A look at how the current top 30 prospects did today. If a player is in the majors and loses his prospect eligibility, 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 the 2016 mid-season update, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
We’re working on a solution for the PHP stat codes not working in the app.
1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pirates -[insert_php]
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2. Austin Meadows, CF, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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3. Josh Bell, 1B, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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4. Kevin Newman, SS, Altoona – [insert_php]
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5. Mitch Keller, RHP, West Virginia -[insert_php]
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6. Nick Kingham, RHP, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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7.Cole Tucker, SS, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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8. Chad Kuhl, RHP, Pirates – [insert_php]
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9. Will Craig, 3B, Morgantown – [insert_php]
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10. Steven Brault, LHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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11. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, West Virginia -[insert_php]
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12. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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13. Clay Holmes, RHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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14. Yeudy Garcia, RHP, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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15. Gage Hinsz, RHP, West Virginia – [insert_php]
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16. Trevor Williams, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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17. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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18. Tito Polo, OF, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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19. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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20. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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21. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Altoona -[insert_php]
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22. Max Moroff, 2B, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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23. Taylor Hearn, LHP, West Virginia – [insert_php]
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24. Adrian Valerio, SS – Bristol – [insert_php]
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25. Braeden Ogle, LHP, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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26. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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27. Travis MacGregor, RHP, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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28. Max Kranick, RHP, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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29. Frank Duncan, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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30. Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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INDIANAPOLIS — Alen Hanson frustrated coaches once returning from a brief promotion to Pittsburgh, changing his approach at the plate and struggling offensively.
That’s not the case lately.
Hanson has shown a good approach at the plate and is playing well defensively — both of those attributes on display in Indianapolis’ 5-0 win over Louisville on Tuesday.
One day after hitting a walk-off grand slam, Hanson had two hits against the Bats. And he made five impressive plays at third base, including two impressive barehanded plays on grounders. On each of the barehanded plays, Hanson had to charge in quickly and make a sharp throw to first for the putout.
The plays are difficult enough as is, but even more so considering the constant flux in where Hanson is lined up each day lately. He has not played the same position in consecutive games since lining up at second base on Aug. 2 and 3.
Since then, Hanson has primarily alternated between second and third, with three starts in left field smattered throughout.
The bare minimum behind the decision to move Hanson around: he could become a super utility player. Ultimately, the hope is Hanson locks down one position. And right now Hanson looks like someone wanting to lock down third base.
“I think he looks good at third,” Treanor said. “His arm plays there, so that’s part of it.”
On one play, Hanson moved quickly to field a grounder backhanded on the line, and throw to first for the out, while he made another nice stop and nearly started a long 5-4-3 double play.
“It’s tough,” Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor said. “We’re trying to bounce him around to a different position every day. But he’s putting a lot of work in and he’s taking a lot of groundballs at third. The backhand play and throw to second right on the money. And then the two barehanded plays. It doesn’t get any better than that. You can tell he’s feeling more comfortable there and that’s why we’re doing it.”
Treanor didn’t want to compare Hanson’s ability to make those plays at third to others on the Indians’ roster. The Pirates have two other players in Indianapolis — Max Moroff and Jason Rogers — that are on the 40-man roster and have played third base extensively. Hanson has played just 13 games at the position.
“The degree of difficulty is very high on (the barehanded plays),” Treanor said. “You see in the big leagues where they try to barehand it and they don’t come up with it. He came up with both of them tonight.”
At the plate, Hanson continues his upward swing and looks more like the player on display at the beginning of the season. Hanson hit .328 in April, but struggled mightily after returning to Indianapolis after making his major league debut while filling in for a bereavement, hitting .178 in May. But since then he’s been on a slow tick upward, and is peaking in August. Hanson hit .250 in June, .284 in July and now .318 this month.
Hanson added another two hits — both opposite field to left. He had a nice opposite field RBI single in the eighth inning where he didn’t try to do too much. Hanson has been labeled a player with just enough power in his bat to get himself in trouble, taking him out of the approach he needs to have. But his approach lately has been what the organization wants to see.
