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 – 0-for-2
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 0-for-3
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 1-for-2
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – Disabled List
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – DNP
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – 0-for-3
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Extended Spring Training
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – 0-for-2
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 0-for-1, BB
14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
15. Trey Supak, RHP, Extended Spring Training
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Extended Spring Training
17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Bradenton – 0-for-2
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Indianapolis – 0-for-3
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – DNP
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – DNP
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 1-for-2
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Altoona – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – DNP
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Bradenton – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – DNP
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Wilfredo Boscan, RHP – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Top Hitter: Raul Siri, 2B – 3-for-5, HR, 4 RBI
Home Runs: Danny Arribas (1), Raul Siri (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Gwinnett 2, Indianapolis 0
Starting Pitcher: Wilfredo Boscan, RHP – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Top Hitter: Steve Lombardozzi, 2B – 1-for-3
Other Notable Performers:
Keon Broxton, LF – 1-for-3
Game Notes: Wilfredo Boscan was a replacement into the starter role for a late healthy scratch in Chris Volstad. With this, Boscan had one of his strongest outings of the season. It was the first time that he made it through the sixth inning since May 10. While Boscan had been working elevated in the zone in his outings lately, he did a much better job of getting the ball down on Monday night. The results followed as he had eight ground ball outs to five fly ball outs.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Harrisburg 7, Altoona 2
Starting Pitcher: Zack Dodson, LHP – 6.2 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Mel Rojas Jr., CF – 1-for-3, 3B, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Adam Frazier, CF – 1-for-2, BB
Stetson Allie, RF – 1-for-3, 2B, R
Josh Bell, 1B – 0-for-3
Game Notes: Altoona lost 7-2 in the opener of a doubleheader against Harrisburg. Zack Dodson nearly went the distance, running into some trouble in the seventh, as his pitch count went over the 100 mark. He ended up with seven runs allowed on 12 hits, but he threw a lot of strikes(64 out of 103 pitches) and had 11 ground ball outs. Utlity fielder Andy Vasquez pitched for the second time this season and recorded the final out.
The Curve had four hits and a walk in the game, and they didn’t score until the bottom of the seventh with the game well out of hand. Stetson Allie had a one-out double, which was followed by a Mel Rojas Jr. triple. He would score on a ground out by Edward Salcedo. Max Moroff had his 12-game hit streak snapped.
Result: Altoona 4, Harrisburg 3
Starting Pitcher: Thomas Harlan, LHP – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gift Ngoepe, SS – 1-for-1, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, HBP
Other Notable Performers:
Sebastian Valle, C – 1-for-3, 2B
Dan Gamache, 1B – 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
Game Notes: Altoona took game two behind strong pitching from Thomas Harlan, who allowed one run over five innings. This was just his second start of the season. John Kuchno threw a scoreless sixth and Jeff Inman got the save despite allowing two runs in his only inning of work. The offense was led by Gift Ngoepe, who reached base all three plate appearances and he drove in two runs. The Curve only had five hits in the game, but four went for extra bases. As mentioned in the first recap, Max Moroff broke his hit streak in game one and he ended up going 0-for-5 on the day.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Charlotte 2, Bradenton 0
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Eppler, RHP – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 1-for-2
Other Notable Performers:
Reese McGuire, C – 1-for-2
JaCoby Jones, SS – 0-for-1, BB
Game Notes: The Marauders lost 2-0 in a game that was called early due to rain. Tyler Eppler started and actually threw the shortest complete game possible, going four innings with two runs allowed. In what was his second start of the season, he retired the first ten batters he faced, before giving up two runs on four hits. In his first outing, he had two strong innings before giving up three runs in the third, so he made some progress. He missed two full months with elbow soreness, so you expect there to be some bumps along the way.
Bradenton had just two hits on offense, singles from Reese McGuire and Wyatt Mathisen. JaCoby Jones walked once and also struck out for the 81st time. Austin Meadows and Jin-De Jhang returned to the lineup after missing time due to minor injuries. Edwin Espinal was named the FSL Player of the Week for last week.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
West Virginia is currently on their All-Star break.
A: WEST VIRGINIA BLACK BEARS
Result: Williamsport 7, Morgantown 4
Starting Pitcher: JT Brubaker, RHP – 2.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Danny Arribas, 3B – 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 R
Other Notable Performers:
Kevin Newman, SS – 1-for-3, BB
Kevin Kramer, 2B – 1-for-4
Casey Hughston, CF – 0-for-4, RBI
Game Notes: Sixth round draft pick JT Brubaker made his pro debut and had a real tough time, giving up five runs over 2.2 innings, with four of those runs coming in the third inning. He gave up a double and a two-run homer among his six hits allowed. Brubaker threw 41 pitches in the game, 29 for strikes.
