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 – DNP
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
3. Austin Meadows, CF, Bradenton – 2-for-4, BB
4. Josh Bell, 1B, Altoona – DNP
5. Reese McGuire, C, Bradenton – DNP
6. Nick Kingham, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
7. Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis – 0-for-4
8. Cole Tucker, SS, West Virginia – 1-for-3, 3B
9. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – 1-for-4, 2B
10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bristol – DNP
11. Harold Ramirez, OF, Bradenton – Pan-Am Tournament
12. Stephen Tarpley, LHP, West Virginia – 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
13. JaCoby Jones, SS, Bradenton – 2-for-5, 2B
14. Adrian Sampson, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
15. Trey Supak, RHP, Bristol – DNP
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Bristol – 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
17. Barrett Barnes, OF, Bradenton – 1-for-4
18. Clay Holmes, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
19. Cody Dickson, LHP, Bradenton – DNP
20. Willy Garcia, OF, Indianapolis – 0-for-4, 3 K
21. John Holdzkom, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
22. Jordan Luplow, 3B, West Virginia – 0-for-3
23. Connor Joe, 1B, West Virginia – 0-for-2, BB
24. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B, Bradenton – 1-for-4, BB
25. Casey Sadler, RHP, Indianapolis – Disabled List
26. Steven Brault, LHP, Altoona – DNP
27. Tito Polo, OF, West Virginia – Pan-Am Tournament
28. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Bradenton – 5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
29. Luis Heredia, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
30. Taylor Gushue, C, West Virginia – 0-for-2
DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Stephen Tarpley, LHP – 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Edwin Espinal, 1B – 3-for-5, HR
Home Runs: Brent Morel (9), Pablo Reyes (8), Edwin Espinal (3)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Louisville 3, Indianapolis 2
Starting Pitcher: Wilfredo Boscan, RHP – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Brent Morel, 3B – 1-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Jose Tabata, RF – 1-for-3, 2B, BB
Elias Diaz, C – 1-for-4, 2B
Game Notes: Brent Morel has been hot lately for Indianapolis. He finished the month of June with a .903 OPS and six homers on the month. So far he has followed that up with a homer and a 1.017 OPS in 20 at-bats in July. Of course it’s hard to trust any minor league success, considering his lack of success in the majors. He has a .600 OPS in his major league career over 655 at-bats, with his most recent appearance coming last year in Pittsburgh, with a .450 OPS. Corey Hart played back to back games for the first time in his rehab process. Elias Diaz hit his 13th double of the year.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona was postponed due to rain.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Palm Beach 9, Bradenton 8
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Eppler, RHP – 5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Edwin Espinal, 1B – 3-for-5, HR
Other Notable Performers:
JaCoby Jones, DH – 2-for-5, 2B
Austin Meadows, CF – 2-for-4, BB
Barrett Barnes, LF – 1-for-4
Erich Weiss, 2B – 2-for-4, BB
Chris Diaz, SS – 2-for-4, 2B
Game Notes: Tyler Eppler had his best start of the year since joining the Marauders. He gave up two unearned runs in the first, due to a Wyatt Mathisen throwing error, and one run in the second. After that he settled down to complete five innings, giving up just the one earned run, with no walks and four strikeouts. Bradenton gave him a lot of support on offense, with five Marauders picking up multiple hits. Edwin Espinal hit his third homer of the year, and drove in five runs on the night. JaCoby Jones added his 12th double. Austin Meadows has been heating up lately, picking up his sixth multi-hit game in his last ten. Erich Weiss added his fifth multi-hit game in his last ten. The Marauders ended up losing after Robert Stock and Miguel Rosario combined to give up six runs in the ninth inning.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
Result: West Virginia 3, Delmarva 0
Starting Pitcher: Stephen Tarpley, LHP – 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Pablo Reyes, 2B – 1-for-2, HR
Other Notable Performers:
Cole Tucker, SS – 1-for-3, 3B
Michael Suchy, RF – 1-for-3, 2B
Elvis Escobar, CF – 1-for-3, 2B
Game Notes: West Virginia had their game shortened by rain, and the result was that Stephen Tarpley ended up with a six inning no hitter. Tarpley has been outstanding this year with West Virginia, posting a 2.25 ERA in 48 innings, with a 41:15 K/BB ratio. He’s been hitting a new level in his last three outings, giving up just two runs on eight hits in 19 innings of work, with a 14:5 K/BB ratio. Pablo Reyes hit his eighth homer of the year. Michael Suchy and Elvis Escobar both hit their 17th doubles of the year. Cole Tucker hit his third triple of the year.
