A look at how the current top 30 prospects did today. If a player is in the majors for an extended time (Tyler Glasnow, Trevor Williams, Alen Hanson), or loses his prospect eligibility, he will be removed from this list. 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 more active prospects on the list. Rankings are from the 2017 Prospect Guide, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Austin Meadows, CF, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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2. Mitch Keller, RHP, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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3. Kevin Newman, SS, Altoona – [insert_php]
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4. Cole Tucker, SS, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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5. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Bradenton -[insert_php]
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6. Will Craig, 3B, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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7. Taylor Hearn, LHP, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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8. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Bradenton – [insert_php]
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9. Nick Kingham, RHP, Extended Spring Training – [insert_php]
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10. Steven Brault, LHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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11. Clay Holmes, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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12. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Extended Spring Training – [insert_php]
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13. Max Kranick, RHP, Extended Spring Training – [insert_php]
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14. Elias Diaz, C, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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15. Edgar Santana, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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16. Luis Escobar, RHP, West Virginia – [insert_php]
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17. Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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18. Yeudy Garcia, RHP, Altoona -[insert_php]
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19. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Altoona -[insert_php]
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20. Tyler Eppler, RHP, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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21. Stephen Alemais, SS, West Virginia – [insert_php]
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22. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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23. Travis MacGregor, RHP, Extended Spring Training – [insert_php]
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24. Barrett Barnes, LF, Extended Spring Training -[insert_php]
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25. Max Moroff, 2B, Indianapolis -[insert_php]
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26. Eric Wood, 3B, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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27. J.T. Brubaker, RHP, Altoona – [insert_php]
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28. Chris Bostick, INF/OF, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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29. Connor Joe, 3B, Altoona – [insert_php]
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30. Jose Osuna, 1B, Indianapolis – [insert_php]
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Indianapolis lost 6-3 to Toledo on Saturday night, as Josh Lindblom put them in a 4-0 hole in the first inning, which was all the runs the Mud Hens would need. Lindblom settled down and saved the bullpen, which needed to put in 7.1 innings yesterday after Clay Holmes was knocked out early. Lindblom threw four more shutout innings before giving way to Dan Runzler, who put up a shutout frame in the sixth. A.J. Schugel continued to pitch poorly, giving up two runs in two innings, which left him with an 11.37 ERA.
Max Moroff connected on his fourth home run in this game, the first Pirate to reach that total in the minors. He hit a solo shot in the seventh inning. It was his only hit in five trips to the plate. Chris Bostick drove in two runs with a second inning double, which was his only hit. The Indians had just five hits total in the game. Elias Diaz went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base. He leads the team with a .290 average. Eric Wood was 0-for-2 with two walks. Austin Meadows raised his average to .156 with a single in four trips to the plate. Jose Osuna has a .188/.297/.281 slash line after an 0-for-3 day. As a team, Indianapolis is hitting .207 this year, which has led to a 3-7 record.
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ALTOONA, Pa. – Tanner Anderson went 5.2 scoreless innings under sunny skies this afternoon in Altoona, leading the Curve to another win and a sweep of the Akron Rubberducks to begin the home portion of their schedule.
Anderson was masterful to begin the game, inducing seven straight ground balls before Akron got a ball to the outfield in the third. The Ducks scattered seven singles against him throughout the afternoon, but Anderson kept getting ground ball outs while working quickly and efficiently. The only time Akron truly threatened against him, Jordan Luplow made a great throw from left field to get Mike Papi trying to score from second base for the final out of the fourth.
“He’s a ground ball machine,” Manager Michael Ryan said. “Maybe the hitter’s eyes look at the leg kick a little late with their contact point. Our defenders are always ready when he’s on the mound because they know there will be a lot of action. He gets it on the ground. He worked fast and gave us a chance.”
Anderson told me after the game that he was very pleased with how his two-seamer moved today, and he was able to kind of stick with it for most of the game. His four-seamer hit 93 MPH, and the two-seamer sat a few ticks behind that. After the first time through the lineup, he was able to utilize his new(er) changeup, a pitch he has worked extremely hard on over the past six weeks.
Kevin Kramer extended his season long hitting streak to nine games with a line drive single in the fourth inning. He came around to score during the next at-bat, with Edwin Espinal hitting an opposite field home run over the short porch in the corner of right field. Between the two infielders, Kramer and Espinal have a combine 25 hits in Curve’s first ten games. Both have been swinging the bat impressively, with both hitting some hard line drive shots right at fielders to record outs even this afternoon.
“Credit goes to our hitting coach Kevin Riggs for giving them all of the information they need for that day’s starter,” Ryan said. “They have a great work ethic in the cage. Kramer got off to a really hot start, and Espinal is right behind him. It’s not a coincidence they are back-to-back in the lineup. Kramer’s good at-bats carry over to the next for Espinal to want to compete with him a little bit and drive him in. These are two guys that are really doing it right now.”
