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Prospect Watch: Poor Starting Pitching All Around the System

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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 – Disabled List

2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List

3. Austin Meadows, CF, Bradenton – 1-for-4

4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – DNP

5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 0-for-3

6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List

7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – 1-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB

8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 2-for-5

9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB

10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Extended Spring Training

11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – 1-for-3, 2B, RBI

12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – DNP

13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 0-for-4

14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – 1.2 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 HR

15. Trey Supak, RHP, Extended Spring Training

16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Extended Spring Training

17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Bradenton – 0-for-2, 2 BB, SB

18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List

19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP

20. Willy Garcia, OF, Altoona – 1-for-4, 2 K

21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR

22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 0-for-4, BB

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

24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 0-for-4

25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP

26. Steven Brault, LHP, Bradenton – DNP

27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – 0-for-1, BB, R, SB

28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Extended Spring Training

29Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – DNP

DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Domingo Robles, LHP – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Huascar Fuentes, 1B – 3-for-6, 2B, 2 3B, 4 RBI

Home Runs: Elias Diaz (3)

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS    

Box Score

Result: Gwinnett 8, Indianapolis 7

Starting Pitcher: Adrian Sampson, RHP – 1.2 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Elias Diaz, C – 1-for-3, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB

Other Notable Performers:

Alen Hanson, 2B – 1-for-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI, BB
 
Gustavo Nunez, SS – 2-for-4, 2 RBI

Game NotesAdrian Sampson had easily his worst outing of the season. Despite the fastball still sitting from 91 to 92, Sampson had a hard time locating it, making him very hitable. He was elevated much of the night and got a lot of plate too often. Coming into the start, Sampson had not allowed more than eight hits or four runs in a start this season, and had not gone less than 5.2 innings.

 
Collin Balester continued his strong stretch with 4.1 innings of shutout, one-hit ball, while striking out four. Bobby LaFromboise worked a perfect inning and John Holdzkom allowed a pair of hits, but pitched a scoreless eighth. Deolis Guerra worked a perfect ninth for his eight straight appearance without a run. Over the stretch, he has only allowed five hits.
 
Elias Diaz hit his third home run of the season, while Alen Hanson hit his seventh triple of the campaign. Gustavo Nunez and Gorkys Hernandez each had a two-hit game.

– Ryan Palencer

AA: ALTOONA CURVE

Box Score

Result: New Hampshire 14, Altoona 1

Starting Pitcher: Chad Kuhl, RHP – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 HR

Top Hitter: Edward Salcedo, 1B – 2-for-4

Other Notable Performers:

Jose Osuna, LF – 1-for-4

Stetson Allie, RF – 1-for-3

Game Notes: Altoona lost 14-1 on Friday after playing 18 innings the night before. Chad Kuhl lasted just four innings, giving up three runs. He was followed by Jeremy Bleich, who didn’t do too bad, giving up three runs(one earned) in 3.1 innings. Then things got ugly for the Curve. Brett McKinney made his debut after getting called up from Bradenton and allowed eight earned runs in 1.2 innings. Catcher Jacob Stallings had to finish out the game on the mound. Yesterday, Altoona used two position players to pitched the last 3+ innings.

The Curve had seven hits and no walks in the game. Edward Salcedo had the only multi-hit game and Gift Ngoepe’s double was the only extra-base hit. Altoona went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Eric Wood committed two errors, giving him ten on the season.

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS   

Box Score

Result: Ft Myers 4, Bradenton 3

Starting Pitcher: Luis Heredia, RHP – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Edwin Espinal, 1B – 2-for-4, RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Harold Ramirez, RF – 1-for-3, 2B, RBI

Barrett Barnes, LF – 0-for-2, 2 BB, SB

Game Notes: Luis Heredia made his sixth start of the season on Friday. In the Morning Report on Friday, we talked about how Heredia has had trouble with high pitch counts and putting batters away. One of those issues showed up during this start in every inning he pitched. He finished the game with two runs(one earned) on five hits and a walk, with two hit batters and five strikeouts.

In the first, he retired the first two batters, one by strikeout. The next hitter reached on an error, which was then followed by a hit batter. Heredia then gave up a hard hit ground rule double down the line, which scored one run. Heredia got the next batter to ground out to second base to end the inning. The run was unearned and he needed 22 pitches to get through the inning, though 14 went for strikes.

In the second inning, Heredia walked one batter and got two ground outs and a fly out to center field. Despite facing just four batters, he needed 20 pitches(10 strikes), giving him 42 pitches in his first two innings. The third inning began with a strikeout, followed by a hard hit double to the RF/CF gap. Heredia hit the next man to put two runners on. He was able to get a called strike three for his second out. The next hitter grounded out to shortstop on the first pitch. It took 17 pitches to get through the third, but he showed good control with 13 strikes.

The fourth inning saw an infield single, which was a good stop in the hole by JaCoby Jones. The second batter collected Ft Myers’ third double, which brought home a run. Heredia got a pop up for the first out. After a bunt base hit that put runners on the corners, he picked up his fourth strikeout(three by Jasob Kanzler). Heredia ended the inning with his fifth strikeout. He needed 26 pitches this inning, giving him 85 in just four innings, 57 strikes.

On offense, Edwin Espinal had two hits and drove in his 25th run. Harold Ramirez had the only extra-base hit for Bradenton, his third double of the season. Barrett Barnes walked twice and stole his seventh base. Erich Weiss scored two runs.

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER

Box Score

Result:  Augusta 5, West Virginia 4

Starting Pitcher: Colten Brewer, RHP – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Jerrick Suiter, DH – 2-for-3, 2 RBI, BB

Other Notable Performers:

Cole Tucker, SS – 2-for-5

Elvis Escobar, CF – 1-for-5, 2B

Game Notes:  Colten Brewer came into this game with five walks in his first six starts, but control issues hurt him on Friday night. He gave up four runs on four hits, four walks and two hit batters. He now has a 4.91 ERA in 36.2 innings. That inning total is significant because he was only able to put in 38.2 innings combined in his first four seasons in the Pirates’ system.

Cole Tucker returned to the lineup after missing seven games due to an undisclosed reason. He had two singles in five trips to the plate. Michael Suchy reached on a fielder’s choice in the first inning and had to be removed from the game. Tito Polo replaced him and stole his team-leading 16th base of the year. Elvis Escobar collected his 14th double of the year, but was also thrown out stealing for the tenth time in 14 tries.

RK: DSL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Pirates 7, Tigers 4

Starting Pitcher: Domingo Robles, LHP – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Huascar Fuentes, 1B – 3-for-6, 2B, 2 3B, 4 RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Melvin Jimenez, SS – 3-for-6, 3 R

Yondry Contreras, CF – 2-for-6, 2 R

Felix Vinicio, LF – 3-for-5, RBI, BB

Game Notes: Yesterday we mentioned that Adonis Pichardo had the best outing for any DSL Pirates pitcher this season, when he gave up one run over five innings. One day later, lefty Domingo Robles topped that start by throwing five shutout innings.  Robles was one of the top pitchers signed back in July and after a tough debut, he has looked real good in his last two starts. It helped that the Pirates’ offense gave him 18 runs of support.

On offense, the Pirates had 17 hits and seven walks. They collected five doubles and first baseman Huascar Fuentes hit two triples, giving him five on the season. Fuentes had three hits, scored three times and drove in four runs. Melvin Jimenez continued his hot streak, raising his average to .404 with three singles and three runs scored. He has hit safely in all 12 games this season, his first year of pro ball. Catcher Ramy Perez had two doubles and drove in three runs. All nine position players had at least one hit and one run, and seven of them scored more than once.

 

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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