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 mid-season rankings, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player page.
1. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 5.40) – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
2. Gregory Polanco, CF, Altoona (.267) – DNP
3. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, West Virginia (8-2, 2.24) – DNP
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona (.143) – DNP
5. Austin Meadows, CF, GCL Pirates (.304) – 3-for-6
6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.280) – DNP
7. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona (3-3, 3.02) – DNP
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power (3-3, 4.08) – DNP
9. Reese McGuire, C, GCL Pirates (.366) – 2-for-6
10. Dilson Herrera, 2B, West Virginia (.270) – 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI
11. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia (.261) – Low-A DL
12. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 19.29) – Triple-A DL
13. Stetson Allie, 1B, Bradenton (.238) – DNP
14. Wyatt Mathisen, C, West Virginia (.185) – 1-for-3 (GCL Rehab)
15. Clay Holmes, RHP, West Virginia (4-5, 4.27) – DNP
16. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Indianapolis (2-4, 3.20) – DNP
17. Vic Black, RHP, Indianapolis (1-2, 2.25) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
18. Harold Ramirez, CF, Jamestown (.322) – DNP
19. Blake Taylor, LHP, GCL Pirates (0-1, 0.82) – DNP
20. Jin-De Jhang, C, Jamestown (.288) – DNP
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Chris Diaz, SS (.302) – 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Home Runs: Andrew Lambo (15), Chris Diaz (1), Enyel Vallejo (2)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Louisville 6, Indianapolis 4
Starting Pitcher: Jameson Taillon, RHP (0-1, 5.40) – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Andrew Lambo, RF (.268) – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Matt Hague, 3B-1B (.293) – 3-for-4
Vic Black, RHP (2.25) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Jameson Taillon made his Triple-A debut. He gave up all three runs in the first inning, then settled down. Taillon walked two and hit a batter to load the bases in the first, then gave up a bases clearing double. He struck out the next two batters, then gave up just a walk and two singles the rest of the way. Andrew Lambo hit his 15th homer of the year for Indianapolis, and his 29th of the season. Matt Hague had three hits for the second time in the last five games. Vic Black pitched in his first game since being sent back down to Triple-A.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona was off today.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Bradenton had their doubleheader cancelled due to rain.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 9, Delmarva 7
Starting Pitcher: John Kuchno, RHP (7-5, 4.23) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Chris Diaz, SS (.302) – 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Dilson Herrera, 2B (.270) – 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Walker Gourley, RF (.329) – 2-for-5, SB
Jordan Steranka, 1B (.281) – 2-for-4, BB
Ryan Hafner, RHP (3.04) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: John Kuchno has a 3.74 ERA in his last ten starts, with a 33:17 K/BB ratio. In his last six starts he has a 2.38 ERA in 34 innings, with a 24:8 K/BB ratio. Ryan Hafner has a 3.04 ERA this season, with an impressive 84:32 K/BB ratio in 68 innings. Chris Diaz hit his first homer of the year. Walker Gourley stole his 32nd base. Dilson Herrera hit his 21st double. In his last ten games he is 14-for-40 (.350) with three doubles and two homers.
A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS
Jamestown was off today.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: GCL Pirates 12, GCL Tigers 9
Starting Pitcher: Neil Kozikowski, RHP (2.25) – 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Enyel Vallejo, LF (.277) – 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Reese McGuire, DH (.366) – 2-for-6
Austin Meadows, CF (.304) – 3-for-6
Danny Arribas, 1B (.311) – 2-for-3, 2 BB, SB
Wyatt Mathisen, C (.333) – 1-for-3
Game Notes: Neil Kozikowski made his third start. The 2013 eighth round pick has combined for a 2.25 ERA in eight innings, with no walks and six strikeouts. Enyel Vallejo hit his second homer of the year. Wyatt Mathisen played in his first game since going down with a labrum injury in West Virginia early in the year. Mathisen played behind the plate, which is a good sign for his health. Austin Meadows and Reese McGuire each had multi-hit games. Meadows now has a .304/.390/.533 line in 92 at-bats. McGuire has a .366/.423/.455 line in 101 at-bats.
+ postsTim 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.
