There was a lot of power on display throughout the Pittsburgh Pirates system on Friday night, including a grand slam from Endy Rodriguez and two homers from 2022 first rounder Termarr Johnson.
TIM WILLIAMS: Endy Rodriguez, C, Indianapolis (AAA)
It’s impossible to say when any player is ready for the majors. We tend to focus on the numbers at the plate. When a player puts up big results, especially in Triple-A, there are calls for him to be promoted to the big leagues. Endy Rodriguez picking up three hits last night, including a grand slam, is one of those moments where offense is enough to get fans calling for the catcher.
Rodriguez has been learning behind the plate this year to be a regular catcher. There’s a lot of work that goes into this, and you can understand why his offense has struggled this year. Through the month of May, Rodriguez had a .234/.329/.397 line. He was hitting for some power (.163 ISO) and wasn’t looking overmatched (14% strikeouts, 11.6% walks).
Since the start of June, Rodriguez is batting .297/.377/.417. The power has taken a bit of a dip (.118), which is mostly a result of the early numbers in this stretch. Starting with a three-hit day on June 23rd, Rodriguez has a .364/.439/.545 line. His power is up (.182), and his strikeout rate (10.6%) and walk rate (12.1%) have been excellent. You could draw the assumption from this that he’s ready on both sides of the ball, at least to make the jump to the majors. With the way Austin Hedges has been playing, Rodriguez won’t need these monster numbers to provide an upgrade.
ANTHONY MURPHY: Valentin Linarez, RHP Greensboro (A+)
With JP Massey off to the Future’s Game, Valentin Linarez got another shot in the starting rotation before the break, after being bumped to the bullpen after a few midseason additions coming in from Bradenton.
It wasn’t his worst start, as he allowed two runs and four hits while striking out three across two innings pitched.
Linarez had a strong year in Bradenton working as a starter, but has struggled when working out the rotation with Greensboro. In nine starts this year, the righty has posted a 7.11 ERA with 16 walks and 24 strikeouts across 25.1 innings pitched.
He put up some intriguing metrics in Single-A, and has the physical build to be a starting pitcher, it just hasn’t translated in Greensboro.
JOHN DREKER: Axiel Plaz, C, FCL Pirates (Rk)
After putting up big numbers in the Dominican Summer League in 2022, catcher Axiel Plaz was pushed high up the list of Pirates prospects by some sources. It was definitely a quick reaction to a small sample size, but Plaz does have some reasons to follow him closely.
Plaz hit .382/.500/.706 last year for the DSL Pirates at 16 years old for most of the regular season. There are two problems with looking at that slash line and getting over-excited for his possible future. The first is that he had 86 plate appearances for the entire season, ranking 25th among DSL Pirates hitters in plate appearances for the season. The second is that DSL stats don’t really tell you anything.
I did an in depth look early last year at the best hitters and pitchers in the league over a 15-season period. The numbers showed that doing well in the league didn’t give you any better chance of even making the majors, compared to someone who wasn’t among the top hitters/pitchers. Forget actually becoming an impact talent from the league, the chances of making it from the DSL to the majors are slim for the best and worst performing players.
The real important thing with Plaz is that the scouting reports from when he signed were strong. He was called an advanced defensive player for his age, with a real chance for it to be an above average tool in the future. He’s athletic, with a strong arm. He also did a good job of making hard line drive contact, with reports saying he had a chance to add power in the future to really round out his game
Plaz had a big day on Friday, driving in four runs and walking three times, while picking up his first homer. He was not doing well before that game. He currently has a .217/.422/.348 slash line. Just like with last year, we are dealing with a very small sample size. It’s so small that his OPS went up 118 points in one game. Plaz is still an interesting player to keep in the back of your mind for the future, especially since the thing that holds back catchers often is defense, and he’s already advanced for his age.
Friday’s Top Performers
- Endy Rodriguez (AAA): 3-for-4, HR (6), 5 RBI
- Miguel Andujar (AAA): 2-for-5, 2B, HR (11), 5 RBI
- Liover Peguero (AAA): 2-for-5, 2 HR (2), 2 RBI
- Matt Fraizer (AA): 1-for-4, HR (6), 2 RBI
- Francisco Acuna (A+): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (1), 2 RBI
- Termarr Johnson (A): 4-for-4, 2 HR (10), 4 RBI
- Nick Cimillo (A): 1-for-3, HR (6)
- Axiel Plaz (FCL): 1-for-2, HR (1), 3BB, 4 RBI
- Eddy Rodriguez (FCL): 2-for-4, 2 BB
- Tony Blanco Jr. (DSL): 1-for-3, HR (3), 3 RBI
- Antonio Pimentel (DSL): 1-for-3, HR (1)
- Carlos Castillo (DSL): 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K
Daily Video Rundown
Endy Rodriguez hit a grand slam last night for Indianapolis, his sixth of the year.
