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-5
3. Cole Tucker, SS, Pirates – In Majors
4. Oneil Cruz, SS, Bradenton – DNP
5. Travis Swaggerty, CF, Bradenton – 2-for-4
6. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Indianapolis – 0-for-3, BB
7. Bryan Reynolds, OF, Pirates – In Majors
8. Will Craig, 1B, Indianapolis – DNP
9. Jason Martin, OF, Indianapolis – DNP
10. JT Brubaker, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
11. Calvin Mitchell, OF, Bradenton – 3-for-4, 3 RBI
12. Cody Bolton, RHP, Bradenton – 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
13. Tahnaj Thomas, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
14. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
15. Lolo Sanchez, CF, Greensboro – 2-for-5, SB
16. Clay Holmes, RHP, Indianapolis – 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO
17. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Greensboro – 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO
18. Stephen Alemais, 2B/SS, Altoona – DNP
19. Michael Burrows, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
20. Jared Oliva, CF, Altoona – 1-for-3, 3B, RBI, BB
21. Ji-Hwan Bae, SS, Greensboro – DNP
22. Max Kranick, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
23. Luis Escobar, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
24. Osvaldo Bido, RHP, Greensboro – DNP
25. Eduardo Vera, RHP, Indianapolis – 6 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
26. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Altoona – DNP
27. Aaron Shortridge, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
28. Blake Weiman, RHP, Altoona – 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO
29. Steven Jennings, RHP, Greensboro – DNP
30. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Indianapolis – DNP
Indianapolis lost 7-6 to Columbus on Tuesday morning. Eduardo Vera started and was hit hard, but also had some very bad luck in the fourth inning. A fly ball to right field was caught by Eric Wood and he threw to second base to double off the runner, which should have ended the inning. The umpires all missed the catch, and the opposition ended up with two runners in scoring position and one out. That was followed by an error on an easy ground ball to Kevin Kramer. Vera finished with six innings, allowing five runs on nine hits and a walk, while striking out six batters. He had a bit of good news with his velocity, which has been down to start the season. Vera was 89-91 in his last start, touching 92 MPH twice. Today he was mostly 91-92 MPH, with just a few slower. He has been as high as 93-95, touching 97 MPH back in mid/end-2017.
Tyler Lyons followed and retired all five batters he faced (three by strikeouts), before Clay Holmes allowed two runs in the ninth for the loss. It was a tough way to lose, as the winning run was intentionally walked, moved to second base on defensive indifference, then came home on a slow bouncer to the left of second base, eluding the shortstop, who was shifted towards third base.
Indianapolis got two of their runs in the seventh inning on Eric Wood’s two-run homer, his fourth of the season. Kevin Newman played his sixth rehab game, his fourth in the outfield and his second in left field. He went 1-for-4 with a walk, RBI and run scored. Jose Osuna moved his rehab up from Bradenton and went 1-for-5. He flew out to the warning track in center field to end the game. Trayvon Robinson went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Altoona won 5-3 over Erie. One day after being no-hit, the Curve put up five runs against one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. Matt Manning, who is rated as the 49th best prospect by MLB Pipeline, pitched seven shutout innings on one hit, no walks and ten strikeouts earlier this month against Altoona. He started off strong on Tuesday night, but a four spot in the fifth inning was the difference in the game. Hunter Owen hit a two-run homer, his seventh of the season. Jared Oliva tripled, walked, scored a run and picked up an RBI. Bralin Jackson had two hits, a run scored and an RBI. Logan Hill hit his eighth doubled, scored once and drove in a run.
Scooter Hightower had a strong outing, going six innings, with two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks, striking out two batters. Tate Scioneaux ran into a little trouble in the seventh, but Blake Weiman finished off the inning, then retired the side in order in the eighth. Matt Eckelman pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Bradenton won 8-1 over Jupiter. Cody Bolton made his fifth start of the season and continued to pitch well every time he takes the ball. He gave up one run on four hits and a walk, striking out six batters in six innings. He threw 60 of 85 pitches for strikes and posted an impressive 10:1 GO/AO ratio. In 28 innings, Bolton has an 0.96 ERA and 29 strikeouts. He was followed by Hunter Stratton, who struck out five of the six batters he faced during his two innings of work. Gavin Wallace finished off the game with a scoreless ninth.
Calvin Mitchell had a nice night, collecting three singles, while driving in three runs. He now has a .290 average and an .808 OPS. The Marauders got two hits apiece from Travis Swaggerty, Chris Sharpe, Robbie Glendinning and Daniel Amaral. Sharpe scored twice and also reached via a walk. Amaral scored twice and drove in a run. Dylan Busby hit a two-run double, his fourth of the season. Deon Stafford played his second game since returning from an oblique injury and went 0-for-5 for the second time.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Greensboro won 9-7 over Rome. Brad Case had a rough start to his night, beginning with an infield hit and an error that turned into four runs by the time he retired his first batter. Just as quick as the offense started for Rome, it ended. Case retired 18 of the next 19 batters he faced, allowing just a single with two outs in the fourth. He finished with three earned runs on four hits, with no walks and three strikeouts in six innings. Case posted a 10:3 GO/AO ratio and threw 61 of 82 pitches for strikes. Braeden Ogle was out next and tossed a scoreless seventh inning. Conner Loeprich allowed a run in the eighth, then Cam Alldred pitched the ninth and gave up a two-run homer before finishing off the win.
Raul Siri has been the extra man for Greensboro for most of the season, but he got a roster spot now due to Chase Lambert being promoted to Bradenton. Siri had a great game, playing for the first time since April 7th. He hit two doubles and a home run, driving in two runs. Rodolfo Castro had a big game as well, hitting a solo homer in the second inning, then belting a three-run shot in the fourth. He has six homers this season. Grant Koch drove in three runs with a single and a double. He had just four RBIs prior to this game. Lolo Sanchez had two hits and stole his seventh base. He now has a .325 average.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
