TOP OF THE SYSTEM
A look at how the current top 20 prospects did today. Note that this list doesn’t include players currently in the majors. If a player is in the majors, he will be removed, everyone below him will be shifted up a spot, and a new player will be added to the bottom of the list. Rankings are from the mid-season rankings, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player page.
1. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 4.50) – DNP
2. Gregory Polanco, CF, Altoona (.286) – 3-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI
3. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, West Virginia (8-3, 2.40) – DNP
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona (.183) – 0-for-3
5. Austin Meadows, CF, GCL Pirates (.316) – 1-for-3, 2B
6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.288) – DNP
7. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona (3-3, 3.06) – 5.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power (4-3, 3.42) – DNP
9. Reese McGuire, C, GCL Pirates (.315) – 1-for-4
10. Dilson Herrera, 2B, West Virginia (.264) – 1-for-4, 2B
11. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia (.261) – Low-A DL
12. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 19.29) – Triple-A DL
13. Stetson Allie, 1B, Bradenton (.229) – DNP
14. Wyatt Mathisen, C, Jamestown (.667) – 2-for-3, 2 BB
15. Clay Holmes, RHP, West Virginia (5-6, 4.09) – DNP
16. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Indianapolis (2-5, 3.30) – DNP
17. Vic Black, RHP, Indianapolis (3-2, 2.08) – DNP
18. Harold Ramirez, CF, Jamestown (.304) – DNP
19. Blake Taylor, LHP, GCL Pirates (0-2, 3.18) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
20. Jin-De Jhang, C, Jamestown (.292) – DNP
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Edwin Espinal, 1B (.300) – 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI
Home Runs: Felix Pie (8), Edwin Espinal (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Syracuse 6, Indianapolis 2
Starting Pitcher: Graham Godfrey, RHP (9-8, 4.24) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Felix Pie, LF (.251) – 2-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Ivan De Jesus, 2B (.325) – 2-for-4, 2B
Alex Presley, CF (.290) – 2-for-4
Duke Welker, RHP (3.45) – 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Felix Pie hit his eighth homer of the year. Ivan De Jesus hit his 23rd double, which is impressive considering he didn’t get a lot of playing time early in the season. Andrew Lambo made his return to Triple-A, going 0-for-4. Alex Presley has gone 8-for-15 with a double and a triple since returning to Triple-A. Both he and Lambo should return when rosters expand in September, although they’d both be eligible to return before that in time for the playoff rosters to be set.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Reading 4, Altoona 2
Starting Pitcher: Nick Kingham, RHP (3.06) – 5.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Travis Snider, RF (.333) – 1-for-3
Other Notable Performers:
Gregory Polanco, CF (.280) – 1-for-3
Game Notes: Travis Snider made his first rehab start, getting three at-bats on the day. At this point the Pirates can have him on rehab assignment for up to 20 days, which will extend beyond the deadline to set playoff rosters. Nick Kingham left his last start early due to a high pitch count in the third inning. Tonight he had a better outing, striking out seven in five innings. He threw 90 pitches, with 62 strikes.
Result: Altoona 3, Reading 2
Starting Pitcher: Quinton Miller, RHP (4.13) – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gregory Polanco, CF (.286) – 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Justin Howard, 1B (.337) – 1-for-2, BB
Game Notes: Gregory Polanco combined to go 3-for-6 with a double in today’s double header. He now has a hit in 12 of his last 13 games in Altoona. Justin Howard picked up a hit in each game today, and is now 12-for-33 in his last ten games, with three homers. Quinton Miller made his first start since the 2011 season, taking the mound as a spot starter in game two and putting up a nice result. Prior to this start Miller had a 4.30 ERA in 44 innings with Altoona, along with a 35:30 K/BB ratio.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Bradenton was off today.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Hickory 5, West Virginia 3
Starting Pitcher: Kyle Haynes, RHP (2.24) – 7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Chris Diaz, 3B (.243) – 2-for-3, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Dilson Herrera, DH (.264) – 1-for-4, 2B
Game Notes: Kyle Haynes has slowly been built up as a starter in West Virginia. He’s added an inning each start, and this time around pitched seven innings for the first time in his career. This was the second time he reached the seventh, missing a full seven innings by one out last time. Haynes struck out seven, which matched his career high from July 15th. Dilson Herrera hit his 25th double of the year.
A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS
Result: Jamestown 8, Auburn 7
Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP (2.79) – 3.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Edwin Espinal, 1B (.300) – 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Adam Frazier, 2B (.354) – 2-for-3, BB, 3 RBI
Wyatt Mathisen, DH (.667) – 2-for-3, 2 BB
Game Notes: Cody Dickson had a rare bad outing today. Prior to this he had a 1.88 ERA in 38.1 innings, including 24 innings without an earned run over his last five starts. Wyatt Mathisen played his first game in Jamestown, after rehabbing in the GCL. It’s unclear whether he will be in Jamestown to rehab, or if he’s there for the rest of the season. Mathisen went 9-for-22 with seven walks in the GCL, and picked up two walks and two hits tonight. Edwin Espinal hit his first homer of the year. He has a nine game hitting streak, which has raised his average to .300. He hasn’t been hitting for a lot of power this year, although he does have three doubles and a homer during this streak, which is a positive sign. Espinal has a lot of raw power, so it’s good to see that showing up in games.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 3, Yankees 2
Starting Pitcher: James McDonald, RHP (27.00) – 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Austin Meadows, CF (.316) – 1-for-3, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Reese McGuire, DH (.315) – 1-for-4
Blake Taylor, LHP (3.18) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Melvin Del Rosario, LHP (2-3, 6.37) – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: James McDonald made his first rehab start, but lasted less than one inning. What looked worse was that the GCL pitchers combined for 8.1 shutout innings against the same team, striking out 11 and walking three. Blake Taylor bounced back from his last start where he gave up four runs in 0.1 innings. Taylor threw three shutout innings for the third time in seven games this year.
