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 – 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
3. Austin Meadows, CF, Bradenton – 3-for-5, 2 R, RBI
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-4, RBI, R, BB, K
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – DNP
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – 1-for-4, 2B, K
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 2-for-4, 2 R, K
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – DNP
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bristol – DNP
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – Pan-Am Tournament
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 1-for-5, 2B, RBI
14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis -DNP
15. Trey Supak, RHP, Bristol – DNP
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Bristol – DNP
17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Bradenton – 1-for-4, RBI, BB
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Indianapolis – 2-for-3, R, 2B, RBI
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 1-for-4, RBI
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – 1-for-3, BB
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 2-for-3
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Altoona – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – Pan-Am Tournament
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – DNP
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow, RHP – 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Trae Arbet, 2B – 4-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 R, RBI
Home Runs: Trae Arbet (1), Jordan George (1), Sandy Santos (2), Huascar Fuentes (3)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Columbus 6, Indianapolis 2
Starting Pitcher: Angel Sanchez, RHP – 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Willy Garcia, CF – 2-for-3, R, 2B, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Alen Hanson, 2B – 1-for-4, 2B, K
Keon Broxton, RF – 1-for-3, 2B, R
Game Notes: For five innings, Angel Sanchez was right on pace with his two recent outings. However, unlike the past outings, he was not able to make it out of the sixth, allowing two runs in the frame to cross the plate. In his two previous starts, Sanchez allowed just nine hits and one run in 14 innings of work.
A.J. Morris allowed a run and two hits in one inning in relief of Sanchez. Bobby LaFromboise struck out the lone hitter that he faced, for his ninth straight scoreless appearance. Brad Lincoln allowed two hits and two runs in 1.1 innings of work.
Willy Garcia broke out of a recent slump with two hits and his second double since joining Indianapolis. Coming into the contest, Garcia had only two hits in his last 20 at bats. A similarly cold Keon Broxton added his seventh double of the season and Alen Hanson added his 10th.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 8, Bowie 5
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow, RHP – 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Mel Rojas, Jr., CF – 3-for-4, 3B, RBI, R
Other Notable Performers:
Max Moroff, 2B – 3-for-5, R, 2 RBI
Jacob Stallings, C – 2-for-4, R
Game Notes: Tyler Glasnow easily had his best outing of the season in Altoona, going six innings of one hit ball while striking out seven. More importantly, Glasnow did not walk a batter and had a 73% strike rate. He did not allow Bowie’s first hit of the night until there was one out in the fifth inning, a double down the right field line, and he did not allow another base runner in his six innings of work.
Glasnow’s fastball hit 99 mph, and his curveball slowed down to the mid-70s. In his last start, Glasnow was able to get through the lineup the first time without trouble, only to be hit around once the batters saw him a second time. The hits were attributed to Glasnow not using his breaking pitches well and at the right time, and batters were able to sit fastball. Tonight, Glasnow utilized his curveball in a tremendous way, mixing it in frequently throughout the count. He used it especially well with two strikes, as he got at least five of his seven strikeouts using the curveball.
A great development for Glasnow would be the control of his fastball. He walked zero batters tonight, and he only walked one in his last outing. He had an average of over 4 BB/9 every year up until this year, and he is average 2.66 BB/9 over his nine outings for Altoona this season.
Jason Creasy appeared in relief of Glasnow for the Curve, presumably to get his work in because of the rainout yesterday (when Creasy was scheduled to start). He will be going to the Eastern League All Star game next week, so this sets him up to be available to pitch in the game. Creasy’s line does not look good, but I wouldn’t put much stock in them because of the change in roles coming in the game as a relief pitcher.
Mel Rojas Jr. had three hits for Altoona including an RBI triple in the second inning where the center fielder misjudged a line drive ball, and it went over his head. Max Moroff had three singles, as well. Jacob Stallings was the other Curve player to have multiple hits with two singles on the night. Jose Osuna was the lone Curve player held without a hit.
Stetson Allie hit two foul balls just left of the left field pole that probably went around 400 feet, one a moon ball and the other a line drive shot. His two RBIs, though, were on a slow rolling grounder up the middle that got into center. Allie was able to get his batting average back to .200 with the groundball single. He also struck out twice on the evening. – Sean McCool
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Dayton 5, Bradenton 4
Starting Pitcher: Clay Holmes, RHP – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Austin Meadows, CF – 3-for-5, 2 R, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Wyatt Mathisen, DH – 2-for-3
Jacoby Jones, SS – 1-for-5, 2B, RBI
Game Notes: Coming off Tommy John surgery, Clay Holmes has been solid in the GCL, but Friday was his first start for Bradenton. His success carried over on Friday night, as the right-hander allowed just a pair of hits in five innings, while picking up nine ground outs. Holmes worked five shutout innings for his second straight start.
Henry Hirsch allowed a hit and a run in his inning of work in relief of Holmes. He also walked two, but struck out the side. Felipe Gonzalez allowed a hit and an unearned run in two innings of work. Miguel Rosario allowed three runs in 0.2 of an inning and took the loss.