HIMdy HIMríguez. pic.twitter.com/6VaEn818WP
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) July 15, 2023
Liover Peguero added two home runs in the same game, giving him his first two at the Triple-A level. Here’s a look at the first one.
First Triple-A dinger for @liover_peguero. ✅
And here’s the second from Peguero, who is now 6-for-23 with a triple and two homers.
"Why hit one home run when you could hit two?"
– @liover_peguero, probably.
Meanwhile, 2022 first rounder Termarr Johnson went 4-for-4 at the plate with two home runs. Johnson is now batting .246/.410/.443 with ten homers on the year.
Termarr Johnson had a career day at the plate for @The_Marauders on the other side of the All-Star break.
The secret to the top @Pirates prospect’s success? Keeping a team-first attitude: https://t.co/Rdc0EqtFvX pic.twitter.com/k0ciZ1tghG
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 15, 2023
Friday’s Minor League Results
By John Dreker
INDIANAPOLIS (40-46) AT Omaha
Game Time: 8:05 pm ET
Indianapolis Starter: Quinn Priester (7-3, 4.36)
–Line: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO
Player of the Game: Endy Rodriguez 3-for-4, HR, 5 RBI, BB
Boxscore: Indianapolis 13, Omaha 5Quinn Priester tossed one shutout inning to start this game. He was one of three normal starting pitchers who tossed one inning on Friday, as it appears that the All-Star break has led to some rotation moves for this week to get everyone work.
Wil Crowe followed with one run on one hit, one walk and two strikeouts in one inning of work. He threw nine of 19 pitches for strikes.
Kent Emanuel did the brunt of the work, with two runs over four innings. Colin Selby threw a scoreless seventh. JC Flowers threw a scoreless frame on two hits and a strikeout.
Endy Rodriguez had the big hit in this blowout win, belting a grand slam in the third inning. He had two singles, three runs, five RBIs and a walk. The homer is his sixth of the season.
Liover Peguero went 2-for-5 with two solo homers, his first two homers since being promoted to Indianapolis.
Miguel Andujar went 2-for-5 with his 23rd double and his 11th homer. He drove in five runs. He has a .366 average and a 1.023 OPS.
Alika Williams had a single, double and two walks, as well as two runs.
Canaan Smith-Njigba hit two doubles and drew a walk. He has 15 doubles.
ALTOONA (39-40) AT New Hampshire
Game Time: 7:05 pm ET
Altoona Starter: Beau Sulser (2023 DEBUT)
–Line: 2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
Player of the Game: Matt Fraizer 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Boxscore: New Hampshire 7, Altoona 2Beau Sulser returned to the Pirates as a minor league free agent about a week before the recent All-Star break, but this was his first game back. He was put into the starter role, where he allowed four runs over two innings. That put Altoona behind early, as they went on to lose 7-2 to New Hampshire.
Aaron Shortridge allowed one run over one inning. Bear Bellomy and Nick Dombkowski each tossed two scoreless innings.
All of the offense came on a third inning homer by Matt Fraizer, his sixth of the season.
Altoona had just two at-bats with runners in scoring position all game.
GREENSBORO (39-39) AT Brooklyn
Game Time: 7 pm ET
Greensboro Starter: Thomas Harrington (0-1, 3.98)
–Line: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO
Player of the Game: Francisco Acuna 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
Boxscore: Brooklyn 6, Greensboro 3It feels like Thomas Harrington doesn’t have any middle ground when he pitches. He’s either throwing shutout ball or giving up a lot of runs. Today was one of the rougher outings, with five earned runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings. That kicked him up to a 4.71 ERA since joining Greensboro.
Michell Miliano followed Harrington with one run over 2.1 innings. Santiago Florez tossed a scoreless eighth.
Greensboro had their chances to score, and they put together four extra-base hits, but they went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Francisco Acuna hit a solo homer. He also doubled in a run. The other RBI was a sacrifice fly by Shawn Ross that opened the scoring of the game.
Will Matthiessen and Sammy Siani each had two hits. Tres Gonzalez stole his 16th base.
BRADENTON (45-35) VS Dunedin
Game Time: 6:30 pm ET
Bradenton Starter: Dominic Perachi (3-0, 4.19)
–Line: 5 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB 7 SO
Player of the Game: Termarr Johnson 4-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB
Boxscore: Bradenton 8, Dunedin 6Termarr Johnson had the best game of his pro career on Friday night, hitting two homers, to go along with two singles and a walk in five trips to the plate. He drove in four runs, helping Bradenton to an 8-6 win. He added 53 points to his OPS, giving him an .853 mark.
