A look at how the current top 30 prospects did today. If a player is in the majors for an extended time or loses his prospect eligibility (Kevin Newman, Nick Burdi and Pablo Reyes), 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 (Travis MacGregor), 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 our updated 2019 Prospect Guide, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player pages.
1. Mitch Keller, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
2. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Indianapolis – 1-for-4, BB
3. Cole Tucker, SS, Indianapolis – 0-for-4, RBI, BB
4. Oneil Cruz, SS, Bradenton – 1-for-3, BB, 2 SB
5. Travis Swaggerty, CF, Bradenton – DNP
6. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Indianapolis – 1-for-4
7. Bryan Reynolds, OF, Indianapolis – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
8. Will Craig, 1B, Indianapolis – 1-for-5
9. Jason Martin, OF, Pirates – DNP
10. JT Brubaker, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
11. Calvin Mitchell, OF, Bradenton – 1-for-4, HR, RBI
12. Cody Bolton, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
13. Tahnaj Thomas, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
14. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
15. Lolo Sanchez, CF, Greensboro – 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB
16. Clay Holmes, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
17. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Greensboro – DNP
18. Stephen Alemais, 2B/SS, Altoona – DNP
19. Michael Burrows, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
20. Jared Oliva, CF, Altoona – DNP
21. Ji-Hwan Bae, SS, Extended Spring Training – DNP
22. Max Kranick, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
23. Luis Escobar, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
24. Osvaldo Bido, RHP, Greensboro – DNP
25. Eduardo Vera, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
26. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Altoona – DNP
27. Aaron Shortridge, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
28. Blake Weiman, RHP, Altoona – DNP
29. Steven Jennings, RHP, Greensboro – DNP
30. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Indianapolis – 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO
Indianapolis lost 7-4 to drop to 0-3 on the season. Alex McRae started and went 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out seven batters. Brandon Waddell also had trouble, giving up three runs over his 1.1 innings. He walked three batters. Sean Keselica had three strikeouts and two walks in 1.1 shutout frames.
The Indians had a chance to take the lead in the ninth, as Will Craig batted with the bases loaded and two outs. He was called out on strikes on a questionable pitch that looked both high and away, though it didn’t miss by much either way. Indianapolis got a two-run homer from Bryan Reynolds, his first of the season. Eric Wood also added his first home run, a solo shot in the ninth. Ke’Bryan Hayes picked up his first hit of the season, while also drawing his third walk. Everyone in the lineup reached base safely at least once.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Altoona won their third straight game to open the season, blanking Akron by a 2-0 score. Cam Vieaux started and tossed 4.2 shutout innings, getting pulled early due to a high pitch count. He gave up just two hits and one walk, with two strikeouts, but still reached 90 pitches before he could finish the fifth. Beau Sulser, who was promoted earlier in the day from Bradenton, followed with 2.1 scoreless frames in his season debut. Angel German and Matt Eckelman finished the game off with one inning each.
Altoona had just four hits in the game and they were all singles. They scored their first run on a Logan Hill single that brought home Bligh Madris in the first inning. They added a second run in the fifth on a Robbie Glendinning single that brought home Mitchell Tolman. Madris and Suiter had the other singles. Hill also walked twice.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Bradenton won 4-2 over St Lucie to move them to 3-0 on the season. Oddy Nunez started this game for the Marauders, but he lasted just 3.1 innings due to poor control. He gave up two runs on four hits and five walks, while throwing 76 pitches. He got help from Hunter Stratton, who stranded the bases loaded in the fourth. Stratton threw 3.2 shutout innings before handing the ball over to Joel Cesar, who retired all six batters he faced for the save.
Elias Diaz made his second rehab appearance and went 2-for-2 with two doubles and two walks. He stole home plate in the third inning, with Oneil Cruz drawing the throw to second base on his first steal of the season. Cruz finished with a single, walk and two steals. Calvin Mitchell homered in the first inning, his second of the season.
Diaz drove in two runs in the seventh before leaving for a pinch-runner, which brought up something that likely hasn’t happened more than a few times, if at all. Diaz was replaced on the bases and behind the plate by John Bormann, meaning two Major Leaguers caught the same game for the same team in High-A ball. Since approximately 99% of Major Leaguers in High-A are there on rehab, you would need two catchers there at the same time for the same team and both would have to catch.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Greensboro lost 6-5 to Hagerstown on Saturday night. Alex Manasa got the start and looked strong through four innings before losing his touch in the fifth. He gave up a total of three runs on eight hits, with no walks and one strikeout. Nick Mears took the loss in this one, allowing three runs over his 1.1 innings, serving up a three-run homer in the eighth. Cam Alldred, Shea Murray and Logan Stoelke combined for 2.1 shutout innings.
On offense, Lolo Sanchez had a big day. He gave Greensboro an early lead with a three-run homer in the second inning. He also added a single and a walk. Rodolfo Castro hit two doubles, giving him four on the season. He scored two runs. Brett Kinneman had two hits and drove in his seventh run of the season.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
