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Pirates Prospects Daily

Aroldis Chapman Suspended For Two Games

Pittsburgh Pirates flame throwing reliever Aroldis Chapman was suspended for two games, after being ejected earlier this week for arguing the strike zone with...

The Pirates Could Use a Day Off

The Pittsburgh Pirates look like they need a day off. Fortunately for Pirates fans, Thursday's action will feature top prospects Paul Skenes and Bubba...

P2Daily: Jared Jones is Looking Like a Rookie of the Year Contender

The Pirates lost 3-1 to the Mets on Tuesday, overshadowing a truly fantastic start from rookie pitcher Jared Jones. Jones was on a restricted pitch...

P2Daily: A Shaky Start to a Bullpen With the Potential to Be the Best

The Pirates have the potential for one of the best bullpens in the game. David Bednar has been one of the best relievers over...

Prospect Watch

Pirates Prospect Watch: Hunter Barco Looks Great Again For Greensboro

Hunter Barco has been worth the wait so far. The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Barco in the second round of the 2022 draft, despite the left-handed...

Pirates Prospect Watch: Tsung-Che Cheng Homers in a 3-for-3 Day

Tsung-Che Cheng had a day for Altoona. The shortstop went 3-for-3 at the plate with his first home run of the 2024 season. Batting fifth...

Pirates Prospect Watch: Pitching Leads the Way in the Pirates System

The strength of this Pittsburgh Pirates team is clearly on the pitching side. The top prospects in the system are pitchers. The depth of...

Discussion

Saturday Sleepers

Saturday Sleepers: Valentin Linarez Added Velocity and Improved Control in 2023

Valentin Linarez had one of the biggest recorded velocity jumps in minor league baseball last year. Baseball America tracked the year-over-year four-seam velocity gainers from...

Saturday Sleepers: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 17 year old throw 100 miles an hour”

At the start of the 2023 international signing period, the Pittsburgh Pirates added David Matoma as their first signing out of Uganda. The right-handed...

Saturday Sleepers: Omar Alfonzo is a Catching Prospect to Follow

On March 26, 2023, the Pittsburgh Pirates sent Omar Alfonzo to big league camp for a day. A catcher entering his age 19 season,...

Saturday Sleepers: Garret Forrester Moving Behind the Plate

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Pittsburgh Pirates are converting 2023 third round pick Garret Forrester to a catcher, splitting his time between first base and...

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Raynor designated for assignment to make room for Karstens

Jeff Karstens, expected to start on Tuesday night, has been added to the 40-man roster. To make room for him, John Raynor was designated for assignment.

Pearce And Walker Take A Bat To The Bats

Indianapolis Indians 6, �Louisville Bats 1 (box)

IMG_2576The Indianapolis Indians made good use of their bats at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, KY tonight, not too far from where some of those bats may have been made. �The Tribe posted 15 hits, as RF Steve Pearce (photo) led the way with 4 hits, 2B Neil Walker had 3, and CF Jose Tabata and LF Brandon Moss contributing 2 hits each. �Even starting pitcher Brad Lincoln had a hit -- a double in the 6th inning -- on his way to his second win of the season.

The game got off to a very late start -- almost 9 pm, as the game was delayed 1 hr 53 minutes by rain. �The Indians had only one hit over the first two innings -- a single in the 2nd inning by Pearce. �Pearce saw the ball skip off the hand of Bats' SS Zack Cozart, who was trying to do a bare-handed pick up, and when the ball went into short left field, Pearce tried for second base -- unsuccessfully.

The Indians got onto the scoreboard in the 3rd, courtesy of a bases-clearing double by 2B Neil Walker. �C Luke Carlin led off the inning by working a walk. � SS Argenis Diaz, in his first game back from Pittsburgh, grounded to the right side of the infield, where it was stopped by Bats' 3B Juan Francisco, but not in time to make a play. �Brad Lincoln bunted, but the ball was scooped up by pitcher Sam LeCure, who forced Carlin out at third base. �CF Jose Tabata walked next, loading the bases for Walker. �Walker doubled over the head of LF Todd Frazier, easily scoring Diaz and Lincoln. �Frazier took long enough tracking down the ball in left field that Tabata had time to race around from first base and score also. �Indians up 3-0.

The Bats got one of those runs back in the bottom of the 4th. �RF Chris Burke ripped a 1-2 pitch from Lincoln down the right field line, and when Steve Pearce had trouble picking up the ball, Burke cruised into third base with a triple. �The next batter, CF Chris Heisey, brought Burke in with a RBI grounder to short. �1B Danny Dorn followed with a double, but two fly outs to Neil Walker at second base ended the inning without further scoring.

