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Prospect Watch: Gage Hinsz Struggles in Season Debut

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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 for an extended time (Tyler Glasnow, Trevor Williams, Alen Hanson), or loses his prospect eligibility, he will be removed from this list. 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 more active prospects on the list. Rankings are from the 2017 Prospect Guide, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.

1. Austin Meadows, CF, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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2. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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3. Kevin Newman, SS, Altoona – [insert_php]
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4. Cole Tucker, SS, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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5. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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6. Will Craig, 3B, Bradenton –  [insert_php]
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7. Taylor Hearn, LHP, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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8. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Bradenton  – [insert_php]
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9. Nick Kingham, RHP, Extended Spring Training – [insert_php]
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10. Steven Brault, LHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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11. Clay Holmes, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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12. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Extended Spring Training – [insert_php]
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13. Max Kranick, RHP, Extended Spring Training – [insert_php]
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14. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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15. Edgar Santana, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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16. Luis Escobar, RHP, West Virginia – [insert_php]
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17. Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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18. Yeudy Garcia, RHP, Altoona -[insert_php]
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19. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Altoona -[insert_php]
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20. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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21. Stephen Alemais, SS, West Virginia –  [insert_php]
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22. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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23. Travis MacGregor, RHP, Extended Spring Training – [insert_php]
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24. Barrett Barnes, LF, Extended Spring Training -[insert_php]
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25. Max Moroff, 2B, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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26. Eric Wood, 3B, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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27. J.T. Brubaker, RHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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28. Chris Bostick, INF/OF, Indianapolis –  [insert_php]
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29. Connor Joe, 3B, Altoona – [insert_php]
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30. Jose Osuna, 1B, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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P2 Top Performers

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Prospect-Watch-Indy

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INDIANAPOLIS — Pitching in traffic.

Indianapolis manager Andy Barkett has used that phrase frequently, referencing the need for pitchers to get out of jams whether inherited or self-induced.

Josh Lindblom did just that after allowing a triple to the first batter he faced. The veteran right-hander got out of that jam with a pair of shallow flyouts and a groundout.

And he cruised from that point. Lindblom allowed just three hits over five scoreless innings, striking out seven and walking none. He threw 56 of his 80 pitches for a strike.

“He pitched inside well which opened up the outer half for his secondary pitches,” Indianapolis manager Andy Barkett said. “He commanded the zone, he attacked, he mixed well. Just a real solid performance from an experienced pitcher.”

Indianapolis struggled offensively, managing just four hits in a 1-0 loss to Columbus in 11 innings. The Indians left five runners on base and were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and struck out in nine of their final 11 at-bats.

On a night when Tyler Glasnow struggled mightily with control in his season debut with the Pirates, Lindblom had an effective outing. His fastball was sitting at about 92 MPH, which he mixed with breaking pitches to keep hitters off-balance.

But make no mistake, Lindblom’s chance to get promoted to Pittsburgh will be as a reliever. The plan early in the season is to have Lindblom start to get him more innings and stretched out.

He would likely fill the role of a middle reliever if promoted to the major leagues at any point. However, injuries or any other sort of unexpected issues could keep Lindblom in the Indianapolis’ rotation.

Columbus right fielder Erik Gonzalez led the game off with a stand-up triple that landed on the top of the center field fence. But Lindblom induced consecutive shallow flyouts, before getting Chris Colabello to groundout to third baseman Eric Wood to end the inning.

“You never really expect anybody to get out of that,” Barkett said. “A guy like him didn’t waver and it was like a walk in the park. He’s out there like, ‘Fine, no problem. I’m going to get my three outs and make my pitches, and he did.”

Lindblom struck out the side in the second inning, with a hard single mixed into that inning. He retired the side in order in the third inning on two grounders and a flyout.

Columbus third baseman Giovanny Urshela hit a two-out double down into the left field corner in the fourth inning, but Lindblom struck out Richie Shaffer on 92 MPH fastball. Lindblom retired the side in the fifth inning on a pair of strikeouts and a groundout

Indianapolis first baseman Jose Osuna crushed a double to the center field wall with one out in the fourth inning. Elias Diaz grounded out to shortstop for the second out of the inning, and Anderson Feliz grounded out in an 11-pitch at-bat.

Doyvdas Neverauskas pitched two scoreless innings in relief — the eighth and ninth — but struggled somewhat with his command, throwing only 19 of his 36 pitches for a strike.

Columbus threatened in the ninth inning, when Indianapolis third baseman Eric Wood charged a slow rolling grounder but completely overthrew first baseman Jose Osuna, allowing the runner to advance to second.

Giovanny Urshela was retired on a deep flyout to centerfield on a 97 MPH fastball, but that advanced the runner to third. Neverauskas walked Richie Shaffer on four pitches, but got Jeremy Lucas to line out on a hard shot to center.

