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 (3-4, 3.43) – DNP
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Bradenton (6-7, 3.82) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
3. Luis Heredia, RHP, State College (2-1, 2.28) – DNP
4. Alen Hanson, SS, West Virginia (.311) – 2-for-2, 3 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) – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
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) – 0-for-4
13. Alex Dickerson, 1B, Bradenton (.303) – 0-for-5
14. Matt Curry, 1B, Altoona (.297) – 0-for-3, BB
15. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (2-2, 2.64) – DNP
16. Wyatt Mathisen, C, GCL Pirates (.297) – 2-for-4, 2B
17. Nick Kingham, RHP, West Virginia (5-7, 4.79) – DNP
18. Jose Osuna, 1B, West Virginia (.276) – 1-for-4, BB
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
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Matt Hague, 1B (.280) – 2-for-4, HR
Home Runs: Matt Hague (3), Dan Grovatt (6), Carlos Munoz (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Rochester 6, Indianapolis 2
Starting Pitcher: Justin Wilson, LHP (9-6, 3.84) – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Matt Hague, 1B (.280) – 2-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers
Brock Holt, SS (.367) – 2-for-3, 2B
Game Notes: Justin Wilson made his second start since the Pirates announced plans to move him to the rotation. For now, Wilson is still starting, mostly due to a lack of options in Indianapolis, although he is viewed as potential help in the majors as the second lefty in the bullpen. The starting options for Indianapolis decreased today when the Pirates dealt Daniel Cabrera to Arizona. Wilson has pitched well the last two starts, throwing a no-hitter last time, and responding with two runs in six innings tonight. Matt Hague hit just his third homer of the year tonight. Heading in to tonight’s game he had a .658 OPS in 292 at-bats and a .362 OPS in August. Jeff Clement went 1-for-4 with his 35th double of the year. Brock Holt is 11-for-30 since getting the call to Triple-A.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Portland 1, Altoona 0
Starting Pitcher: Kris Johnson, LHP (1-2, 2.66) – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Adalberto Santos, RF (.390) – 2-for-4
Other Notable Performers
Victor Black, RHP (1.93) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Coming in to this start, Kris Johnson had a 2.49 ERA in 25.1 innings over six starts with Altoona. The 27-year-old is organizational depth, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him move up to Indianapolis at the end of the year to help with their lack of starting pitching. Adalberto Santos had his fifth multi-hit game in his last six games. Victor Black now has a 1.93 ERA in 51.1 innings, with a 73:25 K/BB ratio.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Charlotte 6, Bradenton 3
Starting Pitcher: Jameson Taillon, RHP (3.82) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Dan Grovatt, PH-LF (.259) – 1-for-2, HR
Other Notable Performers
Gustavo Nunez, DH (.500) – 2-for-4
Game Notes: Jameson Taillon was hurt by two solo homers tonight. The first came with two outs in the first inning. The second one came to lead off the fifth. Taillon struck out three batters in the first two innings, then didn’t issue another strikeout. He threw 91 pitches, 53 strikes, and had an 8:0 ground out to air out ratio. Gustavo Nunez moved his rehab work to high-A, after two games in the GCL. Dan Grovatt hit his sixth homer of the year, a pinch hit homer in the 7th inning for Mel Rojas.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 7, Greensboro 6
Starting Pitcher: Mike Jefferson, LHP (5.20) – 4.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, SS (.311) – 2-for-2, 3 BB
Other Notable Performers
Francisco Aponte, 3B (.243) – 2-for-3, 3B, BB
Taylor Lewis, CF (.237) – 3-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Joan Montero, RHP (3-0, 9.00) – 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Alen Hanson returned to the field today for the first time since his injury on July 9th. At the plate he went 2-for-2 with three walks. Earlier today Hanson was selected in the first round of the Dominican Winter League draft. The walks came in his first three plate appearances. Mike Jefferson fell apart in the fifth inning, giving up four runs in the inning.
A-: STATE COLLEGE SPIKES
Result: Jamestown 9, State College 2
Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP (0-4, 5.08) – 1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: D.J. Crumlich, 3B (.268) – 2-for-4, 2B
Other Notable Performers
Logan Pevny, RHP (2.25) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: State College was held to four hits on the night, with two coming from D.J. Crumlich. Jason Creasy was hurt by a missed catch by Jodaneli Carvajal. That extended the second inning, and allowed four extra runs to score. Logan Pevny has been pitching well out of the bullpen this year, with a 2.25 ERA in 20 innings, along with a 13:9 K/BB ratio.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 2, Blue Jays 1
Starting Pitcher: Colten Brewer, RHP (2.86) – 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Wyatt Mathisen, DH (.297) – 2-for-4, 2B
Other Notable Performers
Andrew Lambo, RF (.423) – 1-for-3, BB
Game Notes: Colten Brewer made his first start since going down with an injury on July 6th. The 2011 4th round pick has a 2.86 ERA in 22 innings, with an 18:8 K/BB ratio. Alex Lukashevich gave up his first earned run of the season, spanning 19 innings. Andrew Lambo made another rehab appearance, his first since August 9th.
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: Pirates 15, Mets 14
Starting Pitcher: Dan Urbina, RHP (4.42) – 2.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Carlos Munoz, 1B (.259) – 3-for-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
RK: DSL PIRATES2
Result: Pirates 3, Giants 0
Starting Pitcher: Julio Vivas, RHP (4-0, 2.68) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Julio Perez, 1B (.252) – 1-for-3, 2B
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.