Not to forget the other half of the middle infield duo, Kevin Newman went 1-for-3 with a walk this afternoon, with his single in the eighth inning breaking up a short 0-for-9 hitless streak over the last couple of days. The average isn’t quite there for Newman so far this year, but there is little to worry about as his approach and swing have looked good.
Newman did display some range on the defensive side, making a nice scoop on a ground ball up the middle, spinning, and making a perfect throw to first base.
Connor Joe went 1-for-3 with a line drive single to left field and a stolen base.
Montana DuRapau allowed one run in the ninth, but he still shut things down to pick up the save. Sean Keselica came in to relieve Anderson in the sixth inning and was perfect, recording seven straight outs to bridge the game to the ninth.
“Today, it was one swing of the bat and an incredible effort on the mound,” Ryan said. “It’s hard to get a sweep, especially when it’s an afternoon game the third time around. I’m happy for these guys. We’ll be able to enjoy Easter a little better, now.” -Sean McCool
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Bradenton extended their losing streak to three games, dropping a 3-2 decision to Tampa, moving the Marauders to 8-3 on the season. Gage Hinsz made his second start and showed nice improvements over the four runs in 3.2 innings he allowed in his season debut earlier this week. He finished with three runs over six innings, although he settled down after a shaky start to the game.
Hinsz gave up a run on two hits and a walk to the first four batters of the game. That was followed by a double play to get him out of the inning. He retired the side in order in the second and third innings, before allowing a lead-off homer in the fourth. He retired five of the next six batters, although he picked-off the one who reached via walk. In the sixth inning, a single and a double from the first two batters brought home the third run. Hinsz kept that runner at second by finishing off his night with two strikeouts and a ground out. He had four strikeouts in the game and threw 55 of his 82 pitches for strikes. Hinsz had an impressive 8:3 GO/AO ratio.
Yunior Montero followed Hinsz with two shutout innings, striking out five batters. He has not allowed an earned run in 6.2 innings, while picking up 15 strikeouts. If you don’t know much about Montero, he is an easy player for you to root for due to what he has been through to get to this point.
Montero originally signed at 16 for $45,000, then saw MLB void his contract and make him sit out a year before he could sign again. The Pirates re-signed him a year later for $185,000 because other teams were involved this time, raising his price. That contract was voided the following June and he sat out a year again. The second one was voided right after he threw five shutout innings in his pro debut in the DSL. The Pirates had to sign him again (his final bonus, the only one he actually received, was under six figures) and the third time MLB delayed his signing and made him sit out the entire 2013 season, though it was never voided.
Every time Montero had to sit, it was due to age/identity issues and in the end, none of his information ever changed. Between 2009 when he first signed and 2014 when he made his GCL debut, five full years, he pitched one pro game and sat around the rest of the time (spent mostly at the Pirates Dominican academy staying in shape). As I was saying, he’s a hard player not to root for.
As for the offense in this game, Casey Hughston provided most of it with a single and two doubles. The second double made the score 3-2 in the ninth inning, but Kevin Krause made the final out of the game. Hughston has a .343 average and a .914 OPS, but it’s important to note that he has 12 strikeouts in ten games, so it’s best to temper the excitement for a little while with him. Ke’Bryan Hayes and Will Craig both went 2-for-4 with two singles. Craig is only hitting .211, but he has a .348 OBP and a 6:3 BB/SO ratio in 46 plate appearances.
Cole Tucker was 0-for-3 with a walk. He has reached base in nine of his 11 games, though it has only resulted in a .275 OBP. Mitchell Tolman went 0-for-4 and failed to reach base safely in a game for the first time tonight.
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West Virginia has won three of their last four games after defeating Lexington by a 3-2 score on Saturday night. Cam Vieaux made his second start and allowed one run on five hits and a walk in six innings. He gave up just one run in his season debut earlier this week, though he only lasted 4.1 innings due to a high pitch count. Vieaux was more efficient in this game, needing just 55 pitches to get through his night. He had a little help from the defense, with two double plays and he picked-off a runner. He had four strikeouts and a 5:4 GO/AO ratio.
The offense didn’t get going until late in this game. In the seventh inning, the Power tied it up with a solo homer from Trae Arbet, his third of the season. They loaded the bases that inning, but couldn’t get another run in. In the eighth, Stephen Alemais drove home two runs with his first triple of the season. He went 2-for-3 in the game, also adding a single and a sacrifice bunt. Kevin Mahala and Logan Ratledge each reached base three times and stole a base.
Hector Garcia went 2.2 innings for the win, but he needed Dylan Prohoroff to come in for the final out. Prohoroff got a ground out with the tying run on base to pick up his first save. Garcia struck out three batters and the run he allowed was unearned.