In the 11th inning, Indianapolis reliever Dan Runzler allowed a single to Adam Moore, before getting Ronny Rodriguez to pop out to Ngoepe. Jordan Smith, though, reached on a two-base throwing error by Chris Bostick. Brett McKinney entered the game in relief with the bases loaded and one out, after Runzler intentionally walked a batter. McKinney induced a grounder to Bostick at second base, which allowed a run to score. But McKinney forgot to cover first base on the play, leaving the bases loaded. The inning ended when Jeremy Lucas flied out to right fielder Anderson Feliz, who threw out a runner trying to score from third.

Wood doubled for his first Triple-A hit, going 1-for-4 in the game. Austin Meadows was 0-for-4 with one strikeout, as his average dipped to .056. Elias Diaz also went 0-for-4, while Ngoepe was 1-for-4 and Osuna was 1-for-3.

Max Moroff was not in the lineup. The team took outdoor batting practice, but Moroff hit in the indoor cage, Barkett said. – Brian Peloza

Prospect-Watch-Altoona-Curve

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Altoona and Richmond each scored a run in the first inning. Eleven innings later, a Pablo Reyes single scored Wyatt Mathisen to make it 2-1 and give Altoona the win.

Tanner Anderson got his first start of the season and allowed just one run over five innings. He had three starts all of last season, but the Pirates sent him to the Arizona Fall League so he could build up his innings in anticipation of him starting this season. Anderson allowed five hits and also walked three batters, which is actually his new career high. He had three strikeouts, a 6:2 GO/AO ratio and needed 71 pitches to get through his outing, with 48 going for strikes. Those stats are typical of Anderson, who isn’t overpowering, but he’s very efficient with his pitches and keeps the ball on the ground.

After Anderson left, the bullpen of Tate Scioneaux, Buddy Borden and Montana DuRapau combined to throw seven shutout innings for the win. They gave up just four hits and one walk.

On offense, Kevin Newman continued his fast start to the season, hitting a lead-off double, then scoring the first run of the game. He later added a single and a walk, though he did strikeout twice, which is a rare occurrence for him in one game. The RBI single by Reyes was his only hit of the game. He started at second base while Kevin Kramer had the day off. Reyes has also started at shortstop and center field this season. Edwin Espinal had two hits, including a double that scored Newman. Connor Joe played right field and went 0-for-4, with two strikeouts and two walks.

Prospect-Watch-Bradenton

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Bradenton won for the fifth time in a row to open up the season, defeating St Lucie by a 6-4 score. Gage Hinsz made his first start of the season and allowed all four runs by the Mets in his 3.2 innings. Hinsz gave up four hits and two walks, while striking out two batters. He threw a total of 84 pitches, with 47 going for strikes and he had a 5:4 GO/AO ratio.

Two of the four hits Hinsz allowed were off the bat of Mets outfielder Juan Lagares, who is there on rehab. If there’s a silver lining to the start, it’s that most of the damage came from a player who has four seasons of Major League experience. One of the four runs Hinsz gave up came on a double steal, with the lead runner stealing home as Christian Kelley tried to throw the trail runner out at second base.

Yunior Montero relieved Hinsz and had a strong outing, throwing 3.1 scoreless innings, while striking out six batters. Daniel Zamora followed him for the save, retiring all six batters he faced, two by strikeout.

On offense, Logan Hill continued his strong start, collecting three hits and scoring three runs. He also had a walk and a stolen base. Hill is batting .500 so far in these early stages. Christian Kelley had two hits, scored two runs and drove in a run. Kevin Krause drove in two runs with a triple. Casey Hughston had two hits and drove in two runs.

Cole Tucker had a rough day in the lead-off spot, going 0-for-5, while committing his second error. Ke’Bryan Hayes went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, though he did pick up his third stolen base. Will Craig picked up the Will Craig hat trick, with a single, walk and a HBP. He has a .375 OBP and just one strikeout in 24 plate appearances.

Prospect-Watch-WV-Power

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West Virginia battled Asheville for ten innings on Monday, then threw in the towel in the 11th and let utility fielder Logan Ratledge pitch. That led to four runs in the inning and a 5-1 loss in 11 innings, dropping them to 0-5 on the season. West Virginia used extra pitchers over the weekend due to the doubleheader, so they ran out of available arms in this game. Ratledge actually pitched four times last year, though not with the best results.

Cam Vieaux allowed one run over 4.1 innings and had an unusually high pitch count for a short outing with a lot of balls in play and not much damage. He had to leave due to reaching 78 pitches (53 strikes), but he had just one walk and one strikeout in the game. Before Ratledge came in, Geoff Hartlieb and Jordan Jess combined for 5.2 scoreless frames.

The Power had six hits in the game and three were from Hunter Owen, who fell a home run shy of the cycle. Arden Pabst had two hits and Logan Ratledge had an RBI double, which scored Pabst with the only run. Carlos Munoz made his season debut and went 0-for-5. Stephen Alemais was 0-for-3, though he did reach twice on a walk and HBP. He is still looking for his first hit of the season.

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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