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Prospect Watch: Justin Wilson Out-Pitches Cole and Taillon With Latest Gem

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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 (2-1, 4.63) – 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Bradenton (5-6, 4.05) – 7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

3. Mark Appel, RHP (No Stats) – Unsigned

4. Starling Marte, CF, Indianapolis (.291) – 3-for-6, 2B, BB, SB

5. Alen Hanson, SS, West Virginia (.329) – 0-for-5, SB

6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.274) – Low-A DL

7. Luis Heredia, RHP, State College (0-1, 0.64) – DNP

8. Rudy Owens, LHP, Indianapolis (7-3, 2.45) – DNP

9. Jeff Locke, LHP, Indianapolis (6-4, 3.05) – DNP

10. Robbie Grossman, CF, Altoona (.246) – 1-for-4, 2B, BB

11. Gregory Polanco, CF, West Virginia (.306) – 1-for-5

12. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Altoona (1-2, 5.29) – DNP

13. Nick Kingham, RHP, West Virginia (1-5, 5.50) – DNP

14. Justin Wilson, LHP, Indianapolis (6-4, 3.34) – 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

15. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis (.194) – 1-for-7, HR

16. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (1-2, 2.66) – 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HR

17. Mel Rojas, CF, Bradenton (.262) – 2-for-3, 2 3B, BB

18. Wyatt Mathisen, C, GCL Pirates (.367) – 0-for-1, 2 BB

19. Barrett Barnes, CF, State College (.220) – 0-for-3

20. Alex Dickerson, 1B, Bradenton (.291) – 1-for-3, HR, 4 RBI

 

$2 PROSPECT GUIDES

The minor league system combined for 36 homers last week. That’s a savings of $0.50 per home run, which gives you $18.00 off the Pirates Prospects books this week. That makes the book $2! This code is for one week only! Use the code on the products page of the site to get your discount. Expires Sunday 7/8 at 11:59:59 PM EST.

 

DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Justin Wilson, LHP (3.34) – 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Brock Holt, SS (.326) – 2-for-5, HR

Home Runs: Tony Sanchez (1), Brock Holt (2), Alex Dickerson (7)

 

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

Box Score

Result: Indianapolis 6, Louisville 4

Starting Pitcher: Justin Wilson, LHP (3.34) – 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Starling Marte, RF (.291) – 3-for-6, 2B, BB, SB

Other Notable Performers

Chase d’Arnaud, SS (.219) – 2-for-5, 2 2B, 2 BB

Tony Sanchez, C (.194) – 1-for-7, HR

Matt Hague, 1B (.293) – 2-for-5, 2B, 2 BB, 4 RBI

Game Notes: When I saw Justin Wilson combine for a no hitter on April 29th, the left hander told me he had just started working from more of an over-head arm slot to fix his control issues. Wilson had walked 14 in 22.2 innings (5.6 BB/9) leading up to that start. Ever since making the switch, Wilson has walked 27 in 69 innings (3.5 BB/9). He’s been absolutely dominant over the last five starts. In that span he’s given up five earned runs in 30 innings, while allowing 12 hits, eight walks, and striking out 31. Wilson has always had the best stuff of the Indianapolis left-handers, but his control issues have held him back. If the Pirates are looking for a guy to jump in to the rotation, Wilson may have jumped ahead of Rudy Owens and Jeff Locke with his reduction in walks, and his recent dominant streak.

 

AA: ALTOONA CURVE

Box Score

Result: Altoona 6, Binghamton 2

Starting Pitcher: Gerrit Cole, RHP (2-1, 4.63) – 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Brock Holt, SS (.326) – 2-for-5, HR

Other Notable Performers

Matt Curry, 1B (.308) – 3-for-5

Ramon Cabrera, C (.241) – 2-for-5, 2B

Stefan Welch, 3B (.444) – 2-for-3, BB

Game Notes: The last time out, Gerrit Cole was hit in the jaw with a line drive, and left after throwing 33 pitches in the first inning. This time around he had much better results. His only earned run came in the sixth inning. Cole threw 87 pitches, 63 for strikes. Nathan Baker came on to finish the sixth, stranding a runner. Baker pitched 1.1 perfect innings with a strikeout. He has an 0.68 ERA in 13.1 innings out of the bullpen, with a 12:3 K/BB ratio. Brock Holt hit his second homer of the year.

 

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS

Box Score

Result: Bradenton 6, Charlotte 3

Starting Pitcher: Jameson Taillon, RHP (4.05) – 7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Mel Rojas, CF (.262) – 2-for-3, 2 3B, BB

Other Notable Performers

Alex Dickerson, 1B (.291) – 1-for-3, HR, 4 RBI

Game Notes: According to the box score, Jameson Taillon pitched seven shutout innings, then came out for the eighth inning and threw to two batters. Both batters reached, then Quinton Miller allowed both to score. I find this hard to believe, as Taillon finished with 93 pitches on the night. Aside from that, the Pirates don’t usually send a guy out for the eighth inning in high-A. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a MILB.com error. (UPDATE: It was not an error. Taillon came out for the eighth and threw 93 pitches.) Alex Dickerson hit his seventh homer of the year. Five have come since the start of June. He hit for a .316/.369/.537 line in 95 at-bats in June. Mel Rojas had two triples, giving him ten on the year.

 

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER

Box Score

Result: Delmarva 4, West Virginia 2

Starting Pitcher: Robby Rowland, RHP (4-2, 3.12) – 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Willy Garcia, RF (.255) – 2-for-4, BB

Other Notable Performers

Taylor Lewis, RF (.318) – 2-for-5, SB

Game Notes: Alen Hanson went 0-for-5, but stole his 21st base of the year. He snapped a 12 game hitting streak. Robby Rowland gave up two runs in the sixth inning before being pulled for Rinku Singh.

 

A-: STATE COLLEGE SPIKES

Box Score

Result: Batavia 5, State College 3

Starting Pitcher: Clay Holmes, RHP (2-1, 1.98) – 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Yhonathan Barrios, 3B (.200) – 1-for-3, BB

Other Notable Performers

Rodarrick Jones, RF (.103) – 1-for-3, 2 RBI

Game Notes: Clay Holmes pitched ten innings without giving up an earned run in his first two starts of the year. His command was off tonight, leading to two runs in the first, and a shortened outing.

 

RK: GCL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Tigers 10, Pirates 1

Starting Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow, RHP (0-2, 6.23) – 1.0 IP, 2 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Jin-De Jhang, C (.346) – 2-for-4, 2B

Other Notable Performers

Stetson Allie, 3B (.200) – 0-for-3, BB

Game Notes: Tyler Glasnow was removed after one inning, likely due to reaching a single inning pitch limit. Martires Cadet pitched three shutout innings in relief, striking out two. Stetson Allie has a .200/.385/.267 line in 30 at-bats. He had a throwing error tonight for his fifth of the year.

 

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

Box Score

Result: Pirates 15, Yankees 6

Starting Pitcher: Adrian Grullon, RHP (5.23) – 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Ulises Montilla, 3B (.345) – 3-for-4, BB, SB

 

RK: DSL PIRATES2

Box Score

Result: Pirates 10, Diamondbacks/Reds 2

Starting Pitcher: Luis Rico, LHP (5.06) – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Rodney Polonia, 2B (.227) – 2-for-4

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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