Keone Kela assigned to Indianapolis on rehab.
7/12: Blake Weiman placed on Indianapolis injured list.
7/11: Fernando Villegas assigned to Bristol.
7/11: Eric Wood placed on Indianapolis injured list.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Two former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, plus a trade of note. On this date in 2003, the Pirates traded away closer Mike Williams to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league pitcher Frank Brooks. During that season, Williams was one of the worst All-Stars ever, making the team despite a 6.27 ERA. The Pirates only got 17.1 innings out of Brooks, but the trade was a win by default, as Williams was having a poor season and wasn’t worth his salary. The Phillies let him go via free agency after the season and he never pitched in the majors again, giving him the dubious honor of being selected for the All-Star team twice, making it in each of his last two season.
As for the two players born on this date, neither played a big role with the team, but one did have a very interesting nickname. Dick Smith, infielder for the 1951-55 Pirates, was signed out of Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania. He is the last of just three players from that school to make the majors. Smith played five seasons with the Pirates, but only got into 70 games and hit .134 in 186 at-bats. The Pirates were his only Major League team. He turns 92 today, making him the fifth oldest living former Pirates player.
Also born on this date, Irv Young, who pitched for the 1908 Pirates. Due strictly to his last name, he had the pressure of being named Cy the Second, as in the second Cy Young. Irv never came close to that potential and during the middle of the 1908 season, he was dealt to the Pirates for pitcher Harley Young. Harley wasn’t anywhere near as talented as Irv, but you may have already guessed that he was nicknamed “Cy the Third”. In his brief time with the Pirates, Irv Young had a 2.01 ERA in seven starts and nine relief appearances.
