After being acquired at the trade deadline for RHP Patrick Reilly, super utility player Billy Cook was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis. His first game on Saturday led to two doubles and a stolen base. On Sunday, he took it a step further, going 3-for-5 with a homer, a double, and a stolen base.
Cook is now 5-for-9 with a homer, three doubles, and two steals in his first two games with Indianapolis. Before the trade, he had a .279/.372/.485 line in 304 plate appearances with Baltimore, after a brief appearance to start the year in Double-A.
What stands out about Cook’s progress this year isn’t the power and speed. He hit 20 homers and stole 30 bases last year at the Double-A level. What stands out is that his strikeout rate has been reduced this year, while seeing an increase in his walk rate.
His strikeout rate has gone from 31.8% in High-A in 2022, to 25% last year in Double-A, to 22.7% before the trade this year. He’s down to 20% with Indianapolis.
The walk rate has gone from 7.8% in High-A, to 8.4% in Double-A, to 11.2% in Triple-A this year. The entire time, his power has remained consistent. Cook is in his age-25 season, but he’s shown improvements year-after-year, and is carrying that over to the Pirates’ organization. He could be an option for the majors by the end of the year.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS lost 10-8, despite the big game from Billy Cook.
- RF Edward Olivares: 3-for-5, SB
- CF Matt Gorski: 1-for-3, 2B, BB
- 2B Nick Yorke: 1-for-3, BB
- C Jason Delay: 1-for-3, BB, RBI
- RHP Thomas Harrington: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Thomas Harrington made his Triple-A debut, with two bad innings. He allowed three runs in the second inning, then allowed a two run homer in the fifth. Harrington dominated the Double-A level, with a 2.24 ERA in 68.1 innings, along with a 74:10 K/BB. He could factor into the major league rotation next year, but will need to adjust to Triple-A first. Nick Yorke picked up a hit for his fifth game in a row since joining the Pirates’ organization. He’s got a nine game hit streak, stretching back to his time with the Red Sox.
STATCAST HEROES
Harrington threw six different pitches on the night. His fastball sat 91, touching 93, with four whiffs and five called strikes (35% CSW). His slider was his second-most used pitch, sitting low 80s, but wasn’t effective for strikes (14%). His curveball was the same story, as the third most used pitch, sitting upper-70s, but without strikes (10%). His sinker had four whiffs and two called strikes (60%), sitting the same velocity as the four-seam. He threw eight changeups and four cutters, getting a 25% called and swinging strike rate with each. The hardest hit ball of the game was a 108.3 MPH double by Matt Gorski. Seth Beer also hit a 106 MPH double.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA lost 9-7
- 1B Nick Cimillo: 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, SB
- RF Yoyner Fajardo: 2-for-4, 3B, 2 BB
- SS-2B Kervin Pichardo: 2-for-5, 3B, RBI
- LF Sammy Siani: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI
- C Abrahan Gutierrez: 3-for-5, RBI
Altoona had six hitters with multiple hits. Nick Cimillo hit his second homer at the level, and 19th of the year between High-A and Double-A. Jackson Glenn followed with a homer of his own, hitting his third of the year in Double-A. Abrahan Gutierrez and Jase Bowen each had three hits. Yoyner Fajardo reached base four times, including his third triple of the year to lead off the game.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO won game one 6-1
- RHP Carlson Reed: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
- 2B Mitch Jebb: 2-for-3, 2B, BB, RBI, SB
- DH Termarr Johnson: 1-for-4, 2B
- RF Lonnie White Jr.: 1-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
- 1B Josiah Sightler: 2-for-3, BB, 3B
Carlson Reed made his High-A debut when this game started on Saturday night. He pitched 3.1 shutout innings, before the game was suspended via rain. Mitch Jebb picked up his eighth double of the year, along with his 30th stolen base. Termarr Johnson hit his 16th double. Lonnie White Jr. hit his eighth double, and knocked in two runs.
GREENSBORO lost game two 3-2
- C Shawn Ross: 2-for-3
- DH Mitch Jebb: 1-for-2, BB
- CF P.J. Hilson: 1-for-3
- RHP Ryan Harbin: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- 3B Kalae Harrison: 0-for-2, BB
The Greensboro offense had four hits from three different players. Their offense came from a wild pitch with the bases loaded, followed by a throwing error on a pickoff attempt in the same inning. The pitching staff had a bullpen game, with three of the four pitchers giving up a run.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON lost 5-4
- 3B Yerry De Los Santos: 2-for-5, SB, RBI
- CF Shalin Polanco: 2-for-4, 2B
- DH Jhonny Severino: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI
- RF Miguel Sosa: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
- 2B Jeral Toledo: 1-for-4, 2B
Shalin Polanco hit his 15th double of the year. Jhonny Severino hit his first double since moving up from the FCL. Yerry De Los Santos had his first multi-hit game since moving up from the FCL. He has hits in three of his four games with Bradenton, and has reached base safely each game.
STATCAST HEROES
The hardest hit ball of the game was a single by Justin Miknis. Bradenton turned to RHP Clevari Tejada for the start, who was recently moved up from the FCL. Tejada allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits in four innings. He worked off a sinker/slider combo, with his sinker sitting 92 and touching 93.9 MPH, with his slider in the low-80s.
MONDAY’S SCHEDULE
- The full season teams are off.
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Black, 11:00 AM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, 11:00 AM – TBD
