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) – DNP
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Altoona (0-0, 0.00) – DNP
3. Luis Heredia, RHP, State College (2-1, 2.28) – DNP
4. Alen Hanson, SS, West Virginia (.313) – 2-for-5, 2B
5. Gregory Polanco, CF, West Virginia (.328) – Low-A DL (UPDATE)
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 (.216) – 1-for-5
13. Alex Dickerson, 1B, Bradenton (.304) – 0-for-4
14. Matt Curry, 1B, Altoona (.291) – DNP
15. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (2-2, 2.60) – DNP
16. Wyatt Mathisen, C, GCL Pirates (.304) – 2-for-4, SB
17. Nick Kingham, RHP, West Virginia (5-7, 4.79) – DNP
18. Jose Osuna, 1B, West Virginia (.276) – 1-for-4
19. Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP, West Virginia (4-5, 5.13) – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
20. Victor Black, RHP, Altoona (2-3, 1.89) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Andrew Lambo, RF (.237) – 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Home Runs: Andrew Lambo 2 (1, 2), Dan Grovatt (8), Eric Avila (7), Jesus Vasquez 2 (3, 4), Jacob Stallings (1), Julio Perez (5)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 6, Syracuse 2
Starting Pitcher: Phil Irwin, RHP (4.50) – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Matt Hague, 1B (.285) – 3-for-5
Other Notable Performers
Daniel McCutchen, RHP (6-2, 3.05) – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Nancy Zinni’s game recap.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: New Hampshire 8, Altoona 3
Starting Pitcher: Brandon Cumpton, RHP (11-10, 4.12) – 5.0 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Andrew Lambo, RF (.237) – 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Other Notable Performers
Victor Black, RHP (1.89) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: In his first game back with Altoona, Andrew Lambo hit two homers, which were his first two homers of the year at the level. Lambo had been out since April 16th, after going down with an injury that required hamate surgery. Brandon Cumpton has struggled a bit recently, giving up 18 earned runs in 16.2 innings over his last four starts. Victor Black has a 1.89 ERA in 52.1 innings this year, with a 75:26 K/BB ratio. In his last 8.1 innings (7 appearances) he has 18 strikeouts, which is more than two an inning on average.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Jupiter 9, Bradenton 1
Starting Pitcher: Eliecer Navarro, LHP (5-7, 3.20) – 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Dan Grovatt, LF (.260) – 2-for-3, 2B, HR
Other Notable Performers
Mel Rojs, CF (.252) – 2-for-4
Game Notes: Dan Grovatt hit his eighth homer of the year, and his third in the last four games. Coming in to tonight’s game, Grovatt was hitting for a .308/.357/.590 line in 39 at-bats. Rojas and Grovatt were the only Marauders to get hits on the day. Gustavo Nunez made another rehab start, going 0-for-3 with a walk.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 7, Kannapolis 1
Starting Pitcher: Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP (4-5, 5.13) – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Eric Avila, DH (.286) – 1-for-3, HR, BB
Other Notable Performers
Alen Hanson, SS (.313) – 2-for-5, 2B
Taylor Lewis, CF (.241) – 2-for-2, SB
Game Notes: Eric Avila hit his seventh homer of the year, and homered for the third game in a row. Avila has a seven game hitting streak, and is 11-for-26 with four homers and four doubles in that span. Since the SAL All-Star break he is hitting for a .301/.352/.575 line with seven homers in 113 at-bats. Heading in to the 2011 season, Avila was our #24 ranked prospect, due to his power potential. He didn’t show that last year with West Virginia. Avila turned 22 in June, so he’s still young enough to be a prospect, and this stretch has been an encouraging sign, considering the lack of third base prospects in the system.
A-: STATE COLLEGE SPIKES
Result: Auburn 10, State College 8
Starting Pitcher: Luis Heredia, RHP (2.96) – 3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jesus Vasquez, RF (.266) – 3-for-5, 2 HR
Other Notable Performers
Jacob Stallings, C (.263) – 2-for-5, HR
D.J. Crumlich, 3B (.277) – 2-for-4, 2 2B, BB
Tyler Gaffney, CF (.301) – 3-for-3, 2B, 2 3B, 2 BB
Pat Ludwig, RHP (1.05) – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Luis Heredia had his worst start of the year. This was the first time since his first start of the year that he didn’t reach the fifth inning. Jesus Vasquez hit two homers, giving him four on the year. Jacob Stallings hit his first professional home run. Tyler Gaffney had a big day, and is now hitting for a .301/.489/.456 line in 103 at-bats. 2012 10th round pick Pat Ludwig has a 1.05 ERA in 25.2 innings, with a 21:3 K/BB ratio. He has given up one earned run in 22.2 innings in July and August.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 7, Tigers 3
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow, RHP (1.87) – 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Elvis Escobar, CF (.288) – 3-for-3, 2B
Other Notable Performers
Dilson Herrera, 2B (.287) – 2-for-4, SB
Wyatt Mathisen, C (.309) – 2-for-4, SB
Game Notes: In his last two starts, Tyler Glasnow has combined for eight no-hit innings, with two walks and 11 strikeouts. On the season he has a 1.87 ERA in 33.2 innings, with a 39:12 K/BB ratio. In his last seven starts he has allowed one earned run in 25 innings, with a 31:8 K/BB ratio. Wyatt Mathisen and Dilson Herrera each stole their 10th bases of the season.
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 9, Yankees 8
Starting Pitcher: Luis Santos, RHP (2.44) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Yunelky Adames, 1B-LF (.260) – 3-for-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI, BB
RK: DSL PIRATES2
Result: Pirates 2, Nationals 1
Starting Pitcher: Angel Sanchez, LHP (3.86) – 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Julio Perez, 1B (.254) – 1-for-3, HR, BB
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.
Oh the irony… hamate surgery is supposed to sap players of their power.