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Prospect Watch: Cole Strikes Out Nine; Moroff and Ross Hit First Homers

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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 post trade deadline update.

1. Gerrit Cole, RHP, Altoona (3-5, 3.19) – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, 0 HR

2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Bradenton (6-7, 3.82) – DNP

3. Luis Heredia, RHP, State College (2-1, 2.28) – DNP

4. Alen Hanson, SS, West Virginia (.312) – 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB

5. Gregory Polanco, CF, West Virginia (.328) – DNP

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

7. Clay Holmes, RHP, State College (4-2, 1.41) – DNP

8. Jeff Locke, LHP, Indianapolis (9-5, 2.66) – DNP (In the Majors)

9. Justin Wilson, LHP, Indianapolis (9-6, 3.84) – DNP

10. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 1.59) – DNP

11. Barrett Barnes, CF, State College (.288) – State College DL (UPDATE)

12. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis (.220) – DNP

13. Alex Dickerson, 1B, Bradenton (.305) – 2-for-4, SB

14. Matt Curry, 1B, Altoona (.294) – 0-for-3, BB, 2 K

15. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (2-2, 2.64) – DNP

16. Wyatt Mathisen, C, GCL Pirates (.304) – 2-for-4

17. Nick Kingham, RHP, West Virginia (5-7, 4.79) – DNP

18. Jose Osuna, 1B, West Virginia (.275) – 1-for-6

19. Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP, West Virginia (3-5, 5.40) – DNP

20. Victor Black, RHP, Altoona (2-3, 1.93) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

 

$14 OFF PROSPECT GUIDES THIS WEEK

The minor league system combined for 28 homers last week. That’s a savings of $0.50 per home run, which gives you $14.00 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 8/19 at 11:59:59 PM EST.

 

DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Gerrit Cole, RHP (3-5, 3.19) – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Eric Avila, DH (.286) – 2-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 BB

Home Runs: Christian Marrero (1), Dan Grovatt (7), Eric Avila (5), Max Moroff (1), Kevin Ross (1)

 

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

Box Score

Result: Rochester 2, Indianapolis 1

Starting Pitcher: Rick VandenHurk, RHP (3.26) – 8.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Brock Holt, SS (.382) – 2-for-4

Other Notable Performers

Brandon Boggs, LF-RF (.266) – 2-for-4

Game Notes: Nancy Zinni’s game recap.

 

AA: ALTOONA CURVE

Box Score

Result: Portland 2, Altoona 1

Starting Pitcher: Gerrit Cole, RHP (3-5, 3.19) – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Christian Marrero, LF (.200) – 1-for-3, HR

Other Notable Performers

Jeff Inman, RHP (4.57) – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

Game Notes: In his last four starts, Gerrit Cole has given up three earned runs in 22 innings, with a 26:6 K/BB ratio. Tonight he threw 91 pitches, with 61 strikes, and had a 7:1 GO/AO ratio. On the season with Altoona, Cole has a 3.19 ERA in 48 innings, with a 52:13 K/BB ratio. Christian Marrero hit his first homer for Altoona since being demoted from Indianapolis.

 

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS

Box Score

Result: Bradenton 5, Charlotte 4

Starting Pitcher: Casey Sadler, RHP (3.70) – 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 HR

Top Hitter: Dan Grovatt, LF (.259) – 1-for-4, HR

Other Notable Performers

Gustavo Nunez, SS (.429) – 1-for-3, 2B

Alex Dickerson, 1B (.305) – 2-for-4, SB

Game Notes: Casey Sadler gave up all four of his runs on homers. Gustavo Nunez made his second rehab appearance in high-A. Alex Dickerson is hitting for a .377/.411/.509 line in 53 at-bats during the month of August. He also stole his 11th base of the year. Dan Grovatt hit his seventh homer of the year, and his second in as many nights.

 

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER

Box Score

Result: Kannapolis 4, West Virginia 3

Starting Pitcher: Robby Rowland, RHP (3.31) – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Eric Avila, DH (.286) – 2-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 BB

Other Notable Performers

Alen Hanson, SS (.312) – 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB

Game Notes: Rowland has a 3.31 ERA in 83.2 innings pitched this year. Eric Avila hit his 5th homer of the year. Avila had an .851 OPS in 38 at-bats in June, followed by an .895 OPS in 42 at-bats in July. Coming in to tonight’s game he had a .715 OPS in 30 at-bats in August. Alen Hanson played his second straight game at shortstop, after missing time last week with a hip flexor injury. Gregory Polanco still hasn’t returned from his ankle injury a week ago.

 

A-: STATE COLLEGE SPIKES

Box Score

Result: State College 9, Jamestown 3

Starting Pitcher: Joely Rodriguez, LHP (3-1, 3.12) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Walker Gourley, LF (.263) – 3-for-5, 2B

Other Notable Performers

D.J. Crumlich, 3B (.273) – 2-for-4, 2B, BB

Ryan Hafner, RHP (3.38) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HR

Game Notes: Joely Rodriguez has put up some impressive numbers this year. The 20-year-old left-hander has a 3.12 ERA in 52 innings, with a 22:11 K/BB ratio. In his last ten games he has a 3.00 ERA in 48 innings, with a 19:6 K/BB ratio. A big problem for him in the past was that he lacked control. He’s doing a better job in that area this year. He’s not striking out a lot of batters, but he is getting a good ground ball rate, with a 1.54 GO/AO ratio.

 

RK: GCL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Pirates 12, Blue Jays 11

Starting Pitcher: Jon Sandfort, RHP (5.54) – 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Max Moroff, SS (.313) – 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB

Other Notable Performers

Kevin Ross, 3B (.262) – 1-for-3, HR

Andrew Lambo, RF (.467) – 3-for-4, 2B

Eric Wood, DH (.294) – 2-for-4, 2B, BB

Stetson Allie, RHP (.217) – 2-for-5, 4 RBI

Dilson Herrera, 2B (.275) – 2-for-4, BB

Game Notes: Max Moroff and Kevin Ross both hit their first professional home runs. Moroff was taken in the 16th round of the 2012 draft, while Ross was taken in the eighth round. The Pirates scored 12 runs on 14 hits. Each of the top six hitters in the lineup had multiple hits. Andrew Lambo made a rehab appearance as he recovers from hamate surgery.

 

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: Mets 4, Pirates 3

Starting Pitcher: Christian Henriquez, LHP (3.31) – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Pablo Reyes, SS (.295) – 2-for-2, 2B, BB

 

RK: DSL PIRATES2

Box Score

Result: Pirates 8, Giants 7

Starting Pitcher: Eduardo Vera, RHP (4.01) – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Edgardo Munoz, DH (.231) – 2-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI

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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