No, that title isn’t a hyperbolic reaction to the 2023 Pittsburgh Pirates losing two of three to the Oakland Athletics.
Instead, this is notification that John Dreker’s book on the 1890 Pittsburgh Alleghenys, aka “The Worst Team in Pittsburgh Pirates History” is now available on Amazon.
The book was previously made available here and on Pittsburgh Baseball, but due to a lack of time, the editing and publishing had to be outsourced. If you had previously ordered a copy, we’ve sent you a refund, and hope you head over to Amazon to pick up your copy of the book. Mine arrived yesterday evening, after placing the order on Monday.
PIRATES (32-29) OFF
No action for the Pirates today, but follow along for all of the minor league results.
INDIANAPOLIS (28-30) VS OMAHA
Game Time: 7:05 PM EST
Projected Starter: Osvaldo Bido, RHP (3-3, 4.06)
Latest Features:
6/7: Aaron Shackelford adjusts swing and relocates power
6/6: Carmen Mlodzinski improves all the way with aggressive approach
5/26: Potential Plan For Jared Triolo Becoming More Clear
ALTOONA (28-23) AT RICHMOND
Game Time: 6:35 PM EST
Projected Starter: Jared Jones, RHP (1-2, 2.36)
Latest Features:
6/1: Matt Gorski Displays Athleticism And Versatility
5/25: Sean Sullivan Continues To Thrive In Altoona
GREENSBORO (28-23) VS WILMINGTON
Game Time: 6:30 PM EST
Projected Starter: Thomas Harrington
Latest Features:
6/4: Braxton Ashcraft Showing Velocity and Control in Return From Tommy John
6/2: Abrahan Gutierrez Hitting Ground Running Returning From Injury
5/26: Anthony Solometo Faces Two Top 100 Prospects In Greensboro
BRADENTON (28-25) VS DUNEDIN
Game Time: 6:30 PM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:
6/3: Thomas Harrington Displayed Swing and Miss Secondary in Bradenton
5/30: With May Ending, Shalin Polanco Heading In Right Direction
5/27: Luis Peralta Using Sinker In Less Conventional Way
FCL PIRATES (1-1)
Game Time: 12:00 PM EST
Projected Starter: Michael Kennedy, LHP (Pro Debut)
DSL PIRATES BLACK (0-2)
Game Time: 10:30 AM EST
Projected Starter: Jonawel Valdez, RHP (Pro Debut)
**Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Dominican Summer League Pirates
DSL PIRATES GOLD (2-0)
Game Time: 10:30 AM EST
Projected Starter: Adolfo Oviedo, RHP (0-0, 0.00)
**Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Dominican Summer League Pirates
DAILY PIRATES NEWS
**John Dreker has a preview of the 2023 DSL Pirates, with profiles of some of the best players to follow at the lowest levels.
**Baseball America released their latest mock draft, a little over a month before the Pirates make the first overall pick.
**Anthony Murphy looks at what is next for the Pirates rotation, after the recent struggles from Roansy Contreras.
More Recent Pirates Features
6/8: What’s Next For The Pirates Rotation?
6/4: Williams: Endy Rodriguez, Henry Davis, and the Pirates’ Catcher of the Future
6/2: Pirates Business: Examining the Super Two “Deadline”
PIRATES PROSPECT WATCH
By John Dreker
Check back at the end of the night for all of the daily results throughout the system, or, join the discussion in the comments if you’re following Live.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS
Final Score: Omaha 15, Indianapolis 7
Player of the Game: Cal Mitchell 2-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI
Recap:
Indianapolis got roughed up by Omaha on Thursday. They scored ten runs in the fifth inning, leading to a 15-7 loss for the Indians.
Starter Osvaldo Bido allowed five runs over 4.1 innings, on four hits, five walks and three strikeouts.
JC Flowers allowed five runs over two innings in his last outing, which did a number on his ERA. Things got much worse in this game, as he served up seven earned runs, while recording just one out. He gave up three hits and four walks.
John O’Reilly was the only one of five Indianapolis pitchers to throw shutout ball. He tossed 1.1 innings. Carmen Mlodzinski gave up one run over two frames, while striking out five batters.
Indianapolis scored two runs in the third inning on a double by Endy Rodriguez. He was tossed from the game in the fifth for arguing a call.
Miguel Andujar hit his seventh homer in the fifth.
Ryan Vilade singled in a run in the sixth. Jared Triolo walked with the bases loaded. Cal Mitchell drove in a pair with a double to cap the scoring for the Indians.
Nick Gonzales and Triolo each had a hit and a walk. Mitchell had two hits, despite coming into the game when Rodriguez was tossed.
Henry Davis had two singles. He moved from right field to catcher for Rodriguez.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA
Final Score: Richmond 2, Altoona 0
Player of the Game: Jared Jones 6.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
Recap:
Jared Jones pitched an outstanding game on Thursday night, but still took the loss because Richmond pitchers completely shut down the Altoona lineup. Jones gave up one run over 6.1 innings, with one hit that was a solo homer. The only other runners he allowed were on a walk and hit batter.