IMG_2480The Tribe got that run back in the 5th. �With two outs, 1B Brian Myrow lined the first pitch he saw into right field, where Chris Burke couldn't quite make the diving catch. �3B Pedro Alvarez also swung at the first pitch he saw, grounding it up the middle. �2B Chris Valaika kept the ball from going into the outfield, but did not have time to make a play. �Steve Pearce, who had singled again in the 4th inning, lashed his third hit of the game down the left field line for an RBI double, scoring Myrow. �Indians 4, Bats 1.

The Indians threatened in the 6th inning, when Brad Lincoln (photo) picked up that double into left field, his first hit of the season. �Tabata followed with a single lined into center field, and Lincoln sped around third base and headed for the plate. �The throw in from Heisey in center to Bats' catcher Corky Miller was right on target. �Miller easily turned and tagged out Lincoln as he slid and tumbled across the plate. �It was not what most people want to see their starting pitcher doing.

"I thought I'd be held up because he (Tabata) hit the ball hard," related Lincoln after the game. �"When I got to third, Frank (Manager Frank Kremblas, coaching at third base) was already waving me home. �I see Corky (Miller) moving to his right, he catches it... �I thought 'I've got to do something here', and I decided to slide. �I've done it before."

Three Hits For Watts; Power Split Doubleheader

Sunday afternoon's games for the Pirates minor league affiliates:

Erie SeaWolves 10, �Altoona Curve 3 (box)

Six runs in the 3rd inning gave the SeaWolves a huge boost over the Curve in the series finale, and the Curve could not catch up, despite 3 hits from C Kris Watts. Curve starter Jared Hughes retired the first three batters he faced, but got into trouble in the 2nd inning. �A walk and a double put runners on second and third bases, then a ground out brought in the first run. �An RBI singled plated the second runner, and Erie had a 2-0 lead. �The Curve tried to come back in the bottom of the inning. �Watts' first single, plus a walk to RF Miles Durham put two runners on base. �LF Alex Presley singled into left field, but the throw in to the plate was in time to tag out Watts, and a strikeout ended the inning.

Then came the 3rd inning. �The SeaWolves sent 10 batters to the plate on their way to 6 runs. �Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases to begin the inning. �A ground out scored one run, and a double into center field brought in two more. �A grounder to third base let 3B Jordy Mercer make an out at third, but left a runner at first base. �Two more singles scored two more runs, and a double brought in the 6th run of the inning. �That was enough to send Hughes to the showers; Tony Watson came on in relief and got a ground out to end the miserable inning. �A solo home run off Watson in the 4th inning gave Erie a 9-0 lead.

The Curve made a little headway in the 4th. �1B Matt Hague led off with a walk, then a double error (fielding, then throwing) by the Erie third baseman put Mercer on base and sent Hague to third base. �Watts singled up the middle, and when the Erie center fielder made a fielding error, both Hague and Mercer scored. �That was all the Curve would get, though. �SS Chase d'Arnaud led off the 5th inning with a single, but the next 13 Curve batters went down in order. �With one out in the bottom of the 9th, Watts singled for his third hit of the game. �Durham doubled, bringing Watts around to score the last Altoona run.

Jared Hughes was charged with his first loss of the season. �Tony Watson allowed the home run in the 4th, and another solo homer in the 6th inning. �He pitched a total of 3.1 innings, and those were the only two hits he allowed. �Michael Dubee pitched the final 3 innings, allowing just one hit. �CF Gorkys Hernandez also had a hit, going 1-for-4 at the plate.

You’ll Be Dizzy, But Jakubauskas Isn’t

Pirates' pitcher Chris Jakubauskas was released from the hospital in Houston this morning. �The diagnosis is a concussion, but's he's ok. �He's probably got an amazing headache, but isn't dizzy....

... You'll be dizzy, though, with all of the roster moves resulting from Jakubauskas going onto the 15-day disabled list.

Pitcher Brian Burres was recalled from Indianapolis. �He could make a start for the Pirates

Pitcher Brian Bass is being called up from Indy and placed onto the Pirates' 40-man roster. �He can also start if needed.

To make room on the 40-man roster, OF Brandon Jones has been Designated For Assignment. �He will have to pass through waivers, and if he does, then the Pirates could sign him to a minor league contract.

Pitcher�Daniel McCutchen was optioned back to Indianapolis. �This time, McCutchen will really report to Indy. � He'll be able to take Jakubauskas's spot in the Indy rotation, which got a bit of a break because of Saturday's rain out.

That still leaves a spot open on the Pirates' roster, but it's likely that Jeff Karstens will be called up to make the start on Tuesday.

And there's rain and thunderstorms predicted for Louisville this afternoon and evening, so the Indians and the Bats may not get to play today either.

