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 (Stolmy Pimentel #13). 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. If a player is out for the season (Jameson Taillon #2, Clay Holmes #12), he will be removed and everyone below him will move up a spot. Removing these guys doesn’t mean they have lost prospect status. It is just an attempt to get 20 active prospects on the list. Rankings are from the 2014 Prospect Guide, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Gregory Polanco, CF, Indianapolis – 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB
2. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
3. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/22 Update)
4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona – 0-for-4
5. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona – DNP
6. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – 1-for-4
7. Josh Bell, RF, Bradenton – 2-for-4
8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power – Disabled List (4/22 Update)
9. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/14 Update)
10. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis – 0-for-4, BB
11. Andrew Lambo, OF, Indianapolis – 2-for-4, 2B, BB
12. Joely Rodriguez, LHP, Altoona – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
13. Blake Taylor, LHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
14. Cody Dickson, LHP, West Virginia – DNP
15. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia – Disabled List (4/14 Update)
16. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 2-for-5, 2B
17. Michael De La Cruz, OF, Extended Spring Training – DNP
18. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, West Virginia – 2-for-4
19. Jin-De Jhang, C, Bradenton – DNP
20. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
ORDER YOUR 2014 PROSPECT GUIDE
The 2014 Prospect Guide is now available, and is the perfect resource to follow the minor league system during the 2014 season. You can order your copy on the products page of the site.
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Eric Wood, 3B – 2-for-3, HR
Home Runs: Matt Hague (3), Eric Wood (1)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Toledo 7, Indianapolis 6
Starting Pitcher: Jake Brigham, RHP – 6.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Matt Hague, 3B – 1-for-5, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Gregory Polanco, RF – 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB
Andrew Lambo, DH – 2-for-4, 2B, BB
Game Notes: Matt Hague picked up his second homer of the year, hitting a three run shot with two outs in the fourth inning. Gregory Polanco continued his hitting, going 1-for-3 with two walks. He has shown very few weaknesses with his game, although one area of struggles has been his base running. Polanco was caught stealing tonight, making him 4-for-8 in stolen bases. The caught stealing was a result of a pick off, and Polanco has had at least three of those in the young season. It does show that Polanco is still human, and still has a few things to iron out, despite being off the charts with his bat. Andrew Lambo went 2-for-4 with his seventh double of the year. Phil Irwin gave up one earned run on five hits in 3.2 innings in relief.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 5, Akron 3
Starting Pitcher: Joely Rodriguez, LHP – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gift Ngoepe, 2B – 1-for-3, 2B, BB, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Mel Rojas, CF – 1-for-4, 3B
Game Notes: Joely Rodriguez went six innings, giving up one earned runs with no walks. Rodriguez hasn’t had the best start to his Double-A career, struggling in his last two outings. He gave up two runs in six innings in his first start, but combined for eight earned runs in 7.1 innings over the next two outings. This was a much better result. He could use more strikeouts going forward, as he only has a 6:6 K/BB ratio in 19.1 innings. Gift Ngoepe picked up his fifth double of the year and stole his first base of the year. Stetson Allie went 0-for-3, breaking his streak of homering in three straight games.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: St. Lucie 13, Bradenton 4
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow, RHP – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Eric Wood, 3B – 2-for-3, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-3, 2 SB
Josh Bell, DH – 2-for-4
Jonathan Schwind, LF – 2-for-4, SB
Game Notes: Tyler Glasnow made his 2014 debut, and his High-A debut, throwing five shutout innings and striking out six. Glasnow did walk three batters, but only gave up two hits. Last year he dominated in Low-A, with a ton of strikeouts, and not a lot of hits, but also too many walks. As he moves up, it is going to be harder to be successful with the walks, as the hits will come against upper level hitters. Eric Wood hit his first homer of the year. The third baseman is off to a good start, going 8-for-21 with two doubles and a homer. Josh Bell, Max Moroff, and Jonathan Schwind also had two hits each.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Hagerstown 7, West Virginia 5
Starting Pitcher: Justin Topa, RHP – 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: JaCoby Jones, SS – 2-for-5, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Erich Weiss, 2B – 2-for-5
Wyatt Mathisen, 3B – 2-for-4
Reese McGuire, DH – 1-for-4
Game Notes: Justin Topa got the start today, taking the spot of the injured Luis Heredia. Topa was a 17th round pick last year out of college, and has a fastball that tops out at 95-96 MPH. If he has a future in the majors, it will be as a reliever, but he’s getting a shot as a long-reliever/additional starter for now. Tonight he was hurt by the long ball, with three of his four runs coming off home runs. JaCoby Jones had his second straight multi-hit day. Erich Weiss also had his second straight day with two hits.