Jones has a 2.21 ERA, an 0.98 WHIP and 41 strikeouts in 40.2 innings.
Noe Toribio finished off the outing with one run over 1.2 innings.
Altoona had two hits, no walks and 13 strikeouts, so there’s not much to talk about here. Abrahan Gutierrez hit a double. Liover Peguero had a single. Chavez Young reached on a hit-by-pitch. The team went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO
Final Score: Greensboro 1, Wilmington 0
Player of the Game: Thomas Harrington 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 SO
Recap:
Thomas Harrington pitched one of the better games we will see this season. He allowed two hits over seven shutout innings, with no walks and eight strikeouts. He did that while throwing 62 of 82 pitches for strikes. This was a lot better than his Greensboro debut last week, when he allowed three runs on six hits in 2.1 innings.
Grant Ford got the win here with two no-hit innings to finish off the night.
Greensboro didn’t do much better than Wilmington at the plate, but they did enough thanks to Will Matthiessen. He walked it off with a home run leading off the bottom of the ninth. That was his fourth home run of the season.
Eli Wilson was the only batter for the Grasshoppers to reach base more than once. He had a double and a walk.
Greensboro struck out 12 times.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON
Final Score: Dunedin 14, Bradenton 3
Player of the Game: Joshua Loeschern 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO
Recap:
Bradenton got crushed on Thursday, losing 14-3, while picking up just one hit. Starter Wilber Dotel and reliever Luis Peralta each allowed seven runs. Four were earned for Dotel, though he committed two errors. Six were earned for Peralta.
Joshua Loeschern retired all seven batters he faced, pitching between Dotel and Peralta. Loeschern had four strikeouts.
Ryan Harbin lowered his ERA to 1.17 with a scoreless frame after all of the damage was done.
The only hit by the Marauders was a solo homer by Jack Brannigan, his fourth of the season.
They scored two runs in the ninth thanks to four straight walks to start the inning, followed by a Shalin Polanco sacrifice fly.
Bradenton struck out 14 times.
ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES
Final Score: Twins 6, Pirates 5
Player of the Game: Yordany De Los Santos 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, 2 SB
Recap:
Michael Kennedy made his pro debut on Thursday. The lefty was a fourth round pick of the Pirates in 2022, signing a seven-figure bonus to keep him from LSU. He went 3.1 innings, allowing one run on one hit, three walks and five strikeouts.
Joaquin Tejada allowed one run over 2.1 innings following Kennedy. Australian pitcher Jackson Grounds had a shaky pro debut, walking three batters, while recording two outs. He gave up an unearned run. Sergio Umana took the look with three runs (two earned) in his inning of work. The Pirates committed four errors in the game.
Yordany De Los Santos had two hits, including a double. He scored two runs, drove in one, plus he stole two bases.
Esmerlyn Valdez had a single, double, walk and an RBI.
Braylon Bishop went 0-for-4. Lonnie White Jr went 0-for-4 with a walk.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES BLACK
Final Score: Yankees 8, Pirates 5
Player of the Game: Carlos Caro 2-for-4, RBI
Recap:
The Yankees put up seven runs in the sixth inning to take this contest, dropping the Pirates to an 0-3 record.
Starter Jonawel Valdez allowed one run in 3.1 innings, with four walks and four strikeouts. He also had four balks. Keuri Almonte walked four batters, which turned into two runs. Eduardo Zapata walked five batters, which turned into five runs for the loss.
David Matoma from Uganda made his pro debut. He threw two scoreless on two hits and a walk, with no strikeouts.
July Vittini got the scoring going for the Pirates in the fifth with a two-run single. A single by Carlos Caro and a ground out by catching prospect Jonathan Rivero led to two runs in the sixth. The final run scored in the seventh on a balk.
Caro and Miguel Rodriguez each had two hits. Rodriguez added a stolen base and an outfield assist.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES GOLD
Final Score: Cubs 7, Pirates 6
Player of the Game: John Zorrilla 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Recap:
The Pirates Gold lost their first game on Thursday, dropping to 2-1 on the season. They were up 3-0 and 6-1 at points in the game, but the bullpen lost the lead in eight innings, which was extra innings (scheduled for seven).
The Pirates scored one run in the first and another in the second on wild pitches. Tony Blanco Jr singled in a run in the third. John Zorrilla added a three-run homer in the fifth to give them the comfortable lead at the time. The Cubs scored in four straight innings for the win.
Starter Adolfo Oviedo allowed three walks and struck out three over his three scoreless innings.
Dermis Ordonez allowed a run in the fourth. Diego Chiquillo gave up three runs in the fifth. Fares Sanchez allowed solo runs over each of the next three innings to take the loss. Just one run was earned.
The Pirates had five hits, including the two mentioned above. Ruben Vizcaya had a double, stolen base and an outfield assist. Zorrilla stole a base. Eduardo Oviedo had a single, walk and a steal.
The Pirates went 3-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
