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Prospect Watch: Hanson Returns With a Bang, Brault Dominates

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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 – 0-for-4

4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 0-for-4

5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – DNP

6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List

7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – 3-for-4, 2 R, HR, RBI, 2 SB

8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 4-for-5, 2B, 3 R, BB, SB

9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – 0-for-3

10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bristol – DNP

11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – 1-for-4, 3B, RBI

12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – DNP

13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – DNP

14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP

15. Trey Supak, RHP, Bristol – DNP

16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Bristol – DNP

17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Bradenton – 0-for-3, BB, R , SB

18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – DNP

19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP

20. Willy Garcia, OF, Indianapolis – 0-for-3

21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List

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

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

24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 2-for-3, 2B, BB

25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List

26. Steven Brault, LHP, Altoona  – 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – 0-for-2, 4 BB

28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Bradenton – DNP

29Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP

30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – DNP

 

DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Steven Brault, LHP – 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Cole Tucker, SS – 4-for-5, 3 R, 2B, BB, SB

Home Runs: Stetson Allie (11), Chase Simpson (7), Michael Suchy (5), Alen Hanson (5)

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS    

Box Score

Result: Indianapolis 2, Columbus 1

Starting Pitcher: Radhames Liz, RHP – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, 2B – 3-for-4, 2 R, HR, RBI, 2 SB

Other Notable Performers:

Gift Ngoepe, SS – 1-for-3

Jaff Decker, CF – 0-for-2, 2 BB, RBI

Game Notes: Alen Hanson returned from missing two weeks with a hand injury and had a big game during the 2-1 Indianapolis win. He hit a third inning solo inside-the-park homer to give the Indians a 2-1 lead they would never lose. Hanson also scored the first run after he singled to lead-off the game, then stole second base. He had two steals in the game, giving him 19 on the year.

Radhames Liz made his second start and followed up four shutout innings with one run over five innings, striking out seven batters. Jeff Inman made his AAA debut and retired all four batters he faced with three ground outs and a strikeout.

Willy Garcia and Keon Broxton are really struggling with their promotion to AAA. Broxton has been around longer and has a .175 average and 34 strikeouts in 29 games. Garcia is still new to the level, but he’s hitting .152 in 13 games, with 13 strikeouts.

 

AA: ALTOONA CURVE

Box Score

Result: Altoona 2, Trenton 0

Starting Pitcher: Steven Brault, LHP – 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Stetson Allie, RF – 1-for-3, HR, RBI, BB

Other Notable Performers:

Max Moroff, SS – 2-for-4, BB

Sebastian Valle, C – 2-for-4, 2B

Eric Wood, 3B – 1-for-4, RBI, BB

Game Notes: Steven Brault started this game by retiring 12 straight batters. After a lead-off double in the fifth inning, he finished the game by retiring the last nine batters he faced. He dominated from the first pitch, throwing 84 pitches total in the game, 60 for strikes. Brault had five strikeouts and seven ground ball outs. In his last start, he threw six shutout innings, so he has apparently adapted to the jump to AA quickly.

I planned on leading the Altoona recap off with Max Moroff playing shortstop for the first time since last June, but that was before Steven Brault turned into Lefty Grove. Moroff has been the best hitter on the Curve, at least among the full-time players, because Adam Frazier has been better when he’s played. Frazier has also played shortstop the previous two games after Gift Ngoepe was promoted, so it’s interesting to see Moroff go back to his original position. He played just five games there last year with Bradenton, all in the middle of June, while Frazier saw the majority of the time at shortstop.

Stetson Allie provided the big hit of the game, his 11th home run of the season. That leads all players in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system.

 

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS   

Box Score

Result: Charlotte 5, Bradenton 2

Starting Pitcher: Frank Duncan, RHP – 7.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR

Top Hitter: Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 2-for-3, 2B, BB

Other Notable Performers:

Erich Weiss, 2B – 1-for-4

Harold Ramirez, RF – 1-for-4, 3B, RBI

Game Notes: This game almost wasn’t fair for the Marauders, as Charlotte used four Major League players on rehab in this game. One is a name very familiar to Pirates’ fans, Kyle McPherson, who signed a two-year minor league deal earlier this year with the Rays. He threw two scoreless innings, which followed one run over four innings for Jake Odorizzi. Charlotte also had John Jaso and James Loney batting 1-2 in the order and they combined for four hits.

On the Marauders side, Frank Duncan pitched well considering the lineup he was facing. He went seven innings and allowed three runs. Wyatt Mathisen has two hits, including his eighth double of the season, which came off McPherson. Harold Ramirez connected on his fourth triple, which plated the only run off Odorizzi. Ramirez has seen his average drop 45 points in his last six games, yet he still has a modest five-game hitting streak. He is 5-for-26 over that stretch. Barrett Barnes stole his 11th base of the year.

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER

Box Score

Result: West Virginia 11, Kannapolis 4

Starting Pitcher: Austin Coley, RHP – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Cole Tucker, SS – 4-for-5, 3 R, 2B, BB, SB

Other Notable Performers:

Michael Suchy, RF – 2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, BB

Chase Simpson, DH – 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, BB, SB

Tito Polo, CF – 0-for-2, 4 BB, SB

Game Notes: Cole Tucker reached base five times, leading the way in West Virginia’s 11-4 win. Perhaps even more impressive than Tucker’s four hits and a walk, are the four unintentional walks drawn by Tito Polo, who never had more than 17 walks in a season prior to this game. He now has 20 this year, though this is his first full season. Polo stole his 23rd base of the season, while Tucker added his 20th.

