TOP OF THE SYSTEM
A look at how the current top 30 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, 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 30 active prospects on the list. Rankings are from early season update, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Altoona – Disabled List
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
3. Austin Meadows, CF, Bradenton – 0-for-5
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – 3-for-4, BB
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – 0-for-4
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – 3-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 BB
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – DNP
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – 1-for-4
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Extended Spring Training
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – 2-for-3, BB, SB
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 2-for-5, HR
14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
15. Trey Supak, RHP, Extended Spring Training
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Extended Spring Training
17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Bradenton – 2-for-5, 2B
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – Disabled List
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Altoona – 1-for-4, 2 K
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 0-for-4
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – DNP
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 2-for-3, 2B, BB
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Bradenton – 6.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – 3-for-4, SB
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Extended Spring Training
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – 1-for-5
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Stephen Tarpley, LHP – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, 2B – 3-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 BB
Home Runs: JaCoby Jones (6), Alen Hanson (3), Eric Wood (2)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Toledo 9, Indianapolis 8
Starting Pitcher: Wilfredo Boscan, RHP – 3.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, 2B – 3-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 BB
Other Notable Performers:
Gustavo Nunez, SS – 2-for-4
Pedro Florimon, 3B – 1-for-3, 2B, BB, SB
Game Notes: Wilfredo Boscan was wild from the beginning and the result showed it, as he walked three and got too much plate several times. Boscan was all over the plate throughout his start. He only went three innings, due to a two hour rain delay.
Colin Balester relieved Boscan and had another tough outing, allowing a pair of runs on four hits and a walk. Bobby LaFromboise was just as wild as Boscan, as he worked 1.1 innings, walking three and striking out another. Deolis Guerra pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing a pair of hits and striking out three. Blake Wood worked the ninth in the mid to upper 90s with the fastball. However, the reliable Wood blew his second save of the season in 15 opportunities. Brad Lincoln retired the final hitter of the frame.
Alen Hanson continued his hot streak for the month on the next to final day, as he hammered an inside pitch into the seats for a home run. Gustavo Nunez also picked up a multi-hit game. – Ryan Palencer
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 13, Binghamton 4
Starting Pitcher: Jason Creasy, RHP – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Eric Wood, 3B – 3-for-5, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Josh Bell, 1B – 3-for-4, BB
Max Moroff, 2B – 2-for-4, BB
Jose Osuna, LF – 2-for-3, 2B, BB, SB
Stetson Allie, RF – 2-for-5, SB
Game Notes: Jason Creasy was known for his low walk rates last year, at times going several games without issuing a walk. That hasn’t been the case this year. He has 20 walks in 57 innings so far. By comparison, last year he had 22 in 148.2 innings. Creasy is getting good results, and he has a fastball that can hit mid-90s, so it’s not like he’s a guy who fully relies on location. However, he doesn’t strike out a lot of guys, which means keeping the walks low is an especially good thing for his game.
Josh Bell picked up three hits tonight, giving him his sixth multi-hit game in his last eight games. Max Moroff also had a multi-hit game, which was his fourth in his last five games. Jose Osuna has gone 3-for-7 with two doubles in his first two games in Altoona. Eric Wood picked up three hits, including his second homer of the year.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Jupiter 5, Bradenton 3
Starting Pitcher: Steven Brault, LHP – 6.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: JaCoby Jones, SS – 2-for-5, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Barrett Barnes, LF – 2-for-5, 2B
Harold Ramirez, RF – 2-for-3, BB, SB
Wyatt Mathisen, DH – 2-for-3, 2B, BB
Game Notes: Steven Brault had a nice outing tonight, and was cruising through six innings. He was getting a lot of swings and misses on his changeup, and his two-seamer was getting a lot of ground balls and weak contact. Brault’s two-seamer was sitting 88-89 MPH, and had good movement, running in on right-handers, then cutting at the last moment. He throws from a three-quarters arm slot with long arm action, extending toward first base, with the ball having horizontal and vertical movement, along with the late cut at the plate.
There was trouble in the seventh inning, although it wasn’t entirely on Brault. He had a few hard hit balls, but also mixed in a few soft hits that found their way for hits, doing some damage. He almost escaped the frame twice with no damage. The first time was on a grounder to third with the bases loaded and one out. The grounder was too weak, and Chris Diaz could only get the out at third, allowing a run to score. The next batter grounded back to the mound with a hard chopper. The ball bounced off Brault’s glove, then went over the middle. Erich Weiss tried the field the ball and get the force at second at the same time, but bobbled the ball for an error. Brault followed with a wild pitch, bringing in a run, and then gave up a weak bloop single over JaCoby Jones’ head at shortstop to bring in two more. He was only charged with one earned run on the night, due to the error from Weiss.
Austin Meadows showed an old trend that hasn’t been around much this year. He struck out twice tonight, both reaching for low and away breaking pitches. He hasn’t had much trouble this year with the breaking stuff, which is a big difference from when he came into pro ball.
