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Prospect Watch: Good Final Starts From Escobar, Hutchison, and Hinsz

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P2 Top 30

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, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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2. Austin Meadows, CF, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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3. Josh Bell, 1B, Pirates – [insert_php]
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4. Kevin Newman, SS, Altoona – [insert_php]
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5. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – [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, Pirates – [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, Pirates – [insert_php]
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18. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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19. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Altoona -[insert_php]
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20. Max Moroff, 2B, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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21. Taylor Hearn, LHP, West Virginia – [insert_php]
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22. Adrian Valerio, SS – Bristol – [insert_php]
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23. Braeden Ogle, LHP, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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24. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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25. Travis MacGregor, RHP, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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26. Max Kranick, RHP, GCL Pirates – [insert_php]
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27. Frank Duncan, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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28. Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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29. Connor Joe, 3B, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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30. Erich Weiss, 2B, Altoona – [insert_php]
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P2 Top Performers

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Prospect-Watch-Indy

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INDIANAPOLIS — He was the a focal point of attention after being the lone return in a 3-for-1 trade.

Drew Hutchison had plenty of attention on him after being acquired in a trade for Pirates starting pitcher Francisco Liriano, and prospects Reese McGuire and Harold Ramirez. However, his first few starts with Triple-A Indianapolis left something to be desired.

But Hutchison used his last minor league start of the season on Saturday to quell some concerns, pitching 6.1 shutout innings in the Indians’ 1-0 win over Louisville in front of a season-high crowd at Victory Field of 15,134.

A majority of Hutchison’s first six appearances with Indianapolis left something to be desired. He allowed four runs and four walks in his first start; five runs and three walks in his second start; 10 hits and three runs in his fourth start; and three runs and five walks in his most recent start.

On Saturday, Hutchison had good command of his fastball and put together his best performance since joining the Pirates organization, allowing just four hits in his 6.1 innings of work. He walked one batter and struck out five, throwing 59 of his 97 pitches for a strike.

“I thought he got better as the game went on and he started executing better,” Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor said. “I thought he commanded better as the game went on.”

Hutchison suffered a broken callous on his throwing thumb in a start against Toledo on Aug. 8, which led to some lingering issues in his starts that followed.

The outing on Saturday was just the second time in six appearances with Indianapolis that Hutchison allowed less than three earned runs. But with 73 career starts in the major leagues, Hutchison was far from panicking about his early performances with his new organization.

“I wouldn’t say a sense of relief — I know what I’m capable of,” Hutchison said. “I ripped my finger early on and I was just kind of babying it from then on and it was frustrating. I think it messed with my mechanics a little bit. But I think last time and this time I got back to being myself. I think it’s just about getting back to that and executing pitches.”

Hutchison retired 11 consecutive batters from the final out of the third inning through the first out of the seventh inning. His outing ended in the seventh inning after allowing consecutive one-out singles to Jesse Winker and Carlos Triunfel.

The command of Hutchison’s fastball was the most encouraging aspect of his outing, while he also shows the ability to elevate pitches that lead to swing and misses.

“I think it was just executing pitches tonight,” Hutchison said. “I felt like I was back to being myself.”

Louisville threatened in the first inning with Dilson Herrera’s two-out walk, followed by Steve Selsky’s single. Hutchison struck out Winker to end that threat. He also worked around Tony Renda’s two-out single in the third inning.

In seven appearances with Indianapolis, six of those starts, Hutchison had a 4.50 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 36 innings, striking out 28 and walking 15.

Hutchison is a likely call-up to the Pirates, due to being on the 40-man roster and his previous major league experience. Treanor thinks Hutchison could help in the major leagues.

“I think so because he’s been there and has done it,” Treanor said. “We’re just trying to get him healthy and stronger. If he can command everything, he has an idea. He has some deception because he throws balls up and they miss him.”

All five of the Indianapolis hits were doubles, with Willy Garcia having two of them, including one that scored Jose Osuna in the second inning.

Osuna, Jacob Stallings, and Danny Ortiz also had a double.

Jung Ho Kang played in his second game with Indianapolis during his current rehab for a left shoulder injury he suffered sliding into second base against the Marlins on Aug. 19. Kang went 0-for-2 at the plate, but drew two walks. He struck out once and grounded out in his other at-bat.

Treanor said Kang is scheduled to play with Indianapolis on Sunday at Louisville, but will likely rejoin the Pirates after that game.

Elias Diaz did not play for the second consecutive game after being a late scratch for Friday’s game due to a sore knee. The decision was precautionary, Treanor said.

Zach Phillips made his second relief appearance since joining the Indians in the trade for Kyle Lobstein. Philips entered two runners on base and two outs, but he walked Jesse Winker against the only batter he faced.

Jorge Rondon pitched a clean 1.1 innings to gain his 12th save of the season. – Brian Peloza

Prospect-Watch-Altoona-Curve

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Altoona had a chance to clinch the Eastern League playoffs tonight, but blew a 3-2 lead in the ninth inning, and lost on a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to lose 7-3. Cody Dickson made the start, giving up two runs on six hits in five innings, with four walks and seven strikeouts. Walks have been an issue for Dickson this year, who had 89 in 135 innings heading into tonight. He’s been much more dominant with the strikeouts in the second half, with 50 in 49.2 innings since the All-Star break, compared to 55 in 90.1 before. But the control has been just as poor.

