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 (1-0, 0.00) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
3. Luis Heredia, RHP, State College (2-1, 2.28) – DNP
4. Alen Hanson, SS, West Virginia (.314) – 2-for-4, BB
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 (4-3, 2.19) – DNP
8. Jeff Locke, LHP, Indianapolis (9-5, 2.68) – DNP
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 (.221) – 2-for-3
13. Alex Dickerson, 1B, Bradenton (.303) – 2-for-3, 2B
14. Matt Curry, 1B, Altoona (.292) – 2-for-5, 3 RBI
15. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (2-2, 2.51) – DNP
16. Wyatt Mathisen, C, GCL Pirates (.310) – 1-for-3, BB
17. Nick Kingham, RHP, West Virginia (6-7, 4.62) – DNP
18. Jose Osuna, 1B, West Virginia (.279) – 1-for-4
19. Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP, West Virginia (4-5, 5.13) – DNP
20. Victor Black, RHP, Altoona (2-3, 1.82) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Eric Avila, DH (.290) – 1-for-4, HR, 4 RBI
Home Runs: Mel Rojas (5), Eric Avila (9)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Indianapolis 2, Syracuse 1
Starting Pitcher: Rick VandenHurk, RHP (12-4, 3.04) – 7.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Alex Presley, CF (.297) – 2-for-3, BB
Other Notable Performers
Tony Sanchez, C (.221) – 2-for-3
Brock Holt, 2B (.411) – 1-for-4, BB, SB
Game Notes: Nancy Zinni’s game recap.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 5, Trenton 0
Starting Pitcher: Jameson Taillon, RHP (1-0, 0.00) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Matt Curry, 1B (.292) – 2-for-5, 3 RBI
Other Notable Performers
Ramon Cabrera, C (.269) – 3-for-5
Andrew Lambo, RF (.275) – 2-for-5
Victor Black, RHP (1.82) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: My live recap of Jameson Taillon’s Double-A debut.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Fort Myers 3, Bradenton 2
Starting Pitcher: Casey Sadler, RHP (3.62) – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Mel Rojas, CF (.250) – 1-for-3, HR, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers
Alex Dickerson, 1B (.303) – 2-for-3, 2B
Game Notes: In 15 games as a starter, Casey Sadler has a 3.80 ERA in 83 innings, with a 53:22 K/BB ratio. Mel Rojas hit his fifth homer of the year, and stole his 16th base. Rojas has a .662 OPS on the season. He’s been struggling the last few months, with a .577 OPS in June, a .672 in July, and a .524 in August. Alex Dickerson has a .904 OPS in August.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Charleston 5, West Virginia 4
Starting Pitcher: Robby Rowland, RHP (8-4, 3.48) – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Eric Avila, DH (.290) – 1-for-4, HR, 4 RBI
Other Notable Performers
Alen Hanson, SS (.314) – 2-for-4, BB
Willy Garcia, RF (.252) – 2-for-4, 2B
Game Notes: Eric Avila snapped a four game home run streak yesterday, going 2-for-4 without a homer. He got back to hitting the long ball today with his sixth homer in his last ten games. Avila has a ten game hitting streak, and is hitting for a .395/.465/1.000 line in 38 at-bats during that stretch, with his six homers. Since the SAL All-Star break he has a .304/.350/.608 line in 125 at-bats, with all nine of his homers on the year.
A-: STATE COLLEGE SPIKES
Result: Auburn 3, State College 1
Starting Pitcher: Joely Rodriguez, LHP (3-2, 3.32) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: D.J. Crumlich, LF (.280) – 1-for-3, BB
Other Notable Performers
Lance Breedlove, RHP (2.70) – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Joely Rodriguez struck out six batters tonight, which sets a season-high. He has a 3.32 ERA in 57 innings on the year, with a 28:13 K/BB ratio. He’s struck out 12 in 14 innings over the last three starts, but also has given up eight earned runs in the same stretch. Lance Breedlove has a 2.70 ERA in 26.2 innings, with a 16:7 K/BB ratio.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Braves 6, Pirates 2
Starting Pitcher: Colten Brewer, RHP (1-3, 3.24) – 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Jin-De Jhang, C (.319) – 2-for-3
Other Notable Performers
Edwin Espinal, 1B (.250) – 2-for-3
Game Notes: 2011 4th round pick Colten Brewer has a 3.24 ERA in 25 innings this year, with an 18:9 K/BB ratio. Brewer has a 2.25 ERA in eight innings this month, with this start being the first outing where he allowed an earned run. In his last ten games, Jin-De Jhang is hitting for a .391/.462/.522 line in 23 at-bats.
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 3, Red Sox 1
Starting Pitcher: Cesilio Pimentel, LHP (3-3, 2.75) – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Yunelky Adames, RF (.270) – 2-for-4, 2B
RK: DSL PIRATES2
Result: Pirates 1, Diamondbacks/Reds 0
Starting Pitcher: Mervin Del Rosario, LHP (3.13) – 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gustavo Barrios, DH (.338) – 1-for-2, BB, SB
Result: Pirates 1, Diamondbacks/Reds 0
Starting Pitcher: Julio Vivas, RHP (2.36) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Henrry Rosario, CF (.219) – 1-for-2, 3B, 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.
It’d be great to have Cole, Taillon, and McPherson in the rotation at some point next year.