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Pirates Prospects Daily

P2Daily: The Pirates Need to Make Changes

There are several changes that the Pirates could make before their home stand begins at 6:40 PM on Friday night. The biggest move would be...

The Pirates Have Changes They Could Make to This Offense

The Pittsburgh Pirates were swept by the Oakland Athletics this week, losing the final game by a shutout score of 4-0. As I wrote earlier...

P2Daily: Paul Skenes Goes Six, Pirates Complete a Trade

On Tuesday night, Paul Skenes threw six shutout frames in Indianapolis. The top prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates system, and the best pitching prospect...

Paul Skenes and Other Players Who Can Help the Pirates

Paul Skenes makes his next start with Indianapolis at 6:05 PM. The right-hander went 4.1 innings in his last outing, pitching into the fifth frame...

Prospect Watch

Pirates Prospect Watch: Mitch Jebb Homers Three Times in Two Games

It's difficult evaluating hitters in Greensboro when they're playing at home. The field dimensions at First National Bank Field have a reduced space in...

Pirates Prospect Watch: Paul Skenes Throws Six Shutout Innings

Paul Skenes looks ready for the big leagues, following a six shutout inning performance for Indianapolis on Tuesday night. The 2023 first overall pick...

Pirates Prospect Watch: The Best Weekly Performers in the Minor League System

There are no minor league games on Monday, which means every Monday's Pirates Prospect Watch features the best performers from the previous week. This week...

Player Features

Jack Brannigan is the Next Gold Glove Quality Third Baseman in the Pirates System

The Pirates have Gold Glove third basemen in Ke'Bryan Hayes and Jared Triolo. They've got another candidate in the system in power hitter Jack Brannigan.

Mitch Jebb Brings Elite Speed and Swing Decisions to Greensboro

With so many three-true-outcome approaches in pro ball, 2023 second round pick Mitch Jebb brings a refreshing style of contact, speed, and hustle.

Discussion

Saturday Sleepers

Saturday Sleepers: Wilber Dotel Off to a Good Start in the Greensboro Rotation

Wilber Dotel makes his latest start for Greensboro this evening, after starting the 2024 season with 10.1 shutout innings, striking out nine in the...

Saturday Sleepers: Carlos Jimenez Has One of the Best Changeups in the System

In early 2022, I saw Carlos Jimenez pitch for the Bradenton Marauders. Of all the players who played in Single-A on that particular day,...

Saturday Sleepers: Valentin Linarez Added Velocity and Improved Control in 2023

Valentin Linarez had one of the biggest recorded velocity jumps in minor league baseball last year. Baseball America tracked the year-over-year four-seam velocity gainers from...

Saturday Sleepers: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 17 year old throw 100 miles an hour”

At the start of the 2023 international signing period, the Pittsburgh Pirates added David Matoma as their first signing out of Uganda. The right-handed...

Saturday Sleepers: Omar Alfonzo is a Catching Prospect to Follow

On March 26, 2023, the Pittsburgh Pirates sent Omar Alfonzo to big league camp for a day. A catcher entering his age 19 season,...

Saturday Sleepers: Garret Forrester Moving Behind the Plate

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Pittsburgh Pirates are converting 2023 third round pick Garret Forrester to a catcher, splitting his time between first base and...

ARCHIVES

Mercer and Curry Homer; Boyer And Sinkbeil Sign

Both the Curve and the Power played early games today.... 

Altoona Curve  3,  Harrisburg Senators  2
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A fielding error by the Senators in the bottom of the 7th gave the Curve the win, and a split of this rain-shortened series with Harrisburg.  Jeff Locke got the start for the Curve, and he buzzed through his first 6 innings.  A runner who reached base on SS Jordy Mercer's throwing error in the 1st was promptly picked off and caught stealing, and a runner who singled in the 2nd was erased with a double play.  A hit batter in the 5th was left stranded.  

The Curve also were quiet for most of the first 5 innings.  1B Miles Durham walked to lead off the 2nd, but was also eliminated in a double play.  Their only threat was when three walks, to Locke, 2B Brock Holt, and CF Starling Marte, loaded the bases for the Curve in the 3rd.  But a pop out ended the inning with all three left on base.  

The Curve got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the 6th.  Holt led off the inning with a double into right field on a ball that was deflected off the Harrisburg pitcher Erik Davis.  Holt moved to third base on a ground out by Marte.  Then Mercer blasted a home run over the left field wall to give the Curve a 2-0 lead.  The Curve loaded the bases after the homer, on singles by Durham and LF Quincy Latimore, then another single by 3B Jeremy Farrell off a new relief pitcher who is familiar:  Jimmy Barthmaier.  With the bases loaded, Barthmaier struck out C Eric Fryer, then ended the inning with a ground out by RF Brad Chalk.  