Danny Arribas provided the offense with a solo homer and an RBI ground out. Third round draft pick Casey Hughston made his debut and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, though he did drive in a run. Kevin Kramer and Kevin Newman both singled and Newman drew a walk. He is 2-for-12 in three games, while Kramer is 3-for-11 in three games.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 8, Blue Jays 5
Starting Pitcher: Luis Escobar, RHP – 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Raul Siri, 2B – 3-for-5, HR, 4 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Adrian Valerio, SS – 2-for-4, 2B, BB, 3 R, 2 RBI
Michael de la Cruz, CF – 2-for-3, R, SB
Wes Freeman, RF – 0-for-5
Game Notes: The GCL Pirates opened their season with an 8-5 win, after going down 5-0 in the fourth inning. Starter Luis Escobar had a rough GCL debut, facing five batters before he was pulled from the game. He gave up three runs, with the big hit being a two-run homer.
This game featured a rehab appearance from Jared Lakind and the first outing from Robert Stock, who the Pirates purchased from an independent team earlier this season. He was originally a catcher, then switched to pitching in 2012. Both pitchers threw a shutout inning. Mister Luciano picked up the save with a scoreless ninth.
On offense, the Pirates got big games from two players that were in the DSL last year. Shortstop Adrian Valerio batted lead-off and had two hits, a walk and scored three runs. Second baseman Raul Siri(pictured above) had three hits, including a three-run homer in the seventh inning. Michael de la Cruz had two hits, a walk and stole a base.
Wes Freeman played his first game since 2012 and had a tough time, going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. He was a 16th round draft pick in 2008 out of high school. After fizzling out at High-A ball in 2012, Freeman retired. He decided to try to make a comeback this year, but his season got derailed by a knee injury at the end of Spring Training. No 2015 draft picks participated in this game.
You can view the GCL season preview here.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Yankees2 7, Pirates 5
Starting Pitcher: Adonis Pichardo, RHP – 4.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Huascar Fuentes, 1B – 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Mikell Granberry, C – 2-for-4, BB
Jeremias Portorreal, RF – 2-for-4, 3B, RBI
Paul Brands, DH – 2-for-3, 2 BB, 2 R
Game Notes: The Pirates signed five pitchers to six figure deals last year during the international signing period. That’s a bit unusual for them, as the majority of their big bonuses have been on hitters. I got a chance to see two of the pitchers today, with Adonis Pichardo ($105,000) and Roger Santana ($100,000) piggybacking against the Yankees.
When Pichardo signed, we heard reports that he reached 92 MPH, and we’ve heard further reports since then that he has hit higher. In his last outing, his velocity was down in the low-80s. It was up a bit today, sitting in the 86-88 MPH range. We’ve received reports that he’s still not at 100%, so there could be room for improvement. He’s got a bit of a hitch in his leg kick, which could add deception in the future. His arm is quick, although not exactly an easy motion. He showed some good feel for a changeup, and mostly worked with a two-seam fastball.
The actual stuff was better than the results, as the fielding quality makes it difficult to judge players by the numbers. There was only one error recorded for the Pirates, although I saw about four or five plays missed in the first two innings that would have been routine plays in A-ball.
Santana was the more impressive pitcher today. He struggled in his first inning, taking over for Pichardo with runners on base and giving up a few runs. I’m not clear on the stat line. He was credited for three runs in the box score I received, but at least two of those should have gone to Pichardo, since he left the runners on. Either way, Santana looked much better working from a clean inning. He was quick and efficient, getting a seven pitch inning in the eighth that allowed him to return for the ninth. He has easy arm action and a nice curveball that he commands well. He finished the day with a strikeout on the curve, putting it in the dirt for a swinging strike after catcher Mikell Granberry tapped the plate with his glove. The fact that he can bounce the pitch off the plate on command, while also throwing it for strikes at times, is a great thing.
Offensively, the Pirates featured a lot of bigger bonus guys from the last few years. Jeremias Portorreal had a big hit, picking up a triple in the second inning to score Granberry from first, after the catcher reached on a single. Portorreal also showed off a strong arm in right field, throwing out a runner at third. The Pirates added three more runs in the second when Huascar Fuentes hit a homer. He’s 23 years old, so his success does come with the age disclaimer. Paul Brands, who recently signed out of Holland, has been playing in the DSL until he gets a visa to join the GCL in the United States. He looked very patient in comparison to a lot of the free swinging hitters at the level. One of those free swingers was Yondry Contreras, who received $400,000 last year, and was swinging at everything, including striking out on a pitch high in the zone and in the other batter’s box. It’s only one game, but he’s had some horrible strikeout issues this year, and this would explain part of that. – Tim Williams
