Braxton Ashcraft has allowed one run in 15.1 innings of work across his first three Triple-A starts. The performance continued on Tuesday night, when Ashcraft threw five shutout innings in his latest start.
The right-hander allowed five hits, walked one, and struck out two. He threw 81 pitches, with 52 for strikes. Ashcraft has allowed 11 hits in his 15.1 innings at the Triple-A level, with a 10:4 K/BB.
The fastball from Ashcraft sat 93.7 MPH, touching 96.1. He picked up three whiffs on 20 swings, with four more called strikes for a 17% CSW.
The slider was an effective pitch. With five whiffs on 15 swings, plus five more called strikes, the pitch had a 42% CSW on 24 pitches. The slider averaged 87.8 MPH, touching 89.7 MPH.
Ashcraft also threw 14 curveballs, averaging 82.6 MPH with the pitch. He had two whiffs on six swings, with a called strike for a 21% CSW.
The start on Tuesday didn’t feature the most effective stuff from Ashcraft, with only one pitch producing shutdown results. It’s still good to see that he was able to go five shutout innings at this level, even with just the slider performing. When his fastball and slider are on, Ashcraft looks like a guy who wouldn’t have an issue getting outs in the majors.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS lost 3-1, despite five shutout innings from Braxton Ashcraft.
- 2B Ji-Hwan Bae: 3-for-4, SB
- 3B Andres Alvarez: 1-for-3, 2B
- SS Alika Williams: 1-for-4
- LHP Ryan Borucki: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
- RHP Ryder Ryan: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Ryan Borucki made his first rehab appearance, allowing one run on a solo homer. Ji-Hwan Bae picked up three hits, and stole his eighth base of the season. Andres Alvarez hit his fifth double of the year.
STATCAST HEROES
The hardest hit ball of the game was a 110.2 MPH flyout by Matt Fraizer. Indianapolis also got a 104.8 MPH groundout from Joey Bart, and a 99 MPH flyout from Williams, which traveled 388 feet. The hardest actual hit was a 98.5 MPH single from Bae.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA lost 4-3
- LHP Luis Peralta: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
- CF Jase Bowen: 3-for-4
- LF Yoyner Fajardo: 2-for-5, SB
- 2B Jackson Glenn: 1-for-3, 2B
- RHP Drake Fellows: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
Luis Peralta was promoted to Altoona, and made his Double-A debut with 2.1 scoreless innings in relief. The lefty previously had an 0.60 ERA in 30 innings with Greensboro, with a 50:15 K/BB ratio and a .121 average against. He continued that effectiveness in his Double-A debut, striking out four and allowing just two hits. Jase Bowen picked up three hits in the game. Yoyner Fajardo stole his seventh base, and now has a .748 OPS since joining the Pirates earlier this month.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO won 11-4
- RHP Wilber Dotel: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
- DH Mitch Jebb: 2-for-4, BB, 2 RBI
- C Shawn Ross: 1-for-2, HR, 3 BB, 2 RBI
- 1B Josiah Sightler: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, SB
- LF Hudson Head: 1-for-4, 2B
Shawn Ross hit his 15th homer of the season. The undrafted catcher out of Puerto Rico has a .956 OPS this year, in his second season at the High-A level. He has a .206 average, which is a repeat of his .203 average last year. This year’s hitting features a much better on-base ability (.390 OBP vs .324 last year), and more power (.566 slugging vs .467 last year). Ross is a three-outcomes player, and in his age-24 season, so he might not do this in Double-A or higher. He is looking like a candidate to move up, especially after batting .342/.528/.895 with seven homers this month.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON won 9-7
- RHP Antwone Kelly: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
- DH Enmanuel Terrero: 1-for-4, HR, BB
- LF Esmerlyn Valdez: 3-for-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI
- 3B Jeral Toledo: 3-for-3, 2 2B, BB, 3 RBI
- C Omar Alfonzo: 2-for-4
Enmanuel Terrero hit his second homer of the year. Esmerlyn Valdez and Jeral Toledo each doubled twice, combining to knock in six runs. Antwone Kelly has a 1.96 ERA in 23 innings this month, with a 25:6 K/BB.
STATCAST HEROES
The hardest hit of the game was a 107.4 MPH single from Alfonzo, who also had a 105.7 MPH single. The doubles from Valdez were 106.1 MPH and 98.9 MPH. The doubles from Toledo were 101.2 MPH and 98.9 MPH. Antwone Kelly sat 94.5 MPH and hit 97.2 with his fastball. He whiffed five on 11 swings against his changeup, with three whiffs each on his cutter and four-seam.
ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES
FCL PIRATES lost 8-1
- 3B Jhonny Severino: 1-for-4, HR
- DH Tony Blanco Jr.: 2-for-4
- CF Jhonson Pena: 1-for-3
- RF Estuar Suero: 1-for-2
- RHP Brennan Malone: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
The lone run of the game came from a solo homer by Jhonny Severino. This was his seventh homer of the season, and he’s now batting .280 with a .944 OPS. Estuar Suero picked up a hit in his return from the injured list. Severino and Suero were added at the trade deadline last year.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES BLACK
DSL PIRATES BLACK lost 11-3
- SS Kendrick Herrera: 1-for-3
- PH-LF Lennyn Nunez: 1-for-2, 2B, RBI
- 3B Frankeli Mesta: 1-for-2, BB, 2 RBI
Herrera and Mesta are both in their rookie seasons, after signing with the Pirates this past January. Herrera is batting .267 with a .718 OPS, while Mesta is hitting .273 with a .703 OPS.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES GOLD
DSL PIRATES GOLD lost 2-0
- RF Isaias Dipre: 3-for-5, 2B
- DH Jonathan Rivero: 2-for-4
- LHP Nicolas Carreno: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
Isaias Dipre hit his third double of the season, and is now hitting .340 with a 1.177 OPS. This was the first game of the second season for Jonathan Rivero. This was also the best start of the young career of Nicolas Carreno, who made his pro debut last year.
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 6:45 PM – TBD
- Double-A: Altoona, 6:00 PM – RHP Sean Sullivan (2-5, 3.65)
- High-A: Greensboro, 7:05 PM – TBD
- Single-A: Bradenton, 12:00 PM – TBD
- The rookie leagues are off today.
