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, 2.31) – DNP
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Altoona (2-3, 3.03) – DNP
3. Gregory Polanco, CF, Bradenton (.306) – 2-for-3, BB
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Bradenton (.242) – 0-for-2, BB
5. Luis Heredia, RHP, Extended Spring Training
6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.266) – 1-for-3
7. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia (.220) – Low-A DL
8. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, West Virginia (1-0, 1.80) – DNP
9. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 19.29) – Triple-A DL
10. Nick Kingham, RHP, Bradenton (3-2, 2.76) – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
11. Clay Holmes, RHP, West Virginia (1-2, 3.91) – DNP
12. Dilson Herrera, 2B, West Virginia (.278) – 1-for-4, 2B
13. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis (.258) – 1-for-3
14. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (0-0, 1.42) – In Majors
15. Wyatt Mathisen, C, West Virginia (.182) – DNP
16. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Bradenton (0-0, 5.16) – DNP
17. Vic Black, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 2.87) – 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, 0.30) – DNP
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Matt Hague, 1B (.310) – 1-for-3, HR
Home Runs: Matt Hague (1), Matt Curry (4), Jarek Cunningham (4)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Lehigh Valley 7, Indianapolis 1
Starting Pitcher: Charlie Morton, RHP (0.00) – 3.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Matt Hague, 1B (.310) – 1-for-3, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Darren Ford, RF (.262) – 2-for-4
Duke Welker, RHP (0.00) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Charlie Morton was removed from his start due to shoulder tightness. Matt Hague hit his first homer of the year for Indianapolis’ only run. Duke Welker has now thrown 14 shutout innings to start the 2013 season, and has only allowed two hits. Gerrit Cole was originally supposed to start today, but was pushed back to tomorrow.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Erie 6, Altoona 3
Starting Pitcher: Ethan Hollingsworth, RHP (0-2, 5.21) – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Matt Curry, 1B (.257) – 1-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Jarek Cunningham, 2B (.227) – 1-for-4, HR
Andy Vasquez, RF (.328) – 2-for-5, 3B
Game Notes: Matt Curry hit his fourth homer of the year. Jarek Cunningham also hit his fourth of the year. For Curry it was his first extra base hit in his last ten games. Cunningham homered two days ago. Andy Vasquez is now hitting for a .328/.377/.484 line in 64 at-bats. Ethan Hollingsworth was getting a start due to Tyler Waldron being on the disabled list and Brandon Cumpton being in Triple-A.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 8, Palm Beach 1
Starting Pitcher: Nick Kingham, RHP (3-2, 2.76) – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Dan Gamache, 2B (.282) – 1-for-3, 3B, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Gregory Polanco, CF (.306) – 2-for-3, BB
Willy Garcia, RF (.222) – 2-for-4
Game Notes: Bradenton was supposed to play a double header, but had the second game rained out. They will play a double header tomorrow. Nick Kingham now has a 2.76 ERA in 32.2 innings this year, with a 40:6 K/BB ratio. In his last four starts he has allowed three earned runs in 23 innings, with a 33:3 K/BB ratio. Gregory Polanco had a two hit night, snapping a four game hitless streak where he went 0-for-14.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 3, Greensboro 0
Starting Pitcher: Orlando Castro, LHP (3-2, 1.36) – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Francisco Diaz, C (.185) – 2-for-3, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Josh Bell, DH (.266) – 1-for-3, BB
Stetson Allie, 1B (.355) – 1-for-2, BB
Game Notes: Orlando Castro now has a 1.36 ERA in 33 innings with a 29:1 K/BB ratio. Today was his best start of the year. It was the third time he went six innings or more, but he gave up runs in the other two outings. He also set a season high for strikeouts. Francisco Diaz was the only West Virginia hitter with multiple hits. Barrett Barnes was placed on the West Virginia disabled list today.
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.
How much longer can they keep guys in extended ST? Going to have to start ranking Heredia up there with Sasquatch and Loch Ness.
Castro with a 29:1 K:BB ratio. Incredible at any level. He could get himself on the fastrack soon.
Is it odd that I have a man-crush on Kingham? It is great to hear that he is pitching so well this year!
I was at the game tonight. before Morton was pulled he was working in 91-93mph touching 96. In one way it was typical Ground Chuck in that all but 3 of the outs he recorded were ground ball. The infield defense let him down which led to the unearned run, He threw virtually all fastballs leaving many up and out of the zone which were taken as balls. Just my observation but he never looked totally comfortable. Kris Johnson came in relief of Morton and was horrible and was hit hard. He was working 89-91 mph and touched 93.
Duke Welker pitched one inning and was working 90-91 touching 93.
Tim, I thought Welker threw in the upper 90’s. Has this been his typical velocity this year?
Hopefully Welker’s velo last night is just a blip. It’s notuncommon for these big arms to fluctuate though. I was watching Kennley Jansen for the Dodgers the other night and he was only 91-92 and he has a rep for being in the high 90’s.
Vince….that IS news about Welker. Let’s hope the gun was worn out by then.
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