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 (2-4, 4.85) – DNP
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Bradenton (5-7, 4.37) – DNP
3. Alen Hanson, SS, West Virginia (.319) - 2-for-5, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI
4. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.274) - Low-A DL
5. Luis Heredia, RHP, State College (2-1, 1.85) - DNP
6. Jeff Locke, LHP, Indianapolis (7-5, 3.01) - DNP
7. Gregory Polanco, CF, West Virginia (.324) - 2-for-5
8. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Altoona (3-4, 4.19) - DNP
9. Nick Kingham, RHP, West Virginia (3-7, 5.26) - DNP
10. Justin Wilson, LHP, Indianapolis (8-4, 4.06) - DNP
11. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis (.221) - 0-for-3
12. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (2-2, 2.48) – DNP
13. Mel Rojas, CF, Bradenton (.251) - 0-for-4
14. Wyatt Mathisen, C, GCL Pirates (.308) - DNP
15. Barrett Barnes, CF, State College (.291) - 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 3 RBI
16. Alex Dickerson, 1B, Bradenton (.292) - 1-for-4, 2B
17. Clay Holmes, RHP, State College (4-1, 0.80) - DNP
18. Matt Curry, 1B, Altoona (.302) - 1-for-7, HR, 4 RBI
19. Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP, West Virginia (3-3, 4.03) - DNP
20. Jose Osuna, 1B, West Virginia (.278) - 2-for-3, 2B
DISCOUNTED PROSPECT GUIDES
The minor league system combined for 17 homers last week. That’s a savings of $0.50 per home run, which gives you $8.50 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 7/29 at 11:59:59 PM EST.
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Jeff Clement, 1B (.300) – 2-for-3, 2B, HR, BB
Home Runs: Jeff Clement (14), Matt Curry (8), Barrett Barnes (5), Dilson Herrera (6), Luis Urena (4), Angelo Del Castillo (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Pawtucket 5, Indianapolis 3
Starting Pitcher: Daniel Cabrera, RHP (4-5, 4.37) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jeff Clement, 1B (.300) – 2-for-3, 2B, HR, BB
Other Notable Performers
Chase d’Arnaud, SS (.235) – 2-for-5, SB
Game Notes: Nancy Zinni’s game recap.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 1, New Hampshire 0
Starting Pitcher: Phil Irwin, RHP (3-7, 3.16) – 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Stefan Welch, 3B (.313) – 1-for-2, RBI
Other Notable Performers
Brock Holt, DH (.322) – 1-for-3, SB
Result: Altoona 8, New Hampshire 1
Starting Pitcher: Brandon Cumpton, RHP (10-8, 3.32) – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Matt Curry, 1B (.302) – 1-for-4, HR, 4 RBI
Other Notable Performers
Victor Black, RHP (1.26) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Brock Holt, DH (.322) – 3-for-4, SB
Adalberto Santos, RF (.388) – 2-for-3, 3B, SB
Game Notes: Kristy Robinson’s live game reports.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Daytona 2, Bradenton 0
Starting Pitcher: Eliecer Navarro, LHP (4-5, 3.24) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Alex Dickerson, 1B (.292) – 1-for-4, 2B
Other Notable Performers
Kirk Singer, 3B (.257) – 1-for-3, 2B
Game Notes: My live recap, with a feature on Alex Dickerson.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 6, Lakewood 0
Starting Pitcher: Mike Jefferson, LHP (4-6, 4.81) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, DH (.319) – 2-for-5, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI
Other Notable Performers
Gregory Polanco, CF (.324) – 2-for-5
Willy Garcia, RF (.258) – 2-for-4, 2 2B
Jose Osuna, 1B (.278) – 2-for-3, 2B
Game Notes: John Dreker’s live game recap.
A-: STATE COLLEGE SPIKES
Result: State College 6, Connecticut 4
Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP (4.63) – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Tyler Gaffney, CF-RF (.385) – 2-for-3
Other Notable Performers
Jacob Stallings, C (.294) – 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Result: State College 9, Connecticut 4
Starting Pitcher: Clario Perez, RHP (9.00) – 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Barrett Barnes, CF (.291) – 2-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 3 RBI
Other Notable Performers
Tyler Gaffney, RF (.385) – 3-for-3, 3B, 2 SB
Game Notes: State College completed a suspended game in game one today. Jacob Stallings is hitting for a .354/.402/.506 line in 79 at-bats in the month of July. Barrett Barnes hit his fifth homer of the year in game two. Tyler Gaffney combined to go 5-for-6 with two stolen bases and a triple today. He has a .385/.573/.577 line in 52 at-bats this year.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 5, Braves 1
Starting Pitcher: Cesar Lopez, RHP (2-1, 4.71) – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Dilson Herrera, 2B (.263) – 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers
Luis Urena, RF (.234) – 1-for-3, HR, BB, 2 K
Game Notes: My live game report.
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
Result: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1
Starting Pitcher: Leandro Rodriguez, LHP (3.00) – 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Tomas Morales, C (.308) – 3-for-4, 2B
RK: DSL PIRATES2
Result: Yankees 11, Pirates 1
Starting Pitcher: Francis Rodriguez, RHP (0-3, 3.67) – 3.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Angelo Del Castillo, LF (.238) – 1-for-3, HR
July 28, 2012 at 6:51 am
At AA, Phil Irwin & Brandon Cumpton are probably second echelon pitchers, but they know how to pitch. Irwin has 3 complete games and a 5/1 K/W ratio and a 1.81 GO/AO Ratio. Cumpton has started 20 games and has 18 decisions, 2/1 K/W and a whopping 2.33 GO/AO. Another guy worth mentioning at AA is Victor Black who has found himself as a Closer. 1-1, 1.26 ERA, 7 saves, 43IP, 57K’s and a 1.33 GO/AO and 0 HR’s.
July 28, 2012 at 9:23 am
agree…you can NEVER have enough pitching!
July 28, 2012 at 11:24 am
It’s just nice to see at this point in the development of the farm system that there’s depth beyond who the big names are. By this time next year, Cumpton and Black could be ready, not to mention McPherson, and the guys already in AAA; Morris, Locke, maybe Wilson, and ohh……the other reliever in AAA that started in AA this year. I think he just went down with forearm tightness, but there’s another guy right there.
July 28, 2012 at 11:56 am
Duke Welker….:)
July 28, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Bingo!
July 28, 2012 at 9:23 am
If we can’t swing a trade for a hitter, I sure wouldn’t mind seeing Jeff Clement at 1b. DFA Fryar or DMac from the 40 man and bring him up.
July 28, 2012 at 11:52 am
TOTALLY agree! Said something similar on another post the other day. Wouldn’t mind seeing Jones play more in right and Clement getting a shot at first. Leaving Mcgehee to take the off days for Clement and Alvarez while being a nice late inning bat off the bench
July 28, 2012 at 11:59 am
And even if Clement couldn’t do enough defensively at 1st, i still wouldn’t mind having his bat coming off the bench the way he’s been swinging. But all in all I would like to think that the Pirates thought he had this in him or they wouldn’t have brought him back to the organization so why not give him a shot, especially with the not so great names(imo) being talked about in the free agent market
July 28, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Clements bat would surely at the very least be an upgrade over any player .presently on our bench….he certainly has earned an opportunity
July 28, 2012 at 3:36 pm
I really think we have something special with that group in WV. The pitching has really gotten better and when you factor in Josh Bell I imagine you would be hard pressed to find a better offensive group anywhere at that level.
July 28, 2012 at 5:40 pm
Just wish they weren’t so scared to move players up.
July 28, 2012 at 6:18 pm
#freejeffclement
July 28, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Question: When did the ‘g’ get added to Starlin Marte’s name (now Starling)? I’m not crazy, right, it was previously Starlin?
July 29, 2012 at 8:28 am
No, it’s always been Starling. Maybe you’re confusing him with Starlin Castro of the Cubs.