Michael Suchy and Chase Simpson each homered, and Suchy drove in four runs. Jordan Luplow, Jerrick Suiter and Simpson each drove in two runs.

Austin Coley enjoyed all the support he got from his bats and put together a solid outing after two rocky starts. He gave up two runs over five innings. Jake Burnette followed him and continued to have trouble with his control, walking three in his only inning. John Sever threw two perfect innings, retiring four of the six batters he faced on strikeouts.

 

A: WEST VIRGINIA BLACK BEARS

Box Score

Result: State College 5, West Virginia 2

Starting Pitcher: Dario Agrazal Jr., RHP – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Ty Moore, LF – 2-for-3, 2B, BB

Other Notable Performers:

Danny Arribas, 3B – 2-for-4

Kevin Newman, SS – 1-for-5

Kevin Kramer, 2B – 1-for-5, RBI

Game Notes: Dario Agrazal Jr. had a rough first inning, then settled down nicely over the next five innings in Morgantown’s 5-2 loss. He got the first two outs of the game, then gave up a double, walk, wild pitch and a single that plated two runs. After that, the only run that scored against him was unearned. Agrazal didn’t have any strikeouts, but he did get 11 outs on ground balls. He has a 2.81 ERA in three starts.

Ty Moore, Albert Baur and Danny Arribas all had two hits in the game. Moore collected his fourth double and he is now hitting .385 through his first ten games. Arribas has a .333 average in nine games. Kevin Newman is 8-for-38 in his first nine games, while Kevin Kramer is 7-for-35, also in nine games.

 

 

RK: BRISTOL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Elizabethton 7, Bristol 4

Starting Pitcher: Billy Roth, RHP – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Trae Arbet, 2B – 3-for-7, 2 2B

Other Notable Performers:

Carlos Munoz, 1B – 2-for-5, 2B

Jose Salazar, 3B – 2-for-6

Game Notes: In each of his first two starts, Billy Roth has gone five innings, issuing one walk and picking up six strikeouts. This time however, he gave up just two runs, after allowing three in his season debut. Roth had control issues last year, with 33 walks in 45 innings for Bristol. In this game, he had a 7:0 GO/AO ratio.

Playing just his fourth game of the season, Trae Arbet celebrated his 21st birthday with three hits, including two doubles and two runs scored. Carlos Munoz, Jose Salazar and Sandy Santos each had two hits. This game went 14 innings before the Pirates lost. The scored three runs in the top of the ninth to take a 4-3 lead, only to let Elizabethton tie it up in the bottom of the inning.

RK: GCL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Pirates 3, Tigers 1

Starting Pitcher: Seth McGarry, RHP – 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B – 3-for-4, 3 R, 2B, 3B, HBP

Other Notable Performers:

Sam Kennelly, 1B – 2-for-3, 2 2B, RBI, BB

Raul Siri, 2B – 1-for-4

Victor Fernandez, RF – 1-for-4, SB

Garrett Russini, C – 2-for-2, BB

Game Notes: The Pirates had a big day on offense, although it only led to three runs in the game, all scored by Ke’Bryan Hayes. They put 12 hits on the board, plus two walks and a hit batter, but they went 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position. Hayes hit his first career double and triple, plus he added a single and a hit-by-pitch. He has reached base nine times in his first three games. Sam Kennelly had two doubles and drove in one of the runs. Jhoan Herrera picked up his seventh RBI. The opposing starter was 2015 first round pick Beau Burrows, who went the first three innings and allowed one run.

Seth McGarry started the game for the Pirates. The 8th round pick was making his second start and he threw four no-hit innings, allowing just a walk. The performance does come with the asterisk that he is 21 years old in a league where the average age is under 20 and most players are just out of high school or just over from the DSL/VSL. Not many college pitchers start in the GCL. McGarry is from Bradenton and so is Garrett Russini, his batterymate in this game. Russini had two hits, a walk and put down a sacrifice bunt.

Raul Siri had a single in four trips to the plate, giving him a season-long nine game hit streak.

 

RK: DSL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Braves 7, Pirates 2

Starting Pitcher: Miguel Hernandez, RHP – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Melvin Jimenez, 2B – 2-for-4, 2B

Other Notable Performers:

Felix Vinicio, LF – 1-for-4, RBI

Jeremias Portorreal, RF – 1-for-2

Game Notes: The DSL Pirates lost 7-2 on Wednesday, dropping their sixth straight game. Miguel Hernandez has been one of the better pitchers on the team, allowing just four earned runs over his last four starts, which have all gone five innings(maximum allowed for Pirates’ pitchers in the DSL). Despite his strong pitching, he still has an 0-3 record, which points to the trouble that the bullpen and offense have had this season. That was evident in this game, as the Pirates scored twice and the bullpen allowed five runs. The Pirates used four pitchers in this game and all of them hit at least one batter.

Melvin Jimenez was the only batter to collect two hits in the game and his double was the only extra-base hit. Right fielder Eliecer Ramirez left with an injury in the seventh inning that occurred in the field. Center fielder Eddy Vizcaino also left the game at the same time, though I’m told that there was no collision on the play and he is fine. His removal was for an earlier mental error on the basepaths.

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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