Game 18: Misery Continues in Houston

It isn't getting any better. And it won't get better, at least in the short term. With Charlie Morton going today, the bullpen desperately needed some rest. As Mick Jagger and Keith Richards once wrote, "You can't always get what you want."

Pirates place Jakubauskas on DL, make flurry of roster moves

The Pirates placed pitcher Chris Jakubauskas on the disabled list this morning, after he was hit in the head by a Lance Berkman comebacker last night. Jakubauskas was released from the hospital after being diagnosed with a head contusion and concussion. The Pirates also optioned Daniel McCutchen to Triple-A, and called up Brian Burres and Brian Bass. To make room on the 40-man roster for Bass, minor league outfielder Brandon Jones was designated for assignment. Jeff Karstens also may be brought up from Triple-A to start on Tuesday. Karstens is not currently on the 40-man roster.

Negrych Still Hot; McClure Doubles Twice

The West Virginia Power and the Kannapolis Intimidators were rained out in Kannapolis on Saturday. �It appears that they will play a double header on Sunday in the afternoon.

Erie SeaWolves �4, �Altoona Curve �3 (box)

A late-inning home run by the SeaWolves gave them the win over the Curve for the second night in a row. �This time it was Erie's C Max St. Pierre who sank the Curve, with his 3-run blast in the 7th inning. �Curve reliever Dustin Molleken was St. Pierre's victim. �Molleken had taken the mound to begin the 7th inning with the Curve ahead 3-1. �He gave up a single to the first batter he faced. �A grounder to short forced that runner out at second, but left the batter safe at first. � After a walk put a second runner on base, St. Pierre homered over the left field wall, to give the SeaWolves the go-ahead run and the win.

Mike Crotta made the start for the Curve, and pitched well. �He went 6 innings and allowed one run on 3 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 6 batters. �Crotta retired the first 6 batters he faced, but gave up the first Erie run -- to St. Pierre -- in the 3rd inning. �St. Pierre led off the frame with a walk, went to third on a single, then scored on an RBI ground out. �Crotta had a runner on base in each of the 4th and 5th innings, but eliminated both of those runners with double plays. �He also worked around a lone single in the 6th.

1B Matt Hague tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the 4th inning with a solo home run -- his second homer of the season. �In the 5th, the Curve loaded the bases with back-to-back singles by LF Alex Presley and SS Jose De Los Santos, followed by CF Gorkys Hernandez being hit by a pitch. �DH Jim Negrych plated Presley and De Los Santos with an RBI single, giving the Curve a 3-1 lead.

Rain-Out In Indy; Van Every Traded to Boston

The rain that had been threatening in Indianapolis all afternoon finally started around 5 pm, and by 7 pm was coming down in earnest. �The game between the Indianapolis Indians and the Louisville Bats was postponed, and will be played on July 5th as part of a double-header. �This game was to have been the final game of this home stand. �The Tribe will head down I-65 to Louisville for two games, then will go east for 4 games in Pawtucket and 4 games in Lehigh Valley.

IMG_2602In other news -- SS Argenis Diaz was optioned back to the Indians, and was in tonight's starting lineup, at least until the game got called.

P Chris Jakubauskas got�the nod for the Pirates tonight in Houston, but his start was cut short. �Jakubauskas had given up a lead-off single to Michael Bourne, then got two outs. �Then Astros 1B Lance Berkman took a 1-0 pitch right back at the mound, hitting Jakubauskas on the back of the head. �Jakubauskas was able to walk a few steps to the cart that took him off the field, and was taken to a Houston hospital to stay overnight for further evaluation.

OF Jonathan Van Every (photo) was traded to the Boston Red Sox today, for a player to be named later. �The Red Sox needed some outfield help, and Van Every will be joining the major league team. �He had appeared in 10 games for the Indians, and was hitting .314 (11-for-35), with 2 doubles, 2 homers, and 4 RBI. �Van Every had been in the Red Sox organization in 2008 and 2009, playing for AAA Pawtucket for most of that time. �He played in a total of 18 games for the major league team over those two years, hitting .286 (8-for-26) with a triple, a homer, and 8 RBI. �update: Van Every got into Boston's game tonight as a late-inning defensive replacement in center field. �He struck out in his only plate appearance.

Former Indy Indian and Pittsburgh Pirate Brian Bixler homered twice for Columbus in the Clippers 7-1 win over Toledo tonight. �The homer in the 4th was for 2 runs, and the one in the 8th was a solo blast.

Game 17: Jakubauskas Injured as Bucs Lose Again

It wasn't pretty at all (here's a link to a photo - warning: this is gross) as recent minor league recall Chris Jakubauskas was hit in the side of the head by a line drive in the first inning off the bat of Lance Berkman. He is being kept overnight in the hospital for testing an evaluation.

