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Prospect Watch: Heredia Dominant in Debut, Rojas Hits Grand Slam

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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. Rankings are from the mid-season update.

1. Gerrit Cole, RHP, Altoona (1-0, 3.60) – DNP

2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Bradenton (4-6, 4.10) – DNP

3. Mark Appel, RHP (No Stats) – Unsigned

4. Starling Marte, CF, Indianapolis (.265) – 2-for-4, 2B, SB

5. Alen Hanson, SS, West Virginia (.319) – 2-for-4, 2B

6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.274) – Low-A DL

7. Luis Heredia, RHP, State College (0-0, 0.00) – 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

8. Rudy Owens, LHP, Indianapolis (6-2, 2.38) – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR

9. Jeff Locke, LHP, Indianapolis (5-3, 3.13) – DNP

10. Robbie Grossman, CF, Altoona (.227) – 1-for-4

11. Gregory Polanco, CF, West Virginia (.292) – 1-for-4, SB

12. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Altoona (1-1, 4.91) – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR

13. Nick Kingham, RHP, West Virginia (1-4, 5.22) – DNP

14. Justin Wilson, LHP, Indianapolis (5-4, 3.62) – DNP

15. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis (.205) – 0-for-4

16. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (1-2, 2.28) – DNP

17. Mel Rojas, CF, Bradenton (.271) – 2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, BB

18. Wyatt Mathisen, C, GCL Pirates (.600) – 2-for-5, RBI

19. Barrett Barnes, CF, State College (.231) – 3-for-5, 2 RBI, SB

20. Alex Dickerson, 1B, Bradenton (.297) – 3-for-4, 2B

 

COUPON CODE

The minor league system combined for 14 homers last week. That’s a savings of $0.50 per home run, which gives you $7 off the Pirates Prospects books this week. This code is for one week only! Use the code on the products page of the site to get your discount. Expires Sunday 6/24 at 11:59:59 PM EST.

 

DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Luis Heredia, RHP (0.00) – 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Taylor Lewis, RF (.429) – 3-for-4, 3B, HR, 4 RBI

Home Runs: Mel Rojas (3), Taylor Lewis (2), Eric Avila (1)

 

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

Box Score

Result: Indianapolis 4, Gwinnett 2

Starting Pitcher: Rudy Owens, LHP (6-2, 2.38) – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Starling Marte, CF (.265) – 2-for-4, 2B, SB

Other Notable Performers

Bryan Morris, RHP (2.28) – 1.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

Game Notes: Nancy Zinni’s game recap.

 

AA: ALTOONA CURVE

Box Score

Result: New Britain 5, Altoona 3

Starting Pitcher: Kyle McPherson, RHP (1-1, 4.91) – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Evan Chambers, RF (.353) – 2-for-4, 3B

Other Notable Performers

Hunter Strickland, RHP (0.00) – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Jeff Inman, RHP (4.30) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR

Matt Curry, DH (.291) – 2-for-4

Game Notes: After a strong start his last time out, Kyle McPherson was roughed up tonight. Most of the damage came with three runs in the fourth. Hunter Strickland has pitched four shutout innings since being promoted to Altoona and moved to the bullpen. Matt Curry is 3-for-6 in his two games since returning from the disabled list. In his last ten games he is hitting for a .333/.400/.472 line in 36 at-bats.

 

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS

Box Score

Result: Bradenton 10, Charlotte 3

Starting Pitcher: Tyler Waldron, RHP (5-3, 5.32) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Mel Rojas, CF (.271) – 2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, BB

Other Notable Performers

Alex Dickerson, 1B (.297) – 3-for-4, 2B

Kirk Singer, 3B (.467) – 3-for-4, BB, 2 RBI

Game Notes: Mel Rojas hit his third homer of the year, a grand slam. That gave Bradenton a 6-3 lead, after trailing 3-2 in the fourth inning. Gift Ngoepe went 1-for-3 with two walks, and stole his 12th base of the year.

 

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER

Box Score

Result: West Virginia 9, Lexington 4

Starting Pitcher: Zack Dodson, LHP (2-5, 5.97) – 6.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Taylor Lewis, RF (.429) – 3-for-4, 3B, HR, 4 RBI

Other Notable Performers

Alen Hanson, SS (.319) – 2-for-4, 2B

Jose Osuna, 1B (.271) – 2-for-4, 2B

Eric Avila, 3B (.261) – 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI

Game Notes: In the five games since joining West Virginia, Taylor Lewis is 9-for-21 with two homers and a triple. He has a hit in all five games. Lewis, a speedy center fielder, was the tenth round pick in the 2011 draft. Gregory Polanco stole his 18th base of the season. Jose Osuna and Alen Hanson each hit their 21st doubles of the year. The homer for Avila was his first of the year.

 

A-: STATE COLLEGE SPIKES

Box Score

Result: State College 8, Williamsport 0

Starting Pitcher: Luis Heredia, RHP (0.00) – 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Jodaneli Carvajal, 2B (.538) – 3-for-3, 2 3B, 2 BB

Other Notable Performers

Barrett Barnes, CF (.231) – 3-for-5, 2 RBI, SB

Game Notes: My live recap of Luis Heredia’s start.

 

RK: GCL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Tigers 9, Pirates 5

Starting Pitcher: Cesar Lopez, RHP (0-1, 13.50) – 4.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 HR

Top Hitter: Luis Urena, RF (.364) – 2-for-3, 2 3B, BB

Other Notable Performers

Wyatt Mathisen, DH (.600) – 2-for-5, RBI

Stetson Allie, 3B (.200) – 0-for-4, BB, K

Game Notes: Wyatt Mathisen is now 9-for-15 in his first four games in pro ball. Stetson Allie is 2-for-10 in his first three games as a hitter, with a 2:2 K/BB ratio. In two games, Luis Urena has two doubles and two triples.

 

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE

For a primer on the 2012 DSL Pirates, along with information on the players to watch, check out the 2012 DSL Preview.

 

RK: DSL PIRATES1

No scores uploaded.

 

RK: DSL PIRATES2

Box Score

Result: Mets 17, Pirates 2

Starting Pitcher: Jorge Mendoza, RHP (0-1, 8.59) – 2.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Jordan Galvez, 3B (.216) – 1-for-4

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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