Josiah Sightler continued to impress by reaching base all four times up with three walks and a double.
Nick Cimillo hit his sixth homer.
Enmanuel Terrero stole two bases, giving him 18 on the year. He had a single, walk and two runs scored
Yordany De Los Santos was putting up big numbers in the FCL this year, albeit in a small sample size. That hasn’t come close to translating in the FSL, where he has struck out 17 times in 25 plate appearances. He went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts this year. He had 11 strikeouts over 78 plate appearances before being promoted, so making contact was not even close to being an issue earlier.
Starter Dominic Perachi has a 4.60 ERA after allowing five runs in five innings, while striking out seven batters. Brandan Bidois tossed a scoreless inning in his second appearance since returning from the Injured List.
FCL PIRATES (19-7)
Game Time: 12 pm ET
FCL Pirates Starter: Isaiah Uribe (4.50 ERA)
–Line: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Player of the Game: Axiel Plaz 1-for-2, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB
Boxscore: Pirates 12, Orioles 6The Pirates had the offense going on Friday, as Javier Rivas and Axiel Plaz each drove in four runs in the 12-6 win. The Pirates drew 16 walks in this game, with all but one player adding at least one to the total.
Starter Isaiah Uribe went three innings with one unearned run allowed. Michael Kennedy followed with a scoreless inning of relief to pick up the win. He has been starting, but the break this week has changed the pitching schedule.
Roelmy Garcia threw a scoreless inning. Gilberto Alcala did well in one inning, then gave up four runs while recording one out in the seventh. Two of those runs were unearned. Joaquin Tejada tossed two shutout frames.
The Pirates scored in all but one inning (the third) of the eight innings they batted. Eddy Rodriguez started the scoring with an RBI single. Rivas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, then Plaz and Rodriguez walked in runs.
An error on an infield hit by Rodriguez brought in the fifth run, then bases loaded walks to Rivas and HBP to Plaz scored two more.
Rafael Escalante doubled home a run in the sixth. He had two hits, three walks, three runs.
Plaz hit a two-run homer in the seventh, his first of the season. Rivas doubled in two runs in the eighth, his eighth double for the FCL Pirates.
Juan Jerez had three walks and three runs scored.
Jhonson Pena had two steals, giving him 12 on the year.
DSL PIRATES BLACK (11-15)
Game Time: 11 am ET
DSL Pirates Black Starter: Carlos Castillo (2.57 ERA)
–Line: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 SO
Player of the Game: Carlos Castillo 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 SO
Boxscore: Red Sox 3, Pirates 2Starter Carlos Castillo had his best outing, but it wasn’t enough to lead the Pirates to victory. They lost 3-2 to the Red Sox.
Castillo allowed just one runner on a single, but that runner was thrown out trying to steal, so he faced the minimum over four innings. He struck out eight of the 12 batters he faced.
Hard-throwing David Matoma threw a shutout inning in his fourth appearance. He has thrown seven shutout innings to start his career.
All three Red Sox runs scored against Nicolas Carreno, who recorded just one out in the sixth. Jonawel Valdez tossed 2.2 shutout innings, giving him a 2.25 ERA over 20 innings.
The Pirates scored their first run on the first home run by Antonio Pimentel.
Samuel Escudero singled in a run in the sixth.
The Pirates couldn’t do anything with three walks in the top of the ninth.
Cristian Jauregui stole his tenth base. Carlos Caro hit his fifth double and he stole his sixth base.
DSL PIRATES GOLD (19-8)
Game Time: 11 am ET
DSL Pirates Gold Starter: Adolfo Oviedo (2.42 ERA)
–Line: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO
Player of the Game: Tony Blanco Jr 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
Boxscore: Pirates 5, Cubs 3The Pirates won 5-3 over the Cubs in a seven-inning game. Tony Blanco Jr had the big hit in this game, connecting on a three-run homer in the third inning, his third homer of the season. His was the only hit that the Pirates had with runners in scoring position.
Ruben Vizcaya had two hits, including his fifth double.
Rodolfo De La Cruz had two walks, a run and a stolen base.
John Zorrilla stole his fifth base.
Starter Adolfo Oviedo didn’t allow a run in June. He gave up three runs over 2.2 innings in his first July start, then allowed three runs over three innings today.
Yojeiry Osoria tossed three shutout innings. He had an 0.87 ERA and an 0.87 WHIP in 20.2 innings, with 27 strikeouts.
