ARGENIS ROMANO, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: June 16, 1995
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 190
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int'l Free Agent, 2014, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: N/A
WTM's PLAYER PROFILE
Romano signed a little late, just after he'd turned 19. ...
DOMINGO ROBLES, LEFT HANDED PITCHER
Born: April 29, 1998
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 170
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Signed: Int'l Free Agent, 2014, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: N/A
WTM's PLAYER PROFILE
The lefty Robles was one of the three top pitchers...
ODDY NUNEZ, LEFT HANDED PITCHER
Born: December 20, 1996
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 230
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Signed: Int'l Free Agent, 2015, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: N/A
WTM's PLAYER PROFILE
Nunez signed just before the DSL season started, then got...
MIGUEL HERNANDEZ, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: November 3, 1995
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 175
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int'l Free Agent, 2014, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: N/A
WTM's PLAYER PROFILE
Hernandez wasn't one of the Pirates' more prominent signees, but...
IVAN CESPEDES, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: October 3, 1994
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 191
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int'l Free Agent, 2013, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: N/A
WTM'S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES
The Pirates signed Cespedes back in 2013, but he...
RONNY AGUSTIN, LEFT HANDED PITCHER
Born: September 18, 1994
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 185
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Signed: Int'l Free Agent, 2014, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: N/A
WTM's PLAYER PROFILE
Agustin is a lower profile prospect who was nearly 20...
VICTOR NGOEPE, SHORTSTOP
Pronounced: en-GO-pay
Born: February 9, 1998
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 150
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: International free agent, 2016
Country: South Africa
Agent: N/A
WTM's PLAYER PROFILE
Ngoepe is the younger brother of Gift Ngoepe. He played for South Africa in the eighteen-and-under...
Continuing to look at some of the pitchers in the Pirates' minor league organization:
Colton Cain -- L/L, 6' 3", 225 lb Cain was the Pirates' 8th round draft pick in 2009. He began his pro career in 2010, after having had back surgery in the previous winter. Cain began with 4 starts for the GCL Pirates, where he earned an 0-1 record and a 3.77 ERA. In 14.1 innings, he allowed 6 runs on 12 hits and 5 walks, but struck out 15 batters. He was promoted to State College in July, and appeared in 11 games (9 starts) there. Two of those starts were very tough, as Cain gave up 6 runs in 2 innings on August 2nd, and 6 runs in 3 innings on August 31st. The other 9 appearances were much better. His best was 4 shutout innings on August 20th, when he gave up no hits and just one walk, while striking out 3 batters. In those other 9 appearances, Cain allowed 7 runs over 29 innings (2.17 ERA), with 9 walks and 31 strikeouts. Cain, who just turned 20 years old, should be ready to begin 2011 at West Virginia. He'll continue to work on fastball command, but also on his changeup.
Victor Black -- R/R, 6' 3", 185 lb Black was chosen by the Pirates as a compensation pick between the first and second rounds of the 2009 draft. He signed quickly and got down to business at State College. In 13 appearances for the Spikes (7 starts), Black earned a 1-2 record and a 3.45 ERA. He allowed 12 earned runs and 26 hits in 31.1 innings. His walk rate was a bit high (15, 4.3 walks / 9 innings), but he also struck out 33 batters (15.4 K / 9 innings). A shoulder injury and subsequent biceps problem plagued Black in the 2010 season, and he was able to make just 2 appearances for West Virginia in May. Neither start was what Black would have hoped: he gave up 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks in 4 innings in one, and 2 runs on a hit and 3 walks in 2/3 of an inning in the other. The 22-year-old Black is healthy and ready to go in spring training for 2011. He will likely be back to West Virginia, and the Pirates have indicated that they plan to have him pitch in relief, in hopes of limiting the stress on his arm.
Today was a camp day at Pirate City. The Pirates did a workout in the morning, then played two inter-squad games. Top Mexican pitching prospect Luis Heredia pitched in one of the games. I noticed he...
I will be on Sports Central with Cory Giger today at 5:35 PM, talking about the Pittsburgh Pirates prospects, and more specifically the Altoona Curve. You can listen in Altoona on ESPN 1430, or in State...
Iron Pigs 3, Indians 0 The Indians' pitching staff threw 7 solid shut-out innings, but the Iron Pigs rallied for 3 runs in the 8th to take the win. An RBI double, an Indians' error, and a sacrifice fly brought in Lehigh Valley's runs. Starter Jeff Karstens pitched 4 scoreless innings, scattering 2 hits, no walks, and struck out 4. Tony Watson followed with 2 scoreless innings, and Ramon Aguero pitched one scoreless frame. The Tribe posted 5 hits over the first 4 innings, but could not push a run across. Three Iron Pigs relievers finished the game, and allowed just one hit among the three of them.
The Pirates had the day off today, and the Indians have the day off on Wednesday.
The Pirates have released pitcher Fernando Nieve. Nieve had just been reassigned from the big league camp to the minor league camp just yesterday.
There was no game in big league camp today, so I spent the entire day at Pirate City, from the opening workouts around 8:30, to the end of the A-ball game against a baseball academy from...