43.5 F
Pittsburgh

Prospect Watch: Willy Garcia Putting Up the Best Power Numbers of His Career

Published:

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, 2 BB

3. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – 3-for-5, 3B

4. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP

5. Alen Hanson, SS/2B, Altoona – 0-for-4, BB

6. Josh Bell, RF, Altoona – DNP

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

8. Cole Tucker, SS, GCL Pirates – DNP

9. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia – DNP

10. Mitch Keller, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP

11. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP

12. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 1-for-5

13. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP

14. Andrew Lambo, OF, Indianapolis – 1-for-5, 2B

15. Joely Rodriguez, LHP, Altoona – DNP

16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, GCL Pirates – 0-for-4

17. Trey Supak, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP

18. Buddy Borden, RHP, West Virginia  – DNP

19. Stetson Allie, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-3, HR, 2 BB

20. Gage Hinsz, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP

 

2014FrontCoverLAST CHANCE FOR THE 2014 PROSPECT GUIDE!

The 2014 Prospect Guide is on sale in the Pirates Prospects store. The paperback version has dropped to $14.99 plus shipping. We currently only have one case of books remaining, and the offer is only valid while the books are in stock. There is also an eBook version available for $9.99. The 2013 Prospect Guide is on clearance for $1.

 

DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Gerrit Cole, RHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Willy Garcia, RF – 3-for-3, HR, BB, SB

Home Runs: Willy Garcia (18), Stetson Allie (17), Jose Osuna (8), Michael Fransoso (6), Chase Simpson (5), Carlos Ozuna (2)

 

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS    

Box Score

Result: Indianapolis 9, Louisville 0

Starting Pitcher: Gerrit Cole, RHP – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Chris McGuiness, 1B – 4-for-5, 2 2B

Other Notable Performers:

Chase d’Arnaud, CF – 2-for-5, 3B

Jose Tabata, RF – 2-for-5

Tony Sanchez, C – 3-for-5, 2B

Tommy Field, 2B – 2-for-5, 2B

Brent Morel, 3B – 2-for-5

Game Notes: Gerrit Cole made his fourth rehab start, and once again had a great outing. He threw seven shutout innings, giving up five hits, one walk, and striking out three. That follows a start where Cole threw six shutout innings, with one hit, no walks, and three strikeouts. The more important thing is that Cole threw 92 pitches, which was a goal for the Pirates. They wanted Cole getting close to seven innings and 100 pitches, and he did both of those things. It’s too early to say if Cole will need one more rehab start. From a results standpoint, he’s definitely looking better than he did a few weeks ago at the start of his rehab.

 

AA: ALTOONA CURVE

Box Score

Result: Erie 3, Altoona 2

Starting Pitcher: Tom Harlan, LHP – 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Willy Garcia, RF – 3-for-3, HR, BB, SB

Other Notable Performers:

Stetson Allie, 1B – 1-for-3, HR, 2 BB

Keon Broxton, CF – 2-for-4

Ramon Cabrera, C – 1-for-5, 2B

Game Notes: Willy Garcia had a great night, picking up three hits, a walk, a stolen base, and his 18th homer of the year. The homer matches his season high of 18, set in 459 at-bats in West Virginia two years ago. He reached 18 home runs this year in 389 at-bats. Garcia has an .818 OPS this season in Altoona, along with a .231 ISO. Both are massive leaps over his previous career best. Stetson Allie hit his 17th homer of the year. Ramon Cabrera was added to Altoona’s roster today, and went 1-for-5 with a double in his first game back.

 

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS   

Box Score

Result: St. Lucie 10, Bradenton 7

Starting Pitcher: Chad Kuhl, RHP – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Jose Osuna, 1B – 1-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, BB

Other Notable Performers:

Adam Frazier, SS – 2-for-3, 2 BB

Jordan Steranka, DH – 2-for-5, 2B

Game Notes:  Jose Osuna hit his eighth homer of the year. It was a grand slam that came in the fourth inning, giving the Marauders a 6-4 lead at the time. They blew that lead late in the game, giving up six runs in the final three innings. Osuna has been heating up in the second half, with a .286/.332/.459 line and six homers in 185 at-bats. Chad Kuhl didn’t have the worst outing, but didn’t really follow up on his last start when he gave up one run in six innings. He has a 3.02 ERA in 53.2 innings over his last ten games.

