TOP OF THE SYSTEM
A look at how the current top 20 prospects did today. Note that this list doesn’t include players currently in the majors. Rankings are from the mid-season update.
1. Gerrit Cole, RHP, Altoona (1-1, 7.50) – DNP
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Bradenton (5-6, 4.18) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
3. Mark Appel, RHP (No Stats) – Unsigned
4. Starling Marte, CF, Indianapolis (.272) – 2-for-5, 3B
5. Alen Hanson, SS, West Virginia (.325) – 1-for-2, BB
6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.274) – Low-A DL
7. Luis Heredia, RHP, State College (0-1, 1.00) – DNP
8. Rudy Owens, LHP, Indianapolis (6-3, 2.51) – DNP
9. Jeff Locke, LHP, Indianapolis (5-4, 3.27) – DNP
10. Robbie Grossman, CF, Altoona (.236) – 1-for-2, 2 BB
11. Gregory Polanco, CF, West Virginia (.295) – 0-for-3, BB
12. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Altoona (1-2, 5.29) – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
13. Nick Kingham, RHP, West Virginia (1-4, 5.23) – DNP
14. Justin Wilson, LHP, Indianapolis (6-4, 3.57) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 0 HR
15. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis (.204) – 1-for-3, 2B
16. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (1-2, 2.23) – DNP
17. Mel Rojas, CF, Bradenton (.266) – 1-for-4
18. Wyatt Mathisen, C, GCL Pirates (.556) – DNP
19. Barrett Barnes, CF, State College (.303) – 4-for-5, SB
20. Alex Dickerson, 1B, Bradenton (.289) – 0-for-4
COUPON CODE
The minor league system combined for 19 homers last week. That’s a savings of $0.50 per home run, which gives you $9.50 off the Pirates Prospects books this week. This code is for one week only! Use the code on the products page of the site to get your discount. Expires Sunday 7/1 at 11:59:59 PM EST.
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Matt Curry, 1B (.294) – 2-for-4, 2B, HR
Home Runs: Jeff Clement (9), Matt Curry (4), Yomifer Polanco (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 9, Toledo 6
Starting Pitcher: Justin Wilson, LHP (6-4, 3.57) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jeff Clement, 1B (.297) – 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI
Other Notable Performers
Starling Marte, CF (.272) – 2-for-5, 3B
Jordy Mercer, SS (.305) – 2-for-5, 2B
Game Notes: Nancy Zinni’s live game recap.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Harrisburg 5, Altoona 2
Starting Pitcher: Kyle McPherson, RHP (1-2, 5.29) – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Matt Curry, 1B (.294) – 2-for-4, 2B, HR
Other Notable Performers
Jarek Cunningham, 2B (.218) – 2-for-4
Robbie Grossman, CF (.236) – 1-for-2, 2 BB
Game Notes: Matt Curry hit his fourth homer of the year. After giving up one run in five innings in his first start of the year, Kyle McPherson hs given up nine runs in 12 innings over his last two starts.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 5, Dunedin 3
Starting Pitcher: Jameson Taillon, RHP (5-6, 4.18) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Andy Vasquez, 2B (.272) – 3-for-4
Other Notable Performers
Dan Grovatt, LF (.242) – 2-for-5, SB
Game Notes: Jameson Taillon gave up all of his runs as a result of homers. He gave up a solo homer in the first, then allowed a two run homer in the second. He was 94-97 MPH with his fastball, touching 98. Dan Grovatt has three straight multi-hit games, going 7-for-13 in his last three.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 7, Lakewood 2
Starting Pitcher: Robby Rowland, RHP (4-1, 2.84) – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Willy Garcia, RF (.261) – 2-for-4
Other Notable Performers
Alen Hanson, SS (.325) – 1-for-2, BB
Game Notes: Robby Rowland gave up two runs in the first inning, then pitched five shutout innings to follow. Rowland tweeted after the game that his sinker wasn’t sinking in the first. Alen Hanson left the game after being hit in the head with a pickoff attempt in the sixth. He walked off on his own power.
A-: STATE COLLEGE SPIKES
Result: State College 6, Batavia 2
Starting Pitcher: Clay Holmes, RHP (2-0, 0.00) – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Ryan Hornback, C (.360) – 3-for-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI
Other Notable Performers
Barrett Barnes, CF (.303) – 4-for-5, SB
Walker Gourley, LF (.304) – 2-for-4, 2 2B
Game Notes: Clay Holmes has now pitched ten innings allowing no earned runs on four hits. He has a 9:6 K/BB ratio after walking five tonight. Barrett Barnes had a four hit night, and is now 5-for-6 in stolen base attempts.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Yankees 8, Pirates 6
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow, RHP (4.70) – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Dilson Herrera, 2B (.310) – 3-for-6, 2 2B, 3 K
Other Notable Performers
Edwin Espinal, 1B (.125) – 2-for-5, 2B
Adalberto Santos, DH (.333) – 1-for-3, 2B, BB, SB
Game Notes: Adalberto Santos started his rehab work, playing as the designated hitter. Stetson Allie went 1-for-5 and had his first stolen base. In two starts, Tyler Glasnow has given up four runs in 7.2 innings, with 7:0 K/BB ratio.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE
For a primer on the 2012 DSL Pirates, along with information on the players to watch, check out the 2012 DSL Preview.
RK: DSL PIRATES1
Result: Rangers 10, Pirates 1
Starting Pitcher: Cristian Henriquez, LHP (0-3, 7.32) – 2.1 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Adrian De Aza, RF (.222) – 1-for-3, 2B
RK: DSL PIRATES2
Result: Pirates 5, Giants 4
Starting Pitcher: Dan Urbina, RHP (4.26) – 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Yomifer Polanco, RF (.196) – 2-for-4, HR, BB
Other Notable Hitters
Maximo Rivera, DH (.364) – 2-for-5, 2 SB
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
whats with mathisen? hasnt played in a few games or did the team just not play?
They just haven’t played much lately. They were off on Sunday, then had rain on Monday and Tuesday. Mathisen is in the lineup today.
So excited to go see the spikes today in mahoning valley..hopefully they can keep playing well
I can’t believe 1 day from Cole getting hit and lucky escaped anything serious that Hanson gets hit..Hopefully he is okay as well!
So is Walker Gourley turning himself back into a prospect? Moved to LF and is hitting much better this year.
He’s definitely on the right track. Just to put him in perspective: he’s only three months older than Gregory Polanco. Polanco is a level higher, although that was kind of an aggressive promotion. Gourley has looked strong in left field over the last week, despite being brand new to the position (he’s played it about two weeks). After tonight he’s hitting for a .304/.346/.478 line. It’s only 23 at-bats, but he’s hitting the ball well, even when he’s not getting hits. I’ll just say that he was never old enough to be fully written off, so he’s still got a shot at being a prospect.