The Senators returned the favor in the top of the 7th.  Locke got one out, then gave up a double and a single, putting runners on the corners.  He was relieved by Tom Boleska, who began by throwing a wild pitch, which allowed the runner from third to come across the plate.  A single again gave Harrisburg runners on the corners, and a sacrifice fly brought in the tying run -- both runs charged to Locke.  

With two outs in the bottom of the 7th, Marte singled into left field.  He stole second base, then came around to score when Harrisburg's right fielder Archie Gilbert made a fielding error on Mercer's fly ball.  The Curve held on to that narrow lead for the next two innings.  Michael Dubee retired the side in order with three grounders in the top of the 8th.  Noah Krol gave up a single in the 9th, but got three more ground outs, earning his 4th Save of the season.  


Tim Wood’s Velocity Looks Great

At the end of March, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed right handed reliever Tim Wood to a minor league deal, shortly after he was released...

Sports Central With Cory Giger Today at 4:05 PM

I'll be on Sports Central with Cory Giger today at 4:05 PM, talking about Pedro Alvarez.  The show can be heard on ESPN 1430...

Pirates Sign Blaine Boyer, Brett Sinkbeil

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed Blaine Boyer and Brett Sinkbeil to minor league deals, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America.  Both pitchers are...

Is Jeff Locke Ready for AAA?

The Pittsburgh Pirates started Jeff Locke out in Altoona again this year, partially because he only pitched 57.2 innings at the level in 2010,...

Brandon Wood Designated for Assignment by Angels

If there's one thing I've seen about a thousand times over the past year, it has been this: "The Pirates should trade for Brandon Wood." The...

Minor League Schedule 4/20/11

For a more in depth review of yesterday's games please check out our minor league wrap-up which can be found here. Two games from last...

Thompson Is POW; Ngoepe Homers In Wild Power Game

It's a rainy night for half of the Pirates' minor leaguers:

The Indianapolis Indians and Toledo Mud Hens had the first game of their 4-game series postponed due to an all-day-long rain.  Yesterday it was snowing in Toledo, and this was not totally unexpected.  The Tribe and the Hens are scheduled to play at 10:30 am on Wednesday, then play a double-header on Thursday at 5:30 pm to make up for today.

Pitcher Jose Ascanio was supposed to join the Indians today, to begin a rehab assignment, but that has obviously been washed away too.  

The Altoona Curve and the Harrisburg Senators were also rained out in Altoona.  They are also playing at 10:30 am on Wednesday, and that is the last scheduled game of this series with the Senators, so they will make up the rain out in June.

Curve pitcher Aaron Thompson was named the Eastern League for last week.  He made two starts in the week, and won both games, earning a 0.75 ERA, with just 3 hits allowed in 12 innings.  


Jupiter Hammerheads  1,  Bradenton Marauders  0
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The Marauders came out on the short end of a pitching duel today.  Quinton Miller pitched well, but was charged with the loss, as he allowed the only run of the game on 5 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings of work, with 2 strikeouts.  Miller gave up the run in the bottom of the 1st.   The inning began with back-to-back singles, then both runners stole a base.  An RBI ground out brought in the run.  A walk and another single had another runner heading for the plate, but CF Evan Chambers made an excellent throw in to the plate, where C Ramon Cabrera tagged out the runner.

Miller scattered a walk and two singles over the next 5 innings, but did not let any further runs score.  He was relieved by Jason Erickson to begin the 7th.  After a 1-2-3 7th, Erickson worked around a single and a walk for a scoreless 8th inning.  

Unfortunately, the Hammerheads' pitchers were having even better luck against the Marauders' batters.  Bradenton put two runners on base in the 2nd, when LF David Rubinstein and Cabrera both singled, but Rubinstein was tagged out at third as he tried to pick up two bases on Cabrera's single.  The Marauders went down in order in the next 3 innings, then RF Adelberto Santos singled to open the 6th, but was left on base.  With their last chance in the bottom of the 8th, 2B Jarek Cunningham lined a 2-out single into center field, and Chambers walked.  But a ground out ended the threat and the game.  

2011 Draft Prospects Rundown: 4/19

Here is a recap of how each of the top 2011 draft prospects did this past week.  Click on their names to go to...

Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Watch 4/19/11

DAILY SUMMARY Top Pitcher: Quinton Miller (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR) Top Hitter: Kawika Emsley-Pai (3-for-4, 2B,...

Game 17 Recap: Josh Johnson is an Ace

Marlins starter Josh Johnson faced one batter over the minimum in seven shutout innings. He gave up two singles and a walk and got...

Game 17 Live Blog: Pirates at Marlins

Join Pirates Prospects this season as we team up with other great Pittsburgh Pirates blogs for live blogs during the games.  The live blog...
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