 

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER   

Box Score

Result: West Virginia 9, Lexington 2

Starting Pitcher: Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Michael Fransoso, RF – 2-for-4, HR

Other Notable Performers:

Reese McGuire, C – 3-for-5, 3B

Edwin Espinal, DH – 2-for-5, 2B

Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 2-for-5

Adam Landecker, 1B – 2-for-5, 2 2B

Jeff Roy, LF – 2-for-4, BB

Game Notes: Michael Fransoso hit his sixth homer of the year for West Virginia. Reese McGuire had a nice night at the plate, picking up three hits, along with his third triple of the year. Meanwhile, Austin Meadows went 0-for-3, but added two walks. Edwin Espinal hit his 23rd double of the year. He’s had multiple hits in four of his last five games.

 

A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS   

Box Score

Result: Jamestown 6, Batavia 0

Starting Pitcher: Tyler Eppler, RHP – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Chase Simpson, 3B – 2-for-4, 2B, HR

Other Notable Performers:

Michael Suchy, DH – 2-for-3, 3B, BB

Elvis Escobar, CF – 3-for-4

Game Notes: Tyler Eppler pitched a shutout outing for his third straight start. He has gone 17 innings over his last three starts without allowing an earned run. In that time, Eppler has given up 11 hits, 2 walks, and struck out 14. He was a sixth round pick this year, and has a big frame with a nice fastball that can occasionally get up to 95 MPH. He needs work on his secondary stuff, and needs to add a strikeout pitch. For now, Eppler is looking strong, with a 2.70 ERA in 56.2 innings, along with a 40:10 K/BB ratio. Chase Simpson hit his fifth homer of the year, along with his eighth double.

 

RK: BRISTOL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Kingsport 11, Bristol 9

Starting Pitcher: John Sever, LHP – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Carlos Ozuna, 2B – 2-for-5, HR

Other Notable Performers:

Danny Arribas, 1B – 2-for-5

Trae Arbet, SS – 1-for-3, 2 BB, 2 SB

Jerrick Suiter, RF – 1-for-1, 3 BB, 2 SB

Game Notes: John Sever added to his amazing strikeout total this year, with six strikeouts in four innings during tonight’s start. Sever now has 50 strikeouts in 30.2 innings, with tonight being his first start of the season. The walks were uncommon, with Sever having just six coming into the game. John Dreker wrote about Sever this morning, and the unexpected success he is having. Carlos Ozuna hit his second homer of the year. Trae Arbet and Jerrick Suiter both got on base a lot due to the free pass, and took advantage of it with two stolen bases each.

 

RK: GCL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Pirates 3, Astros 2

Starting Pitcher: Gerardo Navarro, LHP – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Henrry Rosario, DH – 2-for-4

Other Notable Performers:

Julio De La Cruz, 3B – 2-for-4

Tito Polo, RF – 1-for-3, SB

Game Notes: Gerardo Navarro has had mixed results in the GCL this year. He’s had a lot of outings like the one he had today, with five shutout innings, and limited base runners. He’s also had some starts that were just disasters. In his last ten outings, he has five starts where he gave up one or fewer earned runs in 4+ innings. Four of those starts saw him go five innings. The other five recent starts saw him give up at least an earned run per inning pitched. Navarro doesn’t throw hard, and doesn’t have much of a strikeout pitch, so his hot and cold performances aren’t surprising.

 

RK: DSL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Pirates 13, Astros 4

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

Top Hitter: Adrian Valerio, SS – 3-for-5, 2B, SB

Other Notable Performers:

Raul Siri, DH – 1-for-2, 2 BB, SB

Game Notes: The DSL Pirates scored 13 runs on Friday and did it while collecting just nine hits. They moved to 32-33 on the season, with seven games left in their schedule. Shortstop Adrian Valerio had a big day at the plate, with three hits, including his 14th double and he stole his fifth base. Raul Siri reached base three times, drawing two walks and hitting a single. He scored twice and stole his tenth base. Siri has a .321/.429/.520 OPS in 61 games and he’s tied for the league lead with 22 doubles. Luis Perez had three walks in the game. He is hitting .323 this year and has a 24/11 BB/K ratio. Starter Francis Rodriguez gave up just one run over five innings to pick up his first win. He has a 2.40 ERA through 48.2 innings. Reliever Carlos Bustamante faced four batters and recorded five outs. He came on in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and one out and got a double play from the first batter to end the inning. – John Dreker

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

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.

Related Articles

Article Drop

Latest Articles