Austin Meadows picked up three hits, while Jacoby Jones added his 13th double of the season. Wyatt Mathisen also added two hits for Bradenton, who had ten knocks for the game.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Greensboro 5, West Virginia 2
Starting Pitcher: Colton Brewer, RHP – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Cole Tucker, SS- 2-for-4, 2 R
Other Notable Performers:
Michael Suchy, RF – 2-for-4
Elvis Escobar, CF – 2-for-4
Game Notes: Coming into the game Colten Brewer had an extremely elevated ERA for West Virginia. However, Brewer had one of his stronger outings of the season. In his last game, Brewer allowed a lone hit and a single run in four innings to put together two quality outings in a row.
John Sever did not give up a single hit in his work in relief, yet he still allowed two runs and four walks. Sam Street struck out two and allowed one walk in his 2.1 innings.
Cole Tucker, Michael Suchy, and Elvis Escobar each picked up two hits each for the Power. Tucker now has hits in 19 of his past 22 games, as consistency has really fueled a strong sophomore campaign in the organization.
A: WEST VIRGINIA BLACK BEARS
Result: West Virginia 3, Lowell 0
Starting Pitcher: Bret Helton, RHP – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Mitchell Tolman, 3B – 2-for-3, 2B, 3B, 2 R
Other Notable Performers:
Kevin Newman, SS – 0-for-5
Albert Baur, 1B – 2-for-3, RBI, BB
Ulises Montilla, 2B – 1-for-3, 2 RBI
Game Notes: Bret Helton failed to work more than three innings in his first three outings coming into Friday. However, in his start on Friday, he worked five strong shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five.
Nick Hibbing worked two scoreless innings to continue his streak of not allowing an earned run, striking out three. Jonathan Minier and Sean Keselica each worked a scoreless frame each.
Mitchell Tolman added a double and a triple for his second straight two-hit game. First round pick Kevin Newman has gone 0-for-5 in each of his past two contests and he is now hitting .170 through 13 games. Albert Baur also added a pair of hits and now has seven multi-hit games on the campaign, including each of his past two contests.
RK: BRISTOL PIRATES
Result: Bristol 9, Burlington 4
Starting Pitcher: Logan Sendelbach, RHP – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Trae Arbet, 2B – 4-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 R, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Sandy Santos, CF – 2-for-5, HR, RBI, R
Jordan George, DH – 2-for-5, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI
Game Recap: Logan Sendelbach allowed just two hits, with one being a solo home run in four innings of work to start the game. The outing lowered the hurler’s ERA to 8.31 following the start.
Tanner Anderson worked three innings in relief, giving up four hits and three runs. Jess Amedee worked two scoreless innings, allowing just a long hit while striking out a pair.
Bristol hit three home runs, with them coming from Trae Arbet, Sandy Santos, and Jordan George. Arbet collected four hit in the contest and is currently hitting just under .500 to start the campaign.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 4, Phillies 3
Starting Pitcher: Nicholas Economos, RHP – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Victor Fernandez, RF – 1-for-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Michael De La Cruz, CF – 2-for-3, RBI
Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B – 2-for-4
Game Notes: Nicholas Economos broke his two game scoreless streak on Friday night, by allowing a pair of earned runs in his four innings of work. However, he still only surrendered four hits, with those being the only baserunners that he allowed, meaning that he had some tough luck in this game.
Oderman Rocha tossed two scoreless innings in relief, allowing just a walk and a lone hit. Alex Martinez also pitched a pair of scoreless frames of his own, giving up three hits and walking a pair, but still getting out of trouble. Jen-Lei Liao allowed two hits and a run in the ninth, but wrapped up the victory.
Ke’Bryan Hayes and Michael De La Cruz stayed hot, each picking up a pair of hits. In his debut season, the hype around Hayes has not led to disappointment in the slightest, as he currently has a four-game hit streak, with three of those games featuring two hits.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Marlins 9, Pirates 7
Starting Pitcher: Adonis Pichardo, RHP – 2.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Huascar Fuentes, 1B – 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
Other Notable Performers:
Jeremias Portorreal, RF – 1-for-2, 2B, RBI, 3 BB
Gabriel Brito, C – 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB, 2 R
Game Recap: The Pirates put seven runs on the board, but that was after the Marlins already had an 8-0 lead in the fourth inning. Starter Adonis Pichardo had a tough outing, giving up five runs. The 6’3″ righty was one of the top pitchers signed last year, though he has a 6.00 ERA through eight starts in his rookie season. In the Morning Report on Friday, I mentioned that pitcher Oddy Nunez has been out with identification issues. Well it didn’t take long for him to return, although that’s only compared to the news coming out. He actually sat for five weeks while waiting for his contract to be approved. Nunez faced three batters in this game, allowing a single and striking out the other two hitters.
On offense, Jeremias Portorreal continues his recent transformation into being a more patient hitter. His 35 walks last season were a good total for a rookie in the DSL, but in his last 13 games, he has walked 17 times. His average has slowly climbed to the .231 mark after a poor start to the season. Huascar Fuentes provided the big hit that started the Pirates’ comeback, slugging a three-run homer in the sixth inning. He now has three home runs this season. Yondry Contreras, the top signing from last year, continues to struggle. He went 0-for-5 and dropped below .200 on the season. His two strikeouts give him 44 in 31 games. – John Dreker
