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Prospect Watch: Rafael Perez Has Another Strong Outing, Garcia and Osuna Extend Hit Streaks

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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. If a player is out for the season (Jameson Taillon #1, 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 mid-season top 20 update, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.

1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – DNP

2. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – 0-for-3

3. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – 1-for-4, SB

4. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP

5. Alen Hanson, SS/2B, Altoona – 1-for-4, BB, RBI, SB

6. Josh Bell, RF, Altoona – 2-for-4, SB

7. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – Disabled List (7/24 Update)

8. Cole Tucker, SS, GCL Pirates – 2-for-5, 3B, RBI

9. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia – DNP

10. Mitch Keller, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP

11. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Altoona – 7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

12. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 1-for-4, 2B, BB

13. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP

14. Andrew Lambo, OF, Indianapolis – 1-for-3, BB

15. Joely Rodriguez, LHP, Altoona – 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 HR

16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, GCL Pirates – DNP

17. Trey Supak, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP

18. Buddy Borden, RHP, West Virginia – DNP

19. Stetson Allie, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-3, HBP, SB

20. Gage Hinsz, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP

 

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DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Rafael Perez, LHP – 7.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Thomas Morales, C – 4-for-5, 3 2B, 3B, RBI

Home Runs: Yoel Gonzalez (1), Carlos Ozuna (1)

 

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS    

Box Score

Result: Indianapolis 4, Toledo 3

Starting Pitcher: Rafael Perez, LHP – 7.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Chase d’Arnaud, 3B – 2-for-3, 2B, RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Andrew Lambo, DH – 1-for-3, BB

Starling Marte, LF 0-for-4, 2 K

Mel Rojas Jr., CF – 2-for-4, 2B, RBI

Game Notes: With the 7.1 innings that he tossed Saturday night, Rafael Perez is up to 26.2 innings without an earned run. Despite rarely making out of the low 80s, Perez has been working predominantly with off-speed pitches and breaking balls. With Saturday’s effort, Perez lowered his ERA with Indianapolis to 0.33.

However, Perez did allow an unearned run, which was allowed by Wirfin Obispo. In addition, Obispo allowed an unearned run of his own in the eight. This was the fifth game in the last six appearances that Obispo has allowed a run, after not allowing any for six outing prior.

Andy Oliver blew his second save of the season. Oliver was wild once again, as only nine of his 19 pitches crossed the plate for a strike in the ninth, with 19 strikes in 35 pitches overall. He also walked a pair hitters and hit another in two innings of work. Oliver has five walks in his past three outings and has allowed seven free passes in his past six appearances.

Starling Marte went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, a double play, and a pop out in his first rehab game coming back from a concussion.  – Ryan Palencer

 

AA: ALTOONA CURVE

Box Score

Result: Altoona 7, Richmond 6

Starting Pitcher: Adrian Sampson, RHP – 7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Elias Diaz, C – 3-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Willy Garcia, LF – 2-for-4, SB

Alen Hanson, 2B – 1-for-4, BB, RBI, SB

Stetson Allie, 1B – 1-for-3, HBP, SB

Josh Bell, RF – 2-for-4, BB

Game Notes: Adrian Sampson had a little early trouble and some poor defense behind him, but he ended up with a solid outing. He gave up just four hits and one earned run over seven innings, while collecting 12 ground ball outs. Joely Rodriguez gave up one run over the last 1.1 IP and picked up his first save. Alen Hanson was moved to second base in this game and made his 30th error of the season. He had a single, RBI, a walk, two runs scored and stole his 20th base. Third baseman Kelson Brown and shortstop Gift Ngoepe also made errors behind Sampson, which led to two unearned runs. Willy Garcia extended his hitting streak to 13 games with two singles. Josh Bell had two singles and scored two runs.

 

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS   

Box Score

Result: Brevard County 4, Bradenton 2

Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP – 6.2 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Eric Wood, 3B – 1-for-3, BB, R

Other Notable Performers:

Jose Osuna, 1B – 2-for-4

Walker Gourley, RF – 2-for-4

Game Notes: Jason Creasy has displayed strong control all season, issuing just 15 walks in 118.2 innings, but that hasn’t resulted in strong outings recently. That inning total is 10.1 more than he threw all of last season and the extra work might be showing lately. In three of his last four outings, he has given up a total of 26 hits and 17 runs over 12.2 innings. Creasy had one strikeout on Friday and failed to pick up any strikeouts in his last start. He has a 2/31 BB/SO ratio in nine starts since the All-Star break. Jose Osuna picked up two singles, extending his hit streak to 12 games. He is 21-for-48 during the streak, with four doubles and four homers.