Control was an issue tonight for the Altoona pitching staff, with the bullpen combining for seven more walks in 3.1 innings. That included two walks from Montana DuRapau, who also gave up three hits and all five runs in the ninth. On the offensive side, Jin-De Jhang led the way, going 3-for-4 with a double. Edwin Espinal and Stetson Allie both had one hit and picked up RBIs.

Prospect-Watch-Bradenton

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Bradenton continued a suspended game, leading 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning. They proceeded to give up six runs in the sixth and seventh innings, losing by a score of 7-3. JT Brubaker had a good start before the game was suspended, giving up one run on three hits in four innings, with no walks and two strikeouts. Tate Scioneaux and Nick Neumann gave up the runs that led to the loss.

Jordan Luplow led the offense, going 2-for-3 with his ninth homer of the year. Jerrick Suiter also had two hits. Pablo Reyes picked up his 20th double of the year, continuing to see more playing time in center field after the Tito Polo trade. Connor Joe and Cole Tucker also picked up hits.

The Marauders won big in game two by a score of 11-6. Luplow hit another homer, this one his tenth of the year. However, that was just insurance, putting the Marauders up 8-1 at the time. They got off to a hot start in the first inning with six runs, and had a 7-1 lead after the top of the second. Luplow had two hits and a walk. Logan Ratledge went 3-for-4 with a double. Connor Joe went 2-for-3 with two walks. The only person on the team who didn’t get a hit was Michael Suchy, although he did draw a walk.

Yeudy Garcia lasted four innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits, with a walk and five strikeouts. He threw 77 pitches, with 53 strikes, and by the pitch count and stats, it appears this was one of the starts where he didn’t have enough command of his pitches to put batters away early. Sam Street gave up four unearned runs, while Luis Heredia closed it out with 1.1 shutout innings.

Prospect-Watch-WV-Power

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CHARLESTON, WV – In his last start of 2016, Gage Hinsz exhibited his best and worst traits over five innings tonight. Hinsz came into the 2016 season with questionable command of his fastball and a promising curve; in those respects, tonight he looked like the Hinsz of old. Hinsz had his curveball working early, using it to get out of a jam with runners on the corners with an inning-ending strikeout in the first.

His fastball, though, found less success. He kept the pitch down, limiting the damage done by the Greenville Drive to two hits, but his natural downward movement on the pitch carried well below the strike zone. Ultimately, only 53 of Hinsz’s 86 pitches went for strikes, and he issued a season-high four walks.

On the whole, Hinsz’s season can be deemed a success. He brought his walks per nine innings down from 5.4 to 2.4 while he increased his strikeouts per nine from 5.4 to 6.5. His fastball now sits around 93-94, up a tick from last season, and when his command is on, he makes quick work of opposing batters. His curveball has developed into a complementary pitch that keeps him in the game when his fastball falters.

The Power offense jumped to an early 4-0 advantage. In the first Logan Hill drew a walk and came around to score when a Carlos Munoz single skipped past the Greenville center fielder who was momentarily blinded by the sun.

Each Power batter saw action in the second with Jordan George leading off the inning with a double. George moved to third on an error and scored on Alfredo Reyes’s sacrifice fly. John Bormann crossed the plate on a Casey Hughston RBI single, and Hughston scored on a single by Logan Hill. Daniel Arribas had a chance to break the game open with the bases loaded but grounded out to end the inning.

Jordan George has been a standout since donning the Power jersey in mid-July; he has reached base in 28 of 32 games with West Virginia. Since joining the team, he boasts a slash line of .327/.464/.459. All three categories are better than his time in Morgantown to start the season, and if he puts on a little more muscle in the off-season, his high double rate could translate to some serious pop.

The Power batters mustered only one hit in the final six innings of the game, but the Power relievers shut down Greenville for the win. Julio Vivas looked particularly strong in relief. His three-quarters delivery fooled batters into two strikeouts and an even 3:3 GO:AO ratio. Cesilio Pimentel worked a hitless ninth for his sixth save of the season. – Abigail Miskowiec

Prospect-Watch-Morgantown

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Luis Escobar finished his season on a high note, pitching six one-hit innings for Morgantown, with two walks and seven strikeouts. Escobar started off a bit rough, hitting his first batter with a pitch, then giving up a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. He got out of the inning with no further damage, and the rest of his outing was limited to a walk in the second, a hit in the fourth, and working around an error in the third inning.

On the season, Escobar had a 2.93 ERA in 67.2 innings, with a 61:28 K/BB ratio. He has some command issues, and his pitches aren’t always consistent. However, he is a promising young pitcher who has gotten his fastball up to 97 MPH this year in his age 20 season, and he should go on to be the big pitcher to watch in West Virginia next year.

Hunter Owen had an interesting line score. He went 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. However, all three of the RBIs came on productive outs, while the double didn’t knock anyone in, but led to him scoring a run. That performance resulted in four of the five runs for Morgantown today. Ty Moore had a three hit day, while Albert Baur had two hits. Mike Wallace and Cristian Mota combined for three no-hit innings, keeping the one-hitter in tact.

Prospect-Watch-Bristol
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The Bristol Pirates have finished their season.

Prospect-Watch-GCL

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The GCL Pirates have finished their season.

Prospect-Watch-DSL

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The DSL Pirates have finished their season.

Tim Williams
Tim Williams
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.

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