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Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Watch 7/27/11

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TOP OF THE SYSTEM

A look at how the current top 10 prospects did today.  Note that this list doesn’t include players currently in the majors. Rankings as of 6/9/11.

1. Jameson Taillon, RHP (2-2, 4.11) – Next Probable Start: 8/1

2. Luis Heredia, RHP (0-1, 4.70) – 2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

3. Starling Marte, CF (.307) – 1-for-1

4. Tony Sanchez, C (.235) – DNP

5. Stetson Allie, RHP (0-0, 5.95) – Next Probable Start: 7/28

6. Rudy Owens, LHP (8-6, 4.63) – Next Probable Start: 7/29

7. Bryan Morris, RHP (1-4, 3.93) – DNP

8. Colton Cain, LHP (5-7, 3.13) – Next Probable Start: 7/29

9. Justin Wilson, LHP (9-6, 4.03) – Next Probable Start: 7/31

10. Jeff Locke, LHP (6-8, 4.44) – Next Probable Start: 7/28

DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Matt Benedict, RHP (2-2, 4.30) – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Aaron Baker, 1B (.281) – 2-for-5, HR

Home Runs: Aaron Baker (15)

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

Ciriaco went 2-for-4.

Box Score

Result: Charlotte 4, Indianapolis 1

Starting Pitcher: Sean Gallagher, RHP (5-11, 5.40) – 6.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Pedro Ciriaco, SS (.208) – 2-for-4, 2B

Other Notable Performers

John Bowker, LF (.302) – 2-for-4

Matt Hague, 1B (.314) – 1-for-4, 2B

Game Notes: Matt Hague hit his 30th double of the season.  He hit exactly 30 doubles in each of the last two seasons.  He needed 454 at-bats to get 30 doubles in high-A, and 509 at-bats to get 30 in AA.  He only has 388 at-bats this year.  Hague is having a bit of a down month, with a .258/.353/.382 line and no homers in 89 at-bats.  He does have 11 doubles this month.  John Bowker has a .302/.356/.563 line in 96 at-bats in July, with six homers.

AA: ALTOONA CURVE

Latimore went 1-for-3 with a double.

Box Score

Result: Altoona 3, Reading 2

Starting Pitcher: Phillip Irwin, RHP (4-3, 4.73) – 6.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 HR

Top Hitter: Quincy Latimore, LF (.220) – 1-for-3, 2B

Other Notable Performers

Bryan Morris, RHP (4.07) – 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR

Game Notes: Josh Rodriguez knocked in two runs for Altoona.  Phillip Irwin didn’t run in to trouble until the seventh inning, when he allowed two homers.  Bryan Morris came on to get the final out of the inning, before Noah Krol and Michael Dubee closed things out.

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS

Baker hit his 15th homer of the year.

Box Score

Result: Bradenton 6, Clearwater 1

Starting Pitcher: Nathan Baker, LHP (6-7, 3.80) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Aaron Baker, 1B (.281) – 2-for-5, HR

Other Notable Performers

Elevys Gonzalez, 3B (.298) – 2-for-5, 2 2B

Ramon Cabrera, DH (.340) – 2-for-4, 2 RBI

Robbie Grossman, RF (.292) – 0-for-3, 2 BB, SB

Game Notes: Nathan Baker didn’t experience much trouble, with most of his base runners coming with two outs.  His lone run came in the fifth inning, in part due to a wild pitch.  In 29.1 innings this month, Baker has put up a 12:13 K/BB ratio, which is a bit of a concern, as he had a 47:20 K/BB ratio in 56.1 innings in May and June.  Aaron Baker hit his 15th homer of the year.  Robbie Grossman snapped his 14 game hitting streak, but drew two walks, extending his on-base streak to 24 games.  Grossman now has 90 walks on the season.  He also stole his 22nd base of the season.

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER

The West Virginia Power were off today.

A-: STATE COLLEGE SPIKES

 

Castro got back on track tonight in State College.

Box Score

Result: State College 2, Tri-City 1

Starting Pitcher: Matt Benedict, RHP (2-2, 4.30) – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Alex Dickerson, 1B (.368) – 2-for-4, 2B

Other Notable Performers

Orlando Castro, LHP (4.82) – 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Game Notes: Dickerson went 2-for-4, making this the fifth multi-hit game in a row for him.  In his last five games, he has gone 11-for-20, with four doubles, a triple, and a homer.  Matt Benedict struggled in his last three outings, allowing 14 earned runs in 13.2 innings, before getting back on track tonight.  Orlando Castro also struggled his last time out, allowing five runs in 2.2 innings, but rebounded nicely in his third outing in the New York-Penn League.

RK: GCL PIRATES

The GCL Pirates had their game suspended in the eighth inning, tied 2-2.  Luis Heredia made the start today, going two innings, and allowing one run on four hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.  Yhonatan Herrand made his US debut, throwing a shutout inning, with one walk and one strikeout.  Herrand was signed out of the Dominican Prospect League in 2010 for $185 K, and was touching 97 MPH with his fastball in the Spring.

RK: DSL Pirates

Box Score

Result: Royals 5, Pirates 2

Starting Pitcher: Francisco Vilchez, RHP (3-2, 2.16) – 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Raul Fortunato, CF (.333) – 2-for-4

Game Notes: Fortunato extended his hitting streak to 24 games.

RK: VSL Pirates

Box Score

Result: Pirates 6, Rays 2

Starting Pitcher: Oderman Rocha, RHP (3.02) – 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Ulises Montilla, 2B (.367) – 2-for-4, 3B

Other Notable Performers

Carlos Gimenez, RF (.298) – 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI

Jose Marruko, RHP (5-1, 1.35) – 4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Game Notes: Coming in to the game, Montilla was batting for a .382/.436/.544 line in 68 at-bats in July, after a strong .398/.473/.591 line in 93 at-bats in June.

ORGANIZATIONAL STANDINGS

AAA: Indianapolis Indians – 54-52, 3rd Place, 11.5 GB

AA: Altoona Curve – 44-59, 6th Place, 14.0 GB

A+: Bradenton Marauders – 49-55 Overall, 19-15 2nd Half, T-1st Place

A: West Virginia Power – 47-53 Overall, 12-20 2nd Half, 7th Place, 8.0 GB

A-: State College Spikes – 12-27, 6th Place, 10.0 GB

RK: GCL Pirates – 20-12, 2nd Place, 1.5 GB

RK: DSL Pirates – 30-18, T-2nd Place, 1.0 GB

RK: VSL Pirates – 36-26, 1st Place

Tim Williams
Tim Williams
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.

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