“He hit to left field and that’s the approach he has to have, and he has to keep the ball out of the air,” Treanor said.
Hanson was one of four Indianapolis players — Austin Meadows, Max Moroff, and Jose Osune being the others — with two hits on Tuesday.
Meadows had an RBI triple into the left-centerfield gap in the third inning, where he showed no effects of the hamstring injury that put him on the disabled list in July. Meadows had a double into the rightfield corner in the first inning. At the Triple-A level, Meadows has had 11 of his 20 hits go for extra bases.
Josh Bell was 0-for-2, but did draw two walks — one in a 10-pitch at-bat.
Kelvin Marte made his second consecutive spot start and there was little to complain about. He threw six no-hit innings, allowing two walks and striking out three. Marte allowed just one earned run in five innings against Buffalo last week in a spot start.
The Indians have won 5 of their last 6 games. – Brian Peloza
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Altoona had their game suspended with the score 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning. Barrett Barnes connected on his fifth home run shortly before the rains came on. Tyler Eppler threw three shutout innings with two hits and a walk. This game will be completed on Thursday. The second game of the doubleheader has been canceled since the Curve and Portland don’t meet again this season. They have a doubleheader already scheduled for Wednesday.
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Bradenton picked up a 5-2 victory, as Austin Coley rebounded from a tough first inning to pitch seven solid innings over Palm Beach. Coley allowed two runs in the first inning, then he gave up just three singles over the next six innings. He needed just 76 pitches to get through seven frames, and he posted a 10:5 GO/AO ratio. This was his longest outing since June, and in his last four starts combined, Coley had allowed 21 runs over 16 innings. Tate Scioneaux threw two scoreless innings for the save.
Pablo Reyes had a big game, going 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and a solo homer, his fourth of the season. Kevin Kramer went 2-for-4 with an RBI and his 26th double. Jerrick Suiter had three hits and an RBI. Both Suiter and Kramer drove in their 50th run of the season. Cole Tucker had his 18-game on base streak snapped, while Connor Joe extended his streak to 15 games with a 1-for-4 night. Tito Polo had a tough night, striking out in all four at-bats, though he did reach once on a wild pitch on the third strike and ended up scoring a run.
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West Virginia sent Bret Helton out to the mound, coming off two of his better starts of the season. He ended up getting knocked out of the game after just 4.1 innings, but the bats made sure the Power rolled to an easy 13-2 victory. Helton had his issues, then gave way to Sean Keselica who put on a pitching clinic in his 2.2 innings. He came on and got a strikeout and a ground out to end the fifth. He struck out the side in the sixth, then struck out the side in the seventh as well, with his only blemish being a hit batter with two outs.
There were some big games on this night from struggling players. Starting from the lead-off spot, Casey Hughston had four hits, including two doubles and his ninth home run of the season. He also had a walk, drove in a pair, and scored four times. Hughston stole his 12th base and picked up an outfield assist. Four Pirates have picked up the “Dave Parker Hat Trick”, collecting a home run, a stolen base and an outfield assist, showing off three tools in the same game. That’s something that last happened for a Pirates player sometime before 2012. Austin Meadows, Henrry Rosario and Logan Hill were the others to accomplish the feat earlier this season.
Speaking of Hill, he slugged two homers in this game. That gives him eight with West Virginia and ten on the season. He drove in a total of five runs. Mitchell Tolman also had a big day, though he hasn’t struggled like the other two players this season. Tolman has actually hit well recently, picking up hits in nine of his last ten games (he drew a walk in the other game). He had four hits in this game, drove in a run and scored four times. Jordan George had three hits, including two doubles. He is hitting .351 since being promoted from Morgantown.
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Morgantown is off until Wednesday due to the NYPL All-Star game.
