Today we take a look at the team leaders in offensive categories around the farm system. It’s something I try to do about once a month throughout the season. At this time of year, it gives you a look at who is off to a fast start this season. Later in the year it gives you a good idea of who has been steady throughout the season. Tomorrow morning we will look at the pitching leaders, then later in the week we will see how the top performers stack up against the best in their respective leagues.
Indianapolis
Runs: Kevin Kramer, 17
Hits: Kramer, 30
Doubles: Jose Osuna, 12
Triples: Christopher Bostick and Jordan Luplow, 3
HR: Osuna and Kramer, 3
RBI: Osuna, 18
SB: Austin Meadows and Kevin Newman, 5
OBP: Osuna, .409
Slugging: Osuna, .628
Average: Osuna, .359
OPS: Osuna, 1.037
Altoona
Runs: Jason Martin and Will Craig, 15
Hits: Martin and Stephen Alemais, 24
Doubles: Martin, Craig and Cole Tucker, 6
Triples: Martin, 4
HR: Craig, Christian Kelley and Logan Hill, 3
RBI: Craig, 17
SB: Alemais and Pablo Reyes, 2
OBP: Martin, .351
Slugging: Martin, .524
Average: Martin, .286
OPS: Martin, .875
Bradenton
Runs: Adrian Valerio, 16
Hits: Valerio, 30
Doubles: Valerio, 7
Triples: Hunter Owen and Jared Oliva, 2
HR: Bligh Madris and Albert Baur, 4
RBI: Bauer, 18
SB: Tyler Gaffney, 8
OBP: Arden Pabst, .397
Slugging: Pabst, .519
Average: Pabst, .352
OPS: Pabst, .915
West Virginia
Runs: Chris Sharpe, 21
Hits: Calvin Mitchell, 35
Doubles: Mitchell, 8
Triples: Mitchell and Oneil Cruz, 3
HR: Cruz, 5
RBI: Mitchell, 21
SB: Sharpe, 6
OBP: Sharpe, .387
Slugging: Mitchell, .518
Average: Mitchell, .313
OPS: Mitchell, .886
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pittsburgh Pirates were off yesterday. They travel to Chicago to take on the White Sox for a quick two-game series. The Pirates will send Ivan Nova to the mound for his eighth start tonight. He allowed five runs on 11 hits and two walks in 4.2 innings against the Washington Nationals in his last start. The White Sox will counter with right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito, who has a 7.03 ERA in 32 innings over six starts, with 18 strikeouts and a 1.56 WHIP. He allowed three runs over 6.1 innings against the St Louis Cardinals in his last start.
The minor league schedule includes Brandon Waddell making his sixth start for Altoona. Besides a 1.74 ERA through 31 innings, he also has a .162 BAA, an 0.87 WHIP and a 1.28 GO/AO ratio. Bradenton starter Eduardo Vera has gone at least six innings in each of his last five starts and he has allowed just one run over his last 13 innings. He’s holding batters to a .202 average, while posting an 0.84 WHIP. Indianapolis starter Casey Sadler threw five shutout innings in his last start. West Virginia has off today.
MLB: Pittsburgh (19-16) @ White Sox (9-23) 8:10 PM
Probable starter: Ivan Nova (4.01 ERA, 35:6 SO/BB, 42.2 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (14-14) @ Louisville (10-17) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Casey Sadler (6.00 ERA, 11:11 SO/BB, 18.0 IP)
AA: Altoona (15-13) vs Bowie (14-15) 6:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Brandon Waddell (1.74 ERA, 23:10 SO/BB, 31.0 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (18-13) @ Dunedin (11-19) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Eduardo Vera (2.43 ERA, 22:5 SO/BB, 37.0 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (17-13) @ Hagerstown (10-21) 7:05 PM 5/9 (season preview)
Probable starter: Hunter Stratton (9.39 ERA, 12:6 SO/BB, 7.2 IP)
HIGHLIGHTS
From the Pirates on Sunday, since there were no new clips posted around the minors (mostly due to rainouts), here are highlight’s from Chad Kuhl’s impressive performance.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
5/7: Nick Kingham optioned to Indianapolis
5/7: Sam Street released
5/7: Wyatt Mathisen promoted to Indianapolis. Logan Ratledge assigned to Altoona.
5/5: Braeden Ogle placed on West Virginia disabled list. Gavin Wallace activated from DL.
5/4: Pedro Vasquez promoted to Altoona. Sean Keselica assigned to Morgantown.
5/1: Joe Musgrove assigned to Bradenton on rehab.
4/29: Pirates recall Nick Kingham. Enny Romero placed on disabled list.
4/29: Brett McKinney added to Indianapolis roster.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Four former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, and one trade of note. On this date in 1940, the Pirates sent left fielder Johnny Rizzo to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for center fielder Vince DiMaggio. The trade didn’t go over well the next day in the local papers, with one headline saying “Straight swap of players brings strikeout king of majors here.” The trade worked out well for the Pirates despite the fact they dealt away their single-season home run leader. As a rookie in 1938, Rizzo hit 23 homers. His record bridged a gap between Hall of Famers, as Arky Vaughan broke the team record with 19 in 1935 and Ralph Kiner broke Rizzo’s record in 1946.
After the trade, DiMaggio played five years for the Pirates and made two All-Star teams. Rizzo lasted a month with the Reds and was out of the majors by 1942.
Players born on this date include:
Jason Davis, pitcher for the 2008 Pirates. Finished his seven-year big league career with the Pirates, posting a 5.29 ERA over four starts and ten relief appearances.
Orestes Destrade, first baseman in 1988. His .149 over 36 games with Pirates, then spent four seasons playing in Japan, where he hit 30+ homers each year.
Bill Powell, a member of the 1909 World Series champs. Powell pitched for the team in 1909-10, throwing 15 games total.
Eddie Boyle, catcher for the 1896 Pirates, who went 0-for-5 in two games for the Pirates after going 0-for-9 in three games with Louisville earlier that season, which were his only Major League games.
