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Prospect Watch: Sampson Throws Another Gem, Allie Homers

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TOP OF THE SYSTEM

A look at how the current top 30 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, 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 30 active prospects on the list. Rankings are from early season update, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.

1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Altoona – DNP

2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List

3. Austin Meadows, CF, Bradenton – 2-for-5

4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 0-for-4, BB

5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 3-for-6, 2 SB

6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis –  Disabled List

7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – 1-for-5, SB

8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – DNP

9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – 0-for-5

10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Extended Spring Training

11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Extended Spring Training

12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, Extended Spring Training

13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 1-for-6

14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0 HR

15. Trey Supak, RHP, Extended Spring Training

16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Extended Spring Training

17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Bradenton – DNP

18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List

19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP

20. Willy Garcia, OF, Altoona – 0-for-4

21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List

22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 1-for-4, 2B

23. Connor Joe, 1B/3B, West Virginia – DNP

24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 3-for-5

25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP

26. Steven Brault, LHP, Bradenton – DNP

27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – 1-for-4, 2B, 3 K

28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Extended Spring Training

29Luis Heredia, RHP, Extended Spring Training

30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – DNP

 

DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Adrian Sampson, RHP – 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Stetson Allie, RF – 1-for-4, HR

Home Runs: Stetson Allie (5)

 

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS    

Box Score

Result: Pawtucket 2, Indianapolis 1

Starting Pitcher: Adrian Sampson, RHP – 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Jose Tabata, RF – 3-for-4

Other Notable Performers:

Alen Hanson, 2B – 1-for-5, SB

Game Notes:  For the fifth straight time out, Adrian Sampson went at least six innings. On Tuesday night, he was extremely strong for Indianapolis, moving the ball all around the plate to keep hitters off-balance. He also picked up a season high eight strikeouts, a category that has been much stronger for the righty this season.

Josh Wall relieved Sampson and worked a pair of scoreless innings of his own before eventually succumbing in the tenth. Wall allowed a hit and walk, while picking up a strikeout in the first two innings. In the tenth, he allowed a hit and hit a batter before A.J. Morris allowed the winning run to score.

Jose Tabata continued his hot stretch with three hits, while Alen Hanson ripped another single and stole a base. – Ryan Palencer

 

AA: ALTOONA CURVE

Box Score

Result: Altoona 6, Bowie 4

Starting Pitcher: Angel Sanchez, RHP – 5.2 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Stetson Allie, RF – 1-for-4, HR

Other Notable Performers:

 

Keon Broxton, CF – 2-for-4, 2B, BB

Adam Frazier, DH – 1-for-3, BB, SB

Eric Wood, 3B – 2-for-4, 2B

Gift Ngoepe, SS – 2-for-3, 3B, BB

Game Notes: Angel Sanchez was lifted after 5.2 innings with runners on second and third because of a high pitch count, and Curve reliever Jeff Inman couldn’t hold the runners, letting both score. Sanchez threw 65 strikes on 98 pitches, but he was not able to go deep in the game because of five ground ball hits by Bowie that found holes through the infield.

Sanchez got himself in trouble in the first inning by giving up a double to the wall on his first pitch, then Bowie got a bunt single on the second pitch. He had an error on a pickoff attempt to score Bowie’s first run. After the tough start, he settled down, getting lots of ground balls, lightly hit pop ups, and strikeouts. He seemed to keep the ball away from the middle of the plate but went deep in the count often.

With the bases loaded in the third after ground ball singles and a HPB, Sanchez fooled the batter with a two strike changeup then jammed a batter to get an easy groundout.

Overall, Sanchez looked strong after giving up four earned runs in his last start. It looked like it could’ve been a game where nothing went his way, but he continually found ways to get out of jams. Pitching coach Justin Meccage mentioned that Sanchez has worked hard on staying mentally prepared and not letting tough luck or game situations get under his skin, and he definitely was able to work through things tonight.

In the bottom of the first, Keon Broxton chopped a ball over the third baseman’s head and made his way to third on a fielding error. Moroff and Bell came to the plate swinging. Moroff popped up on the first pitch the third baseman, and Bell hit a grounder that went off the pitcher’s leg to score the run.

Moroff struggled from the plate tonight with a pop up, strikeout, and lightly hit grounder before walking in the seventh to extend his on-base streak to 28 games. Altoona’s most impressive hitters came from the bottom of the lineup. Eric Wood hit the ball hard during every at-bat. After a line drive double and single, he was robbed of a double down the line by a sprawled out Bowie third baseman. Gift Ngoepe singled and walked before blasting a ball about 410 feet that hit the top of the center field wall in the ninth. Gift currently has his batting average up to .250.

Stetson Allie blasted a solo shot over the center field wall in the fourth inning. It was a line drive that got out of the ballpark very quickly. Adam Frazier has gotten a hit in each of his five games this year, his first at the Double-A level. – Sean McCool

 

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS   

Box Score

Result: Brevard County 5, Bradenton 4

Starting Pitcher: Matt Benedict, RHP – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Reese McGuire, C – 3-for-6, 2 SB

Other Notable Performers:

Austin Meadows, CF – 2-for-5

Jose Osuna, RF – 2-for-5, 2B

Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 3-for-5

Game Notes: Reese McGuire had a three hit game, giving him his fourth multi-hit game in his last ten. The more impressive thing was that he stole two bases, giving him seven on the year. That matches his season total from 2014, with one fewer attempt in 73 fewer games. Austin Meadows had his third straight game with multiple hits. After struggling a bit at the end of April, he’s off to a great start in May, hitting for an .882 OPS so far. Wyatt Mathisen is in a similar situation. He had his fourth straight multi-hit game, and has an .855 OPS in May, after struggling with a .600 OPS in April.

 

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER

Box Score

Result: West Virginia 10, Charleston 3

Starting Pitcher: John Sever, LHP – 4.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Pablo Reyes, 2B – 3-for-6, 2B, SB

Other Notable Performers:

Chase Simpson, 1B – 2-for-5

Tito Polo, DH – 1-for-4, 2B, 3 K

Jordan Luplow, 3B – 1-for-4, 2B

Elvis Escobar, CF – 2-for-6

Game Notes: After missing four games with a stomach bug, Tito Polo returned to go 1-for-4 with a double, which was his fifth of the year. Pablo Reyes has had a hot bat this year, picking up three more hits today, extending his on-base streak to 17 games. I talked to a scout over the weekend who felt that Elvis Escobar has gone backwards with his development, which is something I agree with. We used to have Escobar matched up with Harold Ramirez back when they first entered the system. Since then, Escobar has dropped out of our top 50. Coincidentally, after the scout said that, Escobar went 1-for-4 with a homer, and followed that up with two hits today. He will need to continue this in order to fully bounce back, as he still has a .594 OPS, even with the last two games.

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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