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. If a player is out for the season (Jameson Taillon #1, 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 mid-season top 20 update, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
2. Austin Meadows, CF, West Virginia – 1-for-4, 2B
3. Reese McGuire, C, West Virginia – 1-for-3, 2B
4. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
5. Alen Hanson, SS/2B, Altoona – Disabled List (8/25 Update)
6. Josh Bell, RF, Altoona – Disabled List (8/19 Update)
7. Harold Ramirez, OF, West Virginia – Disabled List (7/24 Update)
8. Cole Tucker, SS, GCL Pirates – DNP
9. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia – DNP
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP
11. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
12. JaCoby Jones, SS, West Virginia – 0-for-4
13. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
14. Andrew Lambo, OF, Indianapolis – In Majors
15. Joely Rodriguez, LHP, Altoona – 7.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
16. Michael De La Cruz, OF, GCL Pirates – DNP
17. Trey Supak, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP
18. Buddy Borden, RHP, West Virginia – DNP
19. Stetson Allie, 1B, Altoona – 1-for-4
20. Gage Hinsz, RHP, GCL Pirates – DNP
2014 PROSPECT GUIDE SALE!
The 2014 Prospect Guide is on sale in the Pirates Prospects store. The paperback version has dropped to $14.99 plus shipping. We currently only have one case of books remaining, and the offer is only valid while the books are in stock. There is also an eBook version available for $9.99. The 2013 Prospect Guide is on clearance for $1.
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Jordan Luplow, LF – 3-for-6, HR
Home Runs: Andy Vasquez (11), Jordan Luplow (6)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Louisville 4, Indianapolis 3
Starting Pitcher: Rafael Perez, LHP – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Dean Anna, SS – 4-for-4, 2 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Mel Rojas, LF – 2-for-4
Gregory Polanco, RF – 0-for-2, 2 BB, SB
Game Notes: Indianapolis wrapped up their season with a loss to Louisville. Because this was the final game of the season, players who have been optioned to Triple-A can be recalled tomorrow. Jeff Locke will be recalled to make his start against the Cardinals. Gregory Polanco will also be recalled, as will John Holdzkom. It’s also possible that they could recall more players who are on the 40-man roster, like Jaff Decker, Bobby LaFromboise, and Michael Martinez. One sleeper from Indianapolis would be Chase d’Arnaud, who can play all over the infield and outfield, while providing strong base running and an ability to hit left-handers.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 6, Bowie 5
Starting Pitcher: Joely Rodriguez, LHP – 7.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Andy Vasquez, RF-LF – 1-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Dan Gamache, 2B – 2-for-5
Keon Broxton, CF – 2-for-4, 2B
Gift Ngoepe, SS – 2-for-4, 2B, 3B
Game Notes: Keon Broxton finished a strong season by going 2-for-4 with his 22nd double of the year. Broxton finished the season with a .275/.369/.484 line in 407 at-bats, with 15 homers and 25 stolen bases. It was the best year of his career, coming in his age 24 season. He has similar upside to Mel Rojas, and both would need to be added to the 40-man roster this off-season to prevent losing them in the Rule 5 draft. Joely Rodriguez wrapped up a rough season today with another poor outing. He had a 4.84 ERA in 134 innings this year, with a 73:43 K/BB ratio. Gift Ngoepe hit his 9th triple of the year, and his 17th double.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Bradenton was off today. They will start their playoff series tomorrow night at 6:30 PM.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: Asheville 5, West Virginia 0
Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP – 2.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Reese McGuire, C – 1-for-3, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Erich Weiss, 2B – 1-for-3, 2B
Austin Meadows, CF – 1-for-4, 2B
Game Notes: Cody Dickson wrapped up his season by throwing two innings, with Dovydas Neverauskas also throwing two innings in relief following Dickson. Reese McGuire hit his 11th double of the year, and Austin Meadows hit his 13th. Erich Weiss had the only other West Virginia hit, also a double, for his 22nd of the year. Meadows had an outfield assist, throwing out a runner at second base. The West Virginia offense struggled to finish the season, striking out 14 times in 30 at-bats today.
A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS
Result: Jamestown 3, Mahoning Valley 2
Starting Pitcher: Montana DuRapau, RHP – 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Jordan Luplow, LF – 2-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Erik Lunde, DH – 2-for-3
Chase Simpson, 3B – 1-for-3
Game Notes: Jordan Luplow hit his sixth homer of the year. The third round pick went 1-for-2 in the second game of today’s double-header, and finished his season with a .277/.360/.423 line in 220 at-bats. He didn’t show a lot of power, but displayed a good approach at the plate, and a good ability to get on base, with a 17.5% strikeout rate and a 10.7% walk rate. Chase Simpson finished his season with a .286/.369/.481 line in 189 at-bats, along with seven homers. His .851 OPS finished third in the NYPL, his OBP ranked fifth, and his slugging percentage was ranked sixth.
Result: Mahoning Valley 12, Jamestown 3
Starting Pitcher: Alex McRae, RHP – 2.2 IP, 9 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Elvis Escobar, CF – 2-for-4
Other Notable Performers:
Jordan Luplow, LF – 1-for-2
Game Notes: Back when they were both signed in 2011, Elvis Escobar and Harold Ramirez looked to have similar upsides. The Pirates paid Ramirez a little over $1 M, while Escobar received $570 K, so they obviously liked Ramirez better. But the gap wasn’t seen as a big one. Ramirez was hurt by multiple leg injuries in West Virginia this year, but his prospect status is high. Escobar, meanwhile, finished the year with a .274/.316/.349 line in Jamestown, after struggling in West Virginia earlier in the year. He still has some upside, and comes from a family full of talented baseball players, so I expect Escobar to remain in the organization. However, he might start seeing guys pass him up, and might find it hard to continue getting work as a starter if he doesn’t show improvements.
RK: BRISTOL PIRATES
The Bristol season is over.
RK: GCL PIRATES
The GCL season is over.
RK: DSL PIRATES
The DSL season is now over. You can read the DSL Pirates season recap here, complete with scouting reports every player.
In fairness to Elvis Escobar, he was the youngest player on the Jamestown Jammers this year. And he wasn’t terrible.