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 (Tony Sanchez #11, Stolmy Pimentel #13). 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. If a player is out for the season (Jameson Taillon #2, Clay Holmes #12), he will be removed and everyone below him will move up a spot. Removing these guys doesn’t mean they have lost prospect status. It is just an attempt to get 20 active prospects on the list. Rankings are from the 2014 Prospect Guide, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Gregory Polanco, CF, Indianapolis – 0-for-4, RBI
2. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List (4/14 Update)
3. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/2 Update)
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – 0-for-5
5. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – DNP
6. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – 0-for-2, BB
7. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – 2-for-3, 3B, RBI, BB
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power – Disabled List (4/14 Update)
9. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/14 Update)
10. Andrew Lambo, 1B, Indianapolis – 0-for-4
11. Joely Rodriguez, LHP, Altoona – DNP
12. Blake Taylor, LHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
13. Cody Dickson, LHP, West Virginia – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
14. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/14 Update)
15. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 2-for-5, 2 RBI, BB, SB
16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, Extended Spring Training – DNP
17. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, West Virginia – 1-for-4, 2 RBI
18. Jin-De Jhang, C, Bradenton – DNP
19. Brandon Cumpton, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
20. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
ORDER YOUR 2014 PROSPECT GUIDE
The 2014 Prospect Guide is now available, and is the perfect resource to follow the minor league system during the 2014 season. You can order your copy on the products page of the site.
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Justin Maffei, CF – 5-for-7, HR, 2 RBI
Home Runs: Chris Dickerson (2), Justin Maffei (1), Danny Collins (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Louisville 7, Indianapolis 3
Starting Pitcher: Jeff Locke, LHP – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Chris Dickerson, CF – 1-for-5, HR, RBI, 2 R
Other Notable Performers:
Gregory Polanco, RF – 0-for-4, RBI
Jaff Decker, LF – 2-for-4
Chris Stewart, C 1-for-3
Game Notes: Jeff Locke made his first start for Indianapolis and allowed two home runs and five runs over five innings of work. He threw 91 pitches, 56 for strikes. Locke looked good in his only rehab start for Bradenton last week, striking out ten batters over six innings. Zack Thornton allowed his first earned run of the season. He went two innings Wednesday night, giving him one earned run allowed over 7.1 innings this year. Vin Mazzaro struck out two in a scoreless ninth.
Gregory Polanco had his ten game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-4 night, though he did drive in a run. Andrew Lambo was also kept out of the hit column, snapping his seven game hit streak. He made his first error of the season at first base. Chris Dickerson led off the game with his second home run of the season. Jaff Decker and Michael Martinez each had two hits. Chris Stewart played his sixth rehab game, third for Indianapolis.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 5, Harrisburg 2
Starting Pitcher: Adrian Sampson, RHP – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Mel Rojas Jr., CF – 1-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, R
Other Notable Performers:
Willy Garcia, RF – 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Stetson Allie, 1B – 1-for-4, 2B, BB, 2 R
Game Notes: Altoona won behind shutout pitching from Adrian Sampson for six innings and two RBIs apiece from Mel Rojas Jr. and Willy Garcia. Sampson has now allowed three runs over 17 innings in his first three starts combined. He struck out six batters for the second time this year, one short of his career high. Rojas is now hitting .316 through 11 games. Garcia is hitting just .146, but he has five extra-base hits and he has driven in seven runs. Alen Hanson went 0-for-5, dropping his average down to .186 in his first 43 at-bats. Both Stetson Allie and Gift Ngoepe scored two runs today. Adrian Sampson had the only stolen base of the game, the first of his career.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 4, Palm Beach 0
Starting Pitcher: John Kuchno, RHP – 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Josh Bell, RF – 2-for-3, 3B, RBI, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Walker Gourley, 3B – 2-for-4, R
Adam Frazier, SS – 2-for-4, 2 R
Game Notes: John Kuchno had his second excellent outing of the season tonight, giving up just two hits over six shutout innings. In his debut, he threw five no-hit innings. His second start was the total opposite of the other two games. Last Friday, Kuchno allowed seven runs on nine hits in just 3.2 innings. In Wednesday night’s start, he got 12 ground ball outs, as he continues to keep the ball on the ground this year. Through 14.2 innings this season, 30 of his outs have come via ground balls. Thomas Harlan threw two scoreless innings and Robby Rowland finished up the shutout in the ninth.
At the top of the lineup, Adam Frazier, Walkey Gourley and Josh Bell each collected two hit. Frazier scored two runs, Gourley scored once and Bell drove in one run. Jordan Steranka and Max Moroff each drove in one run. Moroff hit his fourth double of the season. Bradenton has won three straight games and they sit atop their division with an 8-5 record.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Asheville 5, West Virginia 4
Starting Pitcher: Buddy Borden, RHP – 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Justin Maffei, CF – 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
JaCoby Jones, SS – 2-for-4, RBI
Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 1-for-2, RBI, SF
Game Notes: Buddy Borden couldn’t get out of the first inning for West Virginia and took the loss in the first game of a doubleheader. He recorded two strikeouts, walked two batters, allowed a hit and one batter reached on an error. He gave up three runs, though all three were unearned. Henry Hirsch followed Borden with 3.1 scoreless innings to keep the game close. Isaac Sanchez allowed two runs in two innings of work and Brett McKinney threw a scoreless seventh inning in his season debut. He took the place of Luis Heredia, who was placed on the disabled list this weekend.
Justin Maffei led the way for the offense with three hits and a two-run homer in the seventh inning. JaCoby Jones, Danny Collins and Candon Myles each had two hits. West Virginia had a total of 13 hits in the game. Wyatt Mathisen committed two errors, giving him six on the season. That is almost to be expected due to his switch to third base during Spring Training. He only played catcher during his first two seasons in pro ball.
Result: West Virginia 3, Asheville 2
Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Danny Collins, RF – 2-for-3, HR, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Reese McGuire, C – 0-for-2, BB
JaCoby Jones, DH – 0-for-1, R, RBI, BB, SB
Game Notes: In game two, Cody Dickson went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks. He recorded 10 ground ball outs. Dickson bounced back nicely from his last start in which he gave up six runs on ten hits in 4.2 innings. Will Kendall picked up the save with a scoreless ninth. The Power had seven hits, two by Justin Maffei, Danny Collins and Erich Weiss. Maffei finished the day with five hits. Reese McGuire only played game two and went 0-for-2 with a walk. He is hitting .212 through nine games. JaCoby Jones drove in his eighth run of the season.