JaCoby Jones crushed a home run opposite field off the boardwalk in the ninth inning to try and bring the Marauders back. Barrett Barnes also showed off some of his power, hitting a long double off the wall in the left-center field gap. Harold Ramirez picked up two hits, extending his hitting streak to 27 games, dating back to last season. He also stole his second base of the year. – Tim Williams
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 9, Delmarva 4
Starting Pitcher: Stephen Tarpley, LHP – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Elvis Escobar, CF – 3-for-5, 2 2B, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Michael Suchy, RF – 2-for-4, 2B, BB
Tito Polo, LF – 3-for-4, SB
Game Notes: Stephen Tarpley made his second start of the season and had another strong outing. In his two games, he has allowed one earned run over 10 innings. On Saturday night, he had six strikeouts and was getting a lot of swing and misses on all three of his pitches. Tarpley’s off-speed pitches were especially effective, sitting in the low 80’s with his changeup that had good separation from his fastball. In one at-bat with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, he threw three straight sliders that the batter watched for strikes. Tarpley threw 82 pitches, 52 for strikes.
Jake Burnette followed Tarpley and gave up one run over three innings, while striking out four batters. He’s allowed two earned runs over 12.2 innings in his last four appearances combined.
West Virginia scored nine runs on 13 hits, with Elvis Escobar driving in three runs on three hits. He collected two doubles, giving him 13 on the year. Escobar has raised his average to .287 by going 14-for-33 in his last eight games. He has 14 multi-hit games this year. Tito Polo also had three hits and stole his 13th base of the season. Jordan Luplow went 0-for-4, dropping his average to .227 through 39 games. He also committed his tenth error, which led to two unearned runs. – John Dreker
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 11, Yankees 6
Starting Pitcher: Adonis Pichardo, RHP – 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Yondry Contreras, CF – 3-for-6, 2B, SB
Other Notable Performers:
Melvin Jimenez, SS – 3-for-6, SB
Felix Vinicio, DH – 2-for-5
Mikell Granberry, C – 2-for-6, 2B
Jeremias Portorreal, RF – 1-for-4, 2B, 2 BB
Game Notes: Yondry Contreras was the top signing of the Pirates during this current July 2nd international signing period. He got a $400,000, which was twice as much as the next highest paid player. The 17-year-old Contreras played his first pro game on Saturday and collected three hits and scored three runs in the 11-6 victory by the Pirates. Shortstop Melvin Jimenez matched Contreras with three hits, three runs scored and they each stole a base. Eddy Vizcaino walked three times, stole a base and picked up an outfield assist.
Among the returning players from last year, Mikell Granberry had two hits and drove in a run. Felix Vinicio had two hits and drove in two runs. Jeremias Portorreal had a double and two walks. He was the second highest signing from the 2013-14 signing period.
Adonis Pichardo made his debut after signing for $105,000 back in July. He has a fastball that can hit 96 MPH, but he was two years older than your normal July 2nd signing. In his debut, he went four innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and three walks, with four strikeouts. Roger Santana, another six-figure bonus player that signed in July, followed Pichardo and gave up two runs over 2.1 innings. – John Dreker
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.
I’m a big Neil Walker fan. I still want him to be extended, but it it’s not going to happen then why not think about dealing him this season? Especially if Hansen continues to perform like this . He would look real good in the #1 or #2 spots in the order. I wouldn’t trade Walker right now but Hansen seems to be on the cusp of really breaking out the way he did in West Virginia. Not sure what Walker trade value is right now but I think you could really improve this team from top to bottom IF Hansen continues to hit like this,
Suggestion: please put a caption on every photo. Since many of us are not familiar with what minor league players look like, it would really help to know the player’s name and the context in which the photo was taken.
That is Brault above. Sometimes the photos are captioned, others times I’ve used “pictured above”. Most of the photos are our stock photos we take the first time we see players each year, except for the Pirates, since we(David Hague) take photos of them often.
So is there only 1 DSL team this year? Or will there be a team in the VSL as well?
Just one foreign team. The VSL days are done. The Pirates have the ability to add a second team if they want in the DSL, they can hold up to 70 players at their academy
In all fairness to Luplow, it should be pointed out that those 10 errors are part of the learning curve of a new position, and as we have seen, it can carry over to the offensive side as well.
We have mentioned that numerous times, including the scouting report article from today, which was all about his defense
The article today came out after I posted my comment 🙂
FYI: Travis has an OPS of .703 with only 1 HR so far.
I loved Lunchbox while he was here and I am glad he is getting a chance, but he appears to be nothing more than a 4th OFer, unfortunately.
Still, I hope this turns out to be a win-win for both us and the O’s.
I agree LeeFoo. I’d like to see Travis help Orioles beat up on Yanks and Sox.
Anyone that helps beat up on “The American League Team from New York” is my hero.
An excellent night overall. Tarpley at Lo A and Brault at Hi A have done well for the Pirates since coming over in the trade with B’more. LHSP Cody Dickson had a 5 inning one-hitter Thursday night for Hi A, so there are some quality lefties advancing. Maybe a few young LHSP’s in the draft? Any velocity numbers on Tarpley’s FB?
Great stuff from Alen Hanson and Josh Bell. The promotion has not overwhelmed Jose Osuna, even though he is playing in the OF. And, a tip of the cap to former prospect Jake Burnette who has started the season a lot better than his last few years.
EmJay – I am over in the Knoxville area – where are you?
It would be hard to imagine that he could be a worse first baseman than the one on the major league team. Meaning the glove and defensive instincts.
Thanks to all of you for the game reports, looks like so far snider has helped the pirates quite a bit.