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 – 0-for-