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BRISTOL, VA – The Bristol Pirates won 6-0 tonight in a game that was delayed by rain at the start, and shortened by rain at the end. After a one hour and 45 minute rain delay, the Pirates got off to a good start, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. This was fueled by some sloppy play by Pulaski, with the left fielder committing a two base error on a single, and the catcher making a throwing error on a stolen base attempt by Alexis Bastardo at third base, allowing Bastardo to score.
Mike Wallace took it from there, throwing a gem with six shutout innings, allowing just one hit, no walks, and striking out seven. Wallace doesn’t have overpowering stuff, sitting 86-89 MPH with his fastball, and mostly working with his off-speed stuff. He went heavy with his changeup, throwing 22 changeups in 68 pitches. He also mixed in 12 curveballs.
That put his fastball usage at exactly 50%, which is a massive change from what a Pirates pitching prospect usually shows. It’s definitely a big change from what I saw in West Virginia last week, when Mitch Keller, Gage Hinsz, and Taylor Hearn were working exclusively with their fastball the first few innings, with 1-2 off-speed pitches at most. This makes sense though, as they are power pitchers, and Wallace is more finesse. This approach will, and has worked in the lower levels, but doesn’t project for upper level success.
Shane Kemp came on and pitched two shutout innings in relief, allowing no walks or hits, and striking out four. He was sitting 90-91, and relying heavily on his slider, again going with an approach that doesn’t lead to much upper level success.
Bristol scored four insurance runs in the sixth inning. The Pulaski reliever had some serious control problems, walking three of his four batters faced, and hitting the other. The next reliever came in and let two runs score with a wild pitch and a passed ball. The final run came in on a single by Deybi Garcia.
After the final out of the eighth inning, the skies opened and the game was called, with Bristol getting the 6-0 win. – Tim Williams
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The GCL Pirates defeated the Yankees East for the second day in a row, winning by a 7-2 score. Fourth round pick Braeden Ogle started and allowed two runs (one earned) over four innings. He pitched into the fifth, but after the first three batters reached base (one by error), he left for a reliever. Ogle gave up three hits and three walks, which equals the amount of walks he issued in his first five starts combined. In 17.2 innings, he has a 1.53 ERA and a .188 BAA. Left-handed batters are 2-for-15 against him.
Austin Shields pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. In his pro debut last week, he gave up a hit and three walks, while recording just one out. He was still a little wild on Tuesday afternoon, but it didn’t result in any walks. You can read more about Shields here.
The offense was led by Mikell Granberry, who hit a three-run homer in the third inning. Unfortunately for him, he was hit on the left hand by a 95 MPH fastball in his next at-bats and had to leave. I was told there were no breaks, but he will likely miss some time. That will be bad for the Pirates, as they are three games back in the standings with only 14 games left in the season, and he has been their best hitter recently.
Sam Kennelly hit his second homer since being demoted to the GCL last week. He also had a single and two runs scored. Luis Benitez had two singles, two walks, two stolen bases and an RBI. He has 15 steals on the year. Melvin Jimenez had two walks, a run scored and an RBI.
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The DSL Pirates lost a tough game on Tuesday to the top team in their division. Even though the Pirates are 19.5 games back of the first place Rangers1, they played them tough in each game this week and had a chance to win both games late. The Pirates tied this game in the ninth, then lost in 2-1 in the tenth after a two-out walk, followed by a walk-off double.
Leandro Pina started this game and gave up one unearned run over five innings. He had hit some speed bumps recently, giving up seven runs over 12.2 innings in his last three starts combined. Prior to those games, he allowed just two earned runs over eight starts. Eumir Sepulveda followed him and he threw three shutout innings, then Jose Delgado took the loss with a run over 1.2 innings.
The Pirates had six hits in the game, all singles. They went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and didn’t get their run until the ninth inning. Cristopher Perez drew a walk to start the inning, then left for pinch-runner Rudy Guzman. After a wild pitch and two outs, Rodolfo Castro came through with a pinch-hit single to score Guzman from second base. Kevin Sanchez had two hits and a walk. It is his first multi-hit game since July 18th.
