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Prospect Watch: Bell and Lambo Homer; Joely Rodriguez Breaking Out?

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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. If a player is in the majors, he will be removed, everyone below him will be shifted up a spot, and a new player will be added to the bottom of the list. Rankings are from the pre-season rankings, and links to each prospect writeup can be found by clicking the player names below. Players who weren’t in the original top 20 are linked to their player page on the site.

1. Gerrit Cole, RHP, Indianapolis (2-1, 2.45) – DNP

2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Altoona (2-4, 3.26) – DNP

3. Gregory Polanco, CF, Bradenton (.311) – 0-for-4, BB, SB

4. Alen Hanson, SS, Bradenton (.246) – 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 SB

5. Luis Heredia, RHP, Extended Spring Training

6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.288) – 3-for-7, HR, 2 RBI, BB

7. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia (.220) – Low-A DL

8. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, West Virginia (2-0, 1.80) – DNP

9. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 19.29) – Triple-A DL

10. Nick Kingham, RHP, Bradenton (4-2, 2.95) – 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR

11. Clay Holmes, RHP, West Virginia (1-2, 6.10) – 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

12. Dilson Herrera, 2B, West Virginia (.264) – 1-for-5, BB

13. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis (.274) – DNP

14. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (0-0, 1.42) – In Majors

15. Wyatt Mathisen, C, West Virginia (.179) – 0-for-1, BB

16. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Bradenton (0-0, 6.26) – DNP

17. Vic Black, RHP, Indianapolis (0-2, 3.18) – DNP

18. Andy Oliver, LHP, Indianapolis (1-1, 3.34) – DNP

19. Jin-De Jhang, C, Extended Spring Training

20. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Altoona (2-0, 0.74) – DNP

 

ORDER YOUR 2013 PROSPECT GUIDE

The 2013 Prospect Guide is now available, and is the perfect resource to follow the minor league system during the 2013 season. You can order your copy on the products page of the site. Order together with the 2013 Annual and save $5!

 

DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Kris Johnson, LHP (3-2, 3.23) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Josh Bell, RF (.288) – 3-for-7, HR, 2 RBI, BB

Home Runs: Felix Pie (2), Andrew Lambo (7), Jarek Cunningham (5), Josh Bell (5)

 

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS  

Box Score

Result: Indianapolis 2, Scranton W/B 0

Starting Pitcher: Kris Johnson, LHP (3-2, 3.23) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Felix Pie, LF (.202) – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Vic Black, RHP (3.00) – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 HR

Jared Hughes, RHP (0.00) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR

Alex Presley, DH (.308) – 2-for-4

Game Notes: Felix Pie hit his second homer of the year, and his second in the last three days. Kris Johnson made his first start since April 24th. He’s been pitching out of the bullpen for the last few weeks due to all of the rehab starts by Francisco Liriano and Charlie Morton in Indianapolis. Johnson threw 5.2 shutout innings in that start, and returned with five shutout innings this time around. Jared Hughes now has 3.2 shutout innings in three appearances since returning to Triple-A. He’s given up two hits and has a 4:1 K/BB ratio. Vic Black has given up six earned runs this year, although five of those have come in his second inning of work. He continued his dominance in the first inning today with his eighth save of the year.

 

AA: ALTOONA CURVE  

Box Score

Result: Altoona 7, Harrisburg 6

Starting Pitcher: Luis Sanz, RHP (3.78) – 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Jarek Cunningham, 2B (.217) – 2-for-5, 2B, HR, RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Andrew Lambo, CF (.277) – 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI

Alex Dickerson, RF (.193) – 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI

Gift Ngoepe, SS (.138) – 2-for-4, BB, SB

Charlie Cutler, C (.310) – 2-for-5, 2 2B

Game Notes: Andrew Lambo hit his seventh homer of the year, and his fourth in his last five games. Jarek Cunningham hit his fifth homer of the year, giving Altoona a walk off win in the 10th inning. Adalberto Santos went 0-for-3, but drew a walk to extend his streak of reaching base safely to 18 games. Luis Sanz took the mound today, and was followed by Ethan Hollingsworth for three innings. Altoona’s rotation has been depleted with an injury to Tyler Waldron and the early season promotion of Brandon Cumpton to Indianapolis.

 

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS

Box Score

Result: Bradenton 9, Dunedin 4

Starting Pitcher: Nick Kingham, RHP (4-2, 2.95) – 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Carlos Mesa, RF (.310) – 3-for-4, 2B

Other Notable Performers:

Alen Hanson, SS (.246) – 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 SB

Jose Osuna, 1B (.256) – 2-for-5

Dan Gamache, 2B (.295) – 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI

Taylor Lewis, LF (.238) – 2-for-4, 3 RBI

Game Notes: Nick Kingham continued his dominance of FSL hitters tonight with seven strikeouts and three runs in seven innings. On the season he has a 2.95 ERA in 39.2 innings, with a 47:7 K/BB ratio. He has struck out a batter an inning in each of his last five starts, with a 40:4 K/BB ratio in 30 innings over that span. Alen Hanson stole two bases, giving him ten on the season. Gregory Polanco stole his 13th base of the year. Carlos Mesa is now hitting for a .310/.364/.521 line in 71 at-bats.

 

Josh Bell hit his fifth homer of the year today.
Josh Bell hit his fifth homer of the year today.

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER

Game One Box Score

Result: West Virginia 7, Greenville 3

Starting Pitcher: Clay Holmes, RHP (6.10) – 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Josh Bell, RF (.295) – 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Max Moroff, SS (.223) – 1-for-3, BB

Francisco Diaz, C (.241) – 2-for-2, 3 RBI

Stetson Allie, DH (.342) – 0-for-1, 2 BB

Game Notes: Clay Holmes has given up 11 earned runs in eight innings over his last two starts. He has walked at least three batters in six of his seven starts this season, and now has a 17:25 K/BB ratio in 31 innings this year. Josh Bell hit his fifth homer of the year, and second in his last three games. After this game he had three straight multi-hit games, and five multi-hit games in his last eight games. Click here for Tom Bragg’s report on the game.

Game Two Box Score

Result: West Virginia 7, Greenville 6

Starting Pitcher: Joely Rodriguez, LHP (2-2, 3.41) – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: D.J. Crumlich, 3B (.224) – 2-for-3

Other Notable Performers:

Dilson Herrera, 2B (.264) – 1-for-2, BB

Stetson Allie, 1B (.331) – 0-for-4

Game Notes: Joely Rodriguez has been on fire in his last three starts. He has combined to give up one earned run in 17.1 innings, with 12 hits and a 15:1 K/BB ratio. The lack of walks is the key stat. Rodriguez has always struggled with fastball command. So far this season he has just ten walks in 37 innings, with 31 strikeouts. He has also been throwing in the 91-94 MPH range lately, with good command of his fastball in the process. He has good secondary stuff, and his fastball has always been his third best pitch due to the lack of command. If he can maintain this command in the low-90s, that would only make his slider and changeup better, and make him a potential breakout lefty pitching prospect. Josh Bell went 0-for-3 with a walk, snapping a five game hitting streak. Josh Smith came on in the seventh and gave up six runs while only getting two outs. Bryton Trepagnier took over and got the final out for the save. Click here for Tom Bragg’s report on the game.

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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