Of P2’s Top 20 prospects, THREE are catchers.
And not one of them is named Tony Sanchez!
Not too shabby!
Foo
What to make of Walker Gourley? Late bloomer and future leadoff man or still just an org player?
Foo
Nice to see Mathisen back.
agree
Early read on 2014 A-ball rosters? My guess would be:
Bradenton
C – Jhang
1B – Allie
2B – Herrera
SS – Moroff
3B – Wood
OF – Bell, Roy, Barnes
SP – Glasnow, Heredia, Holmes
WV
C – McGuire, Mathisen (one can DH)
1B – Collins
2B – Jones
SS – Frazier
3B – Weiss, Fransoso
OF – Meadows, Ramirez, Escobar
SP – Dickson, Carle, Kuhl, Neverauskas
These are a couple of stacked teams.
Yeah and don’t forget about Sandfort or Taylor either.
The starters in Bradenton will certainly be worth watching… And that could be a devestating lineup in WV. Possibly 3 of the top 20 in the OF alone, and two more splitting time behind the plate. Much potential. Very nice to see.
Did I miss an update on Glasnow where his turn is being skipped or something? Is that the case, and they are trying to preserve his innings?
Not a bad first start from Taillon. Good to see him settle in after that first inning. I am not going to beat the door down for Lambo, but heck, thinking more and more he at least deserves a chance to see what he can do?
One last question to chew on…. how much have the Bucs closed the gap on a claim to having the top farm system in baseball? With some of the breakouts this year and the fine starts McGuire and Meadows are off to in Rookie ball?
rsborelli : think about it carefully. A team is in the middle of a Divisional race. Do you really want them to call up an outfielder with no Major League experience,hitting .268 with a strike out rate of close to 26 %,put him in the lineup just to ” see what he can do ” ? I sure wouldn’t do that !
Well, the Dodgers did with that kid Puig…and he turned their whole season around. I am not suggesting that Lambo is anywhere near Puig in impact, but he would not exactly be replacing Clemente in RF.
How would a Tabata/Lambo platoon be any worse than what we have now??
As I said, “not beating down the door.” All depends on what they continue to get (or not get) out of RF. Not talking about a guy who is a 29 year old retread. He is just 24 (closing in on 25), and his power numbers have not tailed off at all since the jump to AAA. They are about identical to AA, so he has replicated the power numbers at a higher level.
Yes,I understand,and don’t take that as harsh criticism either. I am sure that is the way they are looking at Lambo,and I must also mention this aspect : I watched Andrew play almost every home game he played in Altoona,and defensively he might be a liability also. As for DH ing him as has been mentioned here,I am not sure that a single series against one , two,even three RH pitchers is going to let us know conclusively at that level. 9 or 10 ABs is a mighty small sample in my mind.
Lambo as a DH sounds awesome!
Worth a shot!
Considering the alternatives are Presley and Tabata (who aren’t that bad, but still). You make a good point about the 26% strikeout rate, that could jump to 28 or 30 percent in the majors.
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For me I think it really depends on how Jones is doing, and now he seems to be getting a few hits (and some doubles). If Jones were struggling then the lineup against right handers wouldn’t look quite as good and maybe it would be worth giving Lambo a shot (taking the place of Presley).
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Adrian has a good idea to give him a shot as a DH. No harm in that as that spot would normally be a pitcher.
i would like to see Lambo come into the side for the Texas series to DH against right handed pitchers and I think it likely that when the rosters expand they may bring him up to see if his power will play in the majors. A hitter with30+ homers if he bring that power to pinch hit situations would be valuable in a play off series
Plus the 7 NYPL All Stars!
Is Walker Gourley still viewed as prospect and still at an acceptable age for the level he is playing at or is he now just an organisation player with a limited upside?
It’s strange, he spent 3 years in the New York Penn League and didn’t do much offensivly but now in WV he’s hitting. He is a little on the older side at 22.
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You never know though, he could be a late bloomer, but as of right now I think he’s considered org depth. I’d imagine he’ll get a chance in Bradenton next year and if he can hit there, maybe he might have a shot. Gourley has played pretty much every position so that should earn him a few years to work his way up the system with the upside as a utility player.