Hunter Barco made his Double-A debut on Sunday, throwing three shutout innings for the Altoona Curve.
Barco was promoted from Greensboro to start the second half, after putting up a 3.34 ERA in 62 innings in High-A. He struck out 77 and walked 22 at the former level. On Sunday, Barco had a similar result in Altoona, allowing one hit, no walks, and striking out five in his three shutout frames.
This is the first full season for Barco, after returning from Tommy John last season. The Pirates drafted him in the second round in 2022, after he underwent Tommy John during his junior season. He was seen as a potential first rounder prior to the injury, and is certainly looking like a first round talent with the way he’s developed since the draft.
Barco has gotten his fastball up to a 94 MPH average, topping out at 96 this year, after sitting low-90s in the past. He’s also worked to improve his slider and changeup, developing a five-pitch mix. I wrote about those developments last month for Baseball America. Barco is another talented pitching prospect in the top two levels, giving the Pirates more potential depth in 2025 and beyond.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS lost 3-2
- 2B Ji Hwan Bae: 3-for-3, HR, 2 BB, SB
- DH Henry Davis: 1-for-4
- LF Gilberto Celestino: 2-for-4
- SS Alika Williams: 1-for-5, RBI
- RHP Luis Cessa: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K
Ji Hwan Bae had a game. He went 3-for-3 with two walks from the leadoff spot, while hitting his fifth homer of the year. He also stole his 11th base of the year. Luis Cessa was signed for rotation depth in June. He pitched five shutout innings, but Indianapolis lost the shutout and the game with three runs in the ninth.
STATCAST HEROES
The hardest hit balls both came from Gilberto Celestino, who had singles of 107.9 MPH and 105.3 MPH. Henry Davis had a 413 foot flyout. The home run from Bae was hit 97.4 MPH, while both of his singles had triple digit exit velocity.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA lost 3-2 in Hunter Barco’s debut.
- RHP Bubba Chandler: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
- 2B Tsung-Che Cheng: 1-for-4, 2B
- LF Yoyner Fajardo: 1-for-2, 2 BB, 2B, SB, RBI
- DH Brenden Dixon: 1-for-3, 2B, BB, SB, RBI
- 1B Nick Cimillo: 1-for-3, BB
Bubba Chandler came on in relief for Barco, allowing three runs in five innings of work. This was the first time that Chandler pitched since last Saturday in the Future’s Game. Nick Cimillo picked up his first hit at the Double-A level. Tsung-Che Cheng hit his 14th double of the season.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO lost 5-2
- DH Termarr Johnson: 1-for-4, HR, RBI
- CF P.J. Hilson: 1-for-4, HR, RBI
- 2B Mitch Jebb: 1-for-4, 2B
- LF Hudson Head: 1-for-4, 2B
- RHP J.P. Massey: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Termarr Johnson extended his hitting streak to 15 games, launching a solo homer in the ninth inning. It was the tenth homer of the year for Johnson. The other run from Greensboro came on a solo homer from P.J. Hilson in the fifth. That was also his tenth homer. J.P. Massey pitched two shutout innings in relief.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON lost 9-6
- SS Keiner Delgado: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- RF Miguel Sosa: 1-for-4
- LF Juan Jerez: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI
- 3B Wesley Zapata: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
- 1B Justin Miknis: 0-for-1, 3 BB
Keiner Delgado hit his eighth homer of the year, a two run shot in the eighth inning. Bradenton scored all five of their runs in the eighth. The homer from Delgado capped off the scouting, which was started by a Juan Jerez RBI ground rule double.
STATCAST HEROES
Delgado’s home run traveled 336 feet at 102 MPH. The double from Jerez traveled 371 feet at 98.7 MPH.
MONDAY’S SCHEDULE
- The full-season teams are off.
- Rookie: FCL Pirates, 12:00 PM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Black, 11:00 AM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, 11:00 AM – TBD