9th Inning Homer Flattens Curve; Adcock Wins For Marauders

Erie SeaWolves 6, �Altoona Curve 4 (box)

Reliever Jeff Sues suffered the loss when the SeaWolves broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the 9th in Altoona on Friday. �Sues had just taken the mound in relief of Ronald Uviedo, when the lead-off hitter singled into center field. �A grounder to second should have been a double play, but after the lead runner was forced out at second, SS Chase d'Arnaud's relay throw to first base went wild, leaving a runner on first. �One out later, Erie's RF Deik Scram lifted a 2-run homer over the left field wall. �The Curve could not respond in the bottom of the inning, and Erie had the win.

The Curve had scored their first run in the bottom of the 1st, when CF Gorkys Hernandez walked, stole second base, and scored on DH Jim Negrych's single. �Negrych also stole second base and advanced to third when the Erie catcher threw wildly to second base, but he was stranded on third.

Erie came back in the top of the 2nd. �Curve starter Justin Wilson walked three consecutive batters to open the inning. �He got a strikeout next, but then gave up a 2-RBI single and an RBI grounder to give Erie a 3-1 lead. �After two more walks in the top of the 3rd, Wilson was relieved by Derek Hankins. The first batter Hankins faced sliced a double into left field, scoring one runner, and Erie was up 4-1.

Hot-hitting Jim Negrych tied the game in the bottom of the 5th. �Three straight singles to C Hector Gimenez, LF Jose De Los Santos, and Chase d'Arnaud loaded the bases, and with two outs, Negrych cleared the bases with a double deep into center field. �Negrych is hitting .382 over his last 9 games.

Hankins pitched 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing 2 more hits and 2 walks after the 3rd inning. �Ronald Uviedo contributed 2 scoreless innings, including 4 strikeouts. �1B Matt Hague also had 2 hits for the Curve.

Van Every traded to Boston

Rob Biertempfel reports that the Pirates have traded minor league outfielder Jonathan Van Every to the Red Sox for a player to be named later.

Walker and Kratz Supply All The Runs The Indians Need

Indianapolis Indians 6, �Louisville Bats 1 (box)

IMG_26592B Neil Walker and C Erik Kratz provided the in-game fireworks, which went along nicely with the post-game fireworks at Victory Field on Friday night. �Walker went 2-for-4 with a single and a double, and gave the Tribe 4 RBI, while Kratz hit a 2-run homer to account for the remaining Indians' runs. �Kevin Hart (photo) made the start for the Indians and earned his first win of the season.

Bats' starter Justin Lehr got through the first inning rather easily, walking 3B Pedro Alvarez but striking out two batters. �In the 2nd inning, Lehr gave up a one-out single to RF Brandon Moss. Kratz followed with a line drive that just cleared the left field wall, to land in a collection of kids on the grassy berm. �Indians 2, Bats 0.

Lehr got into trouble right away in the 3rd inning. �LF Jose Tabata (photo below) led off with a single lined into center field. �CF Jonathan Van Every grounded a single into right field, moving Tabata to second base. �Lehr got a little help from his catcher, Corky Miller, who caught Tabata with a big lead off second base, and fired across the diamond to pick him off the base.

IMG_2667Pedro Alvarez was next to reach base, when his grounder to short kicked off the glove of SS Zack Cozart. �1B Steve Pearce loaded the bases when he worked a walk. �That brought up Neil Walker. �Walker took the first pitch down the first base line and into the right field corner, to clear the bases and give the Indians a 5-0 lead. �Pearce came all the way around from first base to score, drawing the throw from RF Wladimir Balantien. �The throw to home was wide and Pearce was in easily, but C Corky Miller alertly relayed the throw to third base, where Walker had headed on the throw in from the outfield. �Miller's throw was on time, and Walker was tagged out at third.

Lehr got out of a jam in the 4th inning. �Erik Kratz led off with a walk, and SS Brian Friday slipped a single through the hole and into left field. �Kevin Hart was batting for the first time this season in tonight's game, and he had grounded to first in the 2nd inning. �Now in the 4th, with runners on first and second with no outs, it was time for a sacrifice. �Hart fouled off two bunt attempts, but on his third try, he dropped down a bunt that was a little too hard. �The ball landed to the left of the mound, within easy reach for Lehr. �Lehr fielded, whirled, and threw to third base, where Kratz was forced out. �Tabata still had two runners on for him, and he lined a single into left field. �Friday rounded third and headed for the plate, but the throw from LF Juan Francisco reached Corky Miller just a second before Friday. �Miller reached across the plate to tag Friday for the second out. �A strikeout ended the threat.

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