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 (Stolmy Pimentel #13). 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. If a player is out for the season (Jameson Taillon #2, Clay Holmes #12), he will be removed and everyone below him will move up a spot. Removing these guys doesn’t mean they have lost prospect status. It is just an attempt to get 20 active prospects on the list. Rankings are from the 2014 Prospect Guide, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Gregory Polanco, CF, Indianapolis – 0-for-3
2. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List (Debut Friday)
3. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/22 Update)
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – 2-for-5, SB
5. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – 5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
6. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – 0-for-4
7. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – 1-for-6, SB
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power – Disabled List (4/22 Update)
9. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/14 Update)
10. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis – 0-for-3
11. Andrew Lambo, OF, Indianapolis – 0-for-3
12. Joely Rodriguez, LHP, Altoona – DNP
13. Blake Taylor, LHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
14. Cody Dickson, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
15. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/14 Update)
16. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 1-for-3, BB, SB
17. Michael De La Cruz, OF, Extended Spring Training – DNP
18. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, West Virginia – 0-for-3
19. Jin-De Jhang, C, Bradenton – 0-for-6
20. Brandon Cumpton, RHP, Indianapolis – In Majors
ORDER YOUR 2014 PROSPECT GUIDE
The 2014 Prospect Guide is now available, and is the perfect resource to follow the minor league system during the 2014 season. You can order your copy on the products page of the site.
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Stetson Allie, 1B – 3-for-3, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB
Home Runs: Stetson Allie 2 (4, 5), Justin Howard (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Toledo 2, Indianapolis 0
Starting Pitcher: Jay Jackson, RHP – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Matt Hague, 3B – 1-for-3
Other Notable Performers:
Andy Oliver, LHP – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Game Notes: Jay Jackson got the start tonight, replacing Brandon Cumpton, who is starting tomorrow in Pittsburgh. Jackson had a good outing, giving up one run on one hit in five innings. He should be a candidate to remain in the rotation as long as Cumpton is in Pittsburgh. Andy Oliver has done a much better job lately with his control issues. In his last five outings, he has a 16:3 K/BB ratio in nine innings of work. Oliver has also been getting his innings stretched out lately, getting two innings in his last outing, and three innings in this appearance. It will be interesting to see if he’s another candidate for a rotation spot with Indianapolis.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 10, Harrisburg 9
Starting Pitcher: Nick Kingham, RHP – 5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Stetson Allie, 1B – 3-for-3, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB
Other Notable Performers:
Alen Hanson, SS – 2-for-5, SB
Mel Rojas, CF – 2-for-4, BB
Justin Howard, LF – 2-for-2, HR
Game Notes: The Altoona offense has been on fire lately, scoring 27 runs in the last three games. A big part of that has been the performance of Stetson Allie. One day after picking up three hits and a home run, Allie returned with three more hits and two more homers. He had a perfect day at the plate, adding a double and two walks in his five plate appearances. Alen Hanson remained hot at the plate, adding two more hits and his sixth stolen base of the season. Hanson has multiple hits in four of his last five games. Nick Kingham has had some control issues this year, with nine walks in 17 innings over his first three starts. The control was better tonight, with just one walk, but he was hit harder, giving up three earned runs in 5.1 innings.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Charlotte 3, Bradenton 2
Starting Pitcher: Orlando Castro, LHP – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jose Osuna, 1B – 2-for-6, 2B, 3B
Other Notable Performers:
Eric Wood, 3B – 2-for-5
Jeff Roy, CF – 2-for-5
Josh Bell, RF – 1-for-6, SB
Game Notes: Bradenton lost 3-2 in 14 innings, although the loss was due to the lack of available pitching. Josh Smith and Bryton Trepagnier kept the Marauders in the game, combining for seven shutout innings in relief. Walker Gourley, a position player, came on to pitch for the second day in a row. Gourley pitched last night after the Marauders saw a lot of control problems and went through a lot of relievers. He was back tonight, giving up one run on three hits, and getting just one out in the 14th inning. Jose Osuna picked up two hits, with a double and a triple. Eric Wood had two hits, and is 6-for-18 with two doubles in his first five games.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Kannapolis 2, West Virginia 1
Starting Pitcher: Buddy Borden, RHP – 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Michael Fransoso, LF – 1-for-3, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
JaCoby Jones, SS – 1-for-3, BB, SB
Erich Weiss, 2B – 1-for-2, 2 BB
Game Notes: Buddy Borden had some control issues tonight in West Virginia, but was hard to hit, leading to four shutout innings. So far, Borden has a 1.98 ERA in 13.2 innings of work, with a 16:9 K/BB ratio. The walks are a big concern, but his stuff has been great, with a .200 BAA so far. Felipe Gonzalez went 3.2 innings in relief. He had been in the West Virginia rotation replacing Luis Heredia, and was originally the scheduled starter for Friday’s game. That starter is now listed as TBD, which means we’re likely to see a promotion to West Virginia in the next day or two, or possibly the return of Heredia if his injury isn’t that serious.