 

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER   

Box Score

Result:  West Virginia 6, Lexington 1

Starting Pitcher: Felipe Gonzalez, RHP – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Francisco Diaz, LF – 3-for-4, 2B, RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Erich Weiss, 2B – 2-for-4, 2B, 3B, RBI

Austin Meadows, CF – 0-for-3

JaCoby Jones, SS – 1-for-4, 2B, BB

Game Notes: The Power got great starting pitching from Felipe Gonzalez, who has quietly put together a strong season. He allowed just one run over six innings, to give him a 2.48 ERA in 80 innings this year. Gonzalez has a 20/74 BB/SO ratio and a .226 BAA. Mike Fransoso drove in two runs, while Francisco Diaz, Chris Diaz and Erich Weiss each had an RBI. Francisco Diaz had three hits and scored two runs. JaCoby Jones hit his 20th double of the season.

 

A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS   

Jamestown was rained out Saturday night. They will make the game up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday.

 

RK: BRISTOL PIRATES

Box Score

Result:  Bluefield 12, Bristol 10

Starting Pitcher: Jonathan Sandfort, RHP – 3.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Thomas Morales, C – 4-for-5, 3 2B, 3B, RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Danny Arribas, C – 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, 2 BB

Pablo Reyes, SS – 2-for-5, 2 RBI, BB

Enyel Vallejo, LF – 2-for-5, RBI

Carlos Ozuna, 2B – 1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI

Edgardo Munoz, 3B – 3-for-5, 2B

Game Notes: Jonathan Sandfort started for the first time in four weeks and started off with three shutout innings before his game fell apart in the fourth inning. He gave up five earned runs and he has now allowed 30 earned runs over 29 innings. Sandfort has allowed 50 hits this year, but before Friday, he had shown excellent control. The four walks he allowed were one less than what he gave up in his first eight appearances. Bristol lost for the 29th time in 41 games despite collecting 17 hits. Tomas Morales had a career day, collecting four extra-base hits, hitting a triple and three doubles. Carlos Ozuna hit a three-run homer, his first of the season.

 

RK: GCL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Yankees2 7, Pirates 6

Starting Pitcher: Nick Hutchings, RHP – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Yoel Gonzalez, C – 2-for-5, HR, RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Cole Tucker, SS – 2-for-5, HR

Carlos Munoz, 1B – 1-for-5, 2 RBI

Tito Polo, RF – 0-for-2, BB, 2 HBP, 2 R

Sam Kennelly, 2B – 2-for-2, BB

Game Notes: The Pirates lost 7-6 in 10 innings to drop to 12-24 on the season. At one point, the Pirates were 10-8 on the season, so they have been in a prolonged slump. Cole Tucker had his second straight two-hit game. On Friday he hit his first homer and on Saturday, he added his first career triple. Through 27 games, he has a .258/.379/.351 slash line. The Hayden Hurst experiment as a hitter started off good, but it has got bad quickly and this game was his low point. He went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts, giving him 15 strikeouts in his first 30 at bats. He had six hits in his first three games(all singles), but he has gone 1-for-17 with 11 strikeouts since then. Second baseman Sam Kennelly had two hits, a walk and a sacrifice bunt in four plate appearances. Catcher Yoel Gonzalez hit his first homer of the season. He’s the youngest player on the team, just turning 18 on Friday.

 

RK: DSL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Cubs 4, Pirates 3

Starting Pitcher: Francis Rodriguez, RHP – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Jhoan Herrera, 1B – 2-for-4, 2B, R

Other Notable Performers:

Eliezer Ramirez, LF – 1-for-3, R

Jeremias Portorreal, RF – 1-for-3, 3B, BB

Game Notes: The DSL Pirates lost a tough one on Saturday, taking a 2-0 lead late into the game, but the Cubs scored twice in both the seventh and eighth innings. Starter Francis Rodriguez threw five shutout innings, his best outing since throwing five shutout innings in each of his first two starts. The Pirates had six hits, three walks and two hit batters, though they struggled in big spots. They went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Jeremias Portorreal had a triple and a walk. Prior to this game, he was 3-for-31 in nine games since the All-Star break. All-Star second baseman Raul Siri reached base once, getting hit by a pitch. He has played all 54 games this year and reached base at least once in 48 of those games.

You can check out the DSL Pirates week eight recap here.

John Dreker
John Dreker
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball. When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.

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