A: WEST VIRGINIA BLACK BEARS
West Virginia was off tonight.
RK: BRISTOL PIRATES
Result: Johnson City 4, Bristol 1
Starting Pitcher: Gage Hinsz, RHP – 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Trae Arbet, 2B – 2-for-2, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Carlos Munoz, 1B – 1-for-3, 2B
Result: Johnson City 3, Bristol 1
Starting Pitcher: Marek Minarik, RHP – 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Erik Lunde, C – 1-for-2, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Nick Buckner, RF – 1-for-3
Game Notes: Bristol was swept in a double-header tonight against Johnson City. The highlight of the evening was that Gage Hinsz made his 2015 debut. It didn’t go well, as he gave up two runs on two hits and three walks, and didn’t make it out of the second. Hinsz signed late last year, and only pitched eight innings in the GCL. In that time he dealt with some control issues, walking four in eight innings. He’s got a fastball that sits low-to-mid 90s, but command is going to be a huge thing for him going forward.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 6, Yankees 5
Starting Pitcher: Seth McGarry, RHP – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Adrian Valerio, SS – 3-for-5, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Michael De La Cruz, CF – 2-for-5, 3B
Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B – 2-for-5, 2B
Jhoan Herrera, 1B – 3-for-5, 2B
Yoel Gonzalez, C – 2-for-5
Nelson Jorge, 2B – 2-for-4
Game Notes: Seth McGarry mostly worked as a reliever in college, and the Pirates sent him to the GCL to focus on getting stretched out to be a starter in pro ball. He profiles best as a reliever in the long-term, but the Pirates always put their best arms in a minor league rotation, especially in the lower levels. McGarry worked up to five innings today, dominating the GCL Yankees1 team. That’s not a big surprise, and his success in other outings isn’t surprising either, as he’s a college pitcher going up against high school talent. Expect him to move up to Morgantown soon, where he will join their rotation and get a bit more of a challenge.
Ke’Bryan Hayes continues to hit, picking up two more hits on the day to go 12-for-30 on the season, with a 1.047 OPS. Adrian Valerio was known for his defense at shortstop heading into the year, but has actually impressed offensively as well. With three more hits today, he has an .833 OPS on the season. Jhoan Herrera has put up some nice power numbers, hitting his sixth double of the year in his 12th game today. He has a .191 ISO on the season, which is impressive for the very pitcher friendly GCL.
RK: DSL PIRATES
Result: Cubs 6, Pirates 5
Starting Pitcher: Miguel Hernandez, RHP – 4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Ramy Perez, 1B – 3-for-5, 2B
Other Notable Performers:
Melvin Jimenez, 3B – 2-for-5
Jeremias Portorreal, RF – 1-for-3, 3B, 2 BB
Roger Santana, LHP – 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Starter Miguel Hernandez put the Pirates in a 4-0 hole early, as they lost to the Cubs on Tuesday. That dropped them to 13-20 on the season and 1-10 in their last 11 games. Hernandez gave up four first innings runs. He settled down and allowed just one unearned run over the next 3.1 innings. He has a 3.98 ERA this season, which is one of the best on the team, but his 0-4 record tells you a lot about the bullpen and offense from the team this year. The relievers were good in this game, giving up one run over the last 4.2 innings. Closer Carlos Bustamante had four strikeouts in his two scoreless innings.
On offense, Jeremias Portorreal has slowly begun to show some progress at the plate. In this game, he had a triple and drove in three runs, plus he drew two walks. In his last ten games, he is hitting .300 with 12 walks. On the season, he has a 23:28 BB/SO ratio in 96 at-bats, while last season it was 35:73 in 204 at-bats, showing an improvements in his strikeout rate and drawing more walks. His OPS this year currently sits .208 above last season.
On the flip side, Yondry Contreras continues to struggle. The highest bonus player from the 2014 signing class is having a rough season and he went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts on Monday. In 29 games, he has a .562 OPS and 41 strikeouts, which easily lead the team. – John Dreker
