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Prospect Watch: Oliver Has Good Debut, Cunningham Shows Power

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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. If a player is in the majors, he will be removed, everyone below him will be shifted up a spot, and a new player will be added to the bottom of the list. Rankings are from the pre-season rankings, and links to each prospect writeup can be found by clicking the player names below. Players who weren’t in the original top 20 are linked to their player page on the site.

1. Gerrit Cole, RHP, Indianapolis (0-0, 0.00) – DNP

2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Altoona (0-0, 0.00) – DNP

3. Gregory Polanco, CF, Bradenton (.000) – 0-for-4

4. Alen Hanson, SS, Bradenton (.000) – 0-for-4, 3 K

5. Luis Heredia, RHP, Extended Spring Training

6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.250) – 1-for-4, 2 K

7. Barrett Barnes, CF, Extended Spring Training

8. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, West Virginia (0-0, 0.00) – DNP

9. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Indianapolis (0-0, 0.00) – DNP

10. Nick Kingham, RHP, Bradenton (0-0, 0.00) – DNP

11. Clay Holmes, RHP, West Virginia (0-0, 0.00) – DNP

12. Dilson Herrera, 2B, West Virginia (.000) – 0-for-3, BB, K

13. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis (.000) – 0-for-2, BB

14. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (0-0, 0.00) – DNP

15. Wyatt Mathisen, C, West Virginia (.000) – 0-for-3, BB, K

16. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Bradenton (0-0, 0.00) – DNP

17. Victor Black, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 20.25) – 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

18. Andy Oliver, LHP, Indianapolis (0-0, 0.00) – 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 HR

19. Jin-De Jhang, C, Extended Spring Training

20. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Altoona (0-0, 0.00) – DNP

 

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DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Andy Oliver, LHP (0-0, 0.00) – 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Jacob Stallings, C (1.000) – 3-for-3, 2B, HR

Home Runs: Jarek Cunningham (1), Taylor Lewis (1), Jacob Stallings (1)

 

Andy Oliver had a good debut in the Pirates' system.
Andy Oliver had a good debut in the Pirates’ system.

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

Box Score

Result: Columbus 4, Indianapolis 0

Starting Pitcher: Andy Oliver, LHP (0-0, 0.00) – 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter:  Alex Presley, CF (.500) – 2-for-4

Other Notable Performers

Jordy Mercer, SS (.250) – 1-for-4, 2 K

Vic Black, RHP (0-1, 20.25) – 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Game Notes: Andy Oliver had a strong start, only running into trouble in one inning. He had given up one walk and one hit through five, while striking out four. In the sixth inning he had some control problems, issuing two walks and a single to load the bases with one out. Oliver got back to back strikeouts to get out of the jam and end his first start of the year. He threw 81 pitches, with 52 strikes. Vic Black had a great first inning, giving up a hit, then striking out his next three batters. He was working in the 94-95 MPH range, according to the stadium gun. He added a fourth strikeout in his second inning of work, but also walked two and gave up a single. Mike Zagurski came on in relief and gave up a grand slam on his first pitch. Alex Presley had two of the three hits tonight, with Jordy Mercer having the other. Brandon Inge made a rehab appearance as the DH, going 0-for-2 with a walk and a HBP.

 

AA: ALTOONA CURVE

Box Score

Result: Erie 10, Altoona 6

Starting Pitcher: Brandon Cumpton, RHP (0-1, 7.20) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Jarek Cunningham, 2B (.400) – 2-for-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI

Other Notable Performers

Matt Curry, 1B (.400) – 2-for-5

Alex Dickerson, RF (.500) – 2-for-4

Drew Maggi, DH (.333) – 1-for-3, 2B, RBI

Jason Townsend, RHP (0.00) – 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR

Game Notes:  Brandon Cumpton didn’t have the best start tonight. Last year he had a 3.84 ERA in 152.1 innings in Double-A. Nate Baker came on and gave up five runs in 0.1 innings after Cumpton left the game. Alex Dickerson picked up the first minor league hit of the year, and Jarek Cunningham picked up the first home run. Cunningham’s value comes from his power potential, although that wasn’t on display last year with Altoona. He only managed a .120 ISO after an impressive .258 ISO with Bradenton in 2011.

 

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS

Box Score

Result: Fort Myers 4, Bradenton 3

Starting Pitcher: Robby Rowland, RHP (3.60) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Jacob Stallings, C (1.000) – 3-for-3, 2B, HR

Other Notable Performers

Taylor Lewis, LF (.500) – 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI

Eliecer Navarro, LHP (0-1, 3.00) – 3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Game Notes: Robby Rowland didn’t have his usual good control. Last year he had a 1.9 BB/9 ratio in West Virginia. Tonight he had four walks in five innings. The sinkerball pitcher was a typical ground ball machine, with a 10:3 GO/AO ratio. Eliecer Navarro, who will be piggybacking this year, struck out four in three innings to close out the game, but gave up the winning run. Jacob Stallings missed the cycle by a triple. Taylor Lewis got off to a hot start last year in his first month in West Virginia, but cooled the rest of the year. He had a low OBP last year, which isn’t a good thing for a speedy outfielder. He displayed some pop at times last year, and showed that tonight with a home run and a double. Alen Hanson and Gregory Polanco each went 0-for-4, and Hanson struck out three times.

 

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER

Box Score

Result: Asheville 3, West Virginia 0

Starting Pitcher: Joely Rodriguez, LHP (0-1, 3.60) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter:  Josh Bell, RF (.250) – 1-for-4, 2 K

Other Notable Performers

Stetson Allie, 1B (.000) – 0-for-4, 4 K

Jason Creasy, RHP (3.00) – 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Game Notes: Joely Rodriguez had a good start in his jump to low-A. Rodriguez didn’t allow any runs until the last inning, with his two runs scoring on a wild pitch and a single. The lefty has been a sleeper in the system for the last two years, and was ranked in our top 50 heading into this season. He’s got a good three pitch mix, and all three of his pitches have cutting action. Josh Bell had one of the two hits tonight for West Virginia, with Walker Gourley getting the other one. Stetson Allie didn’t have a good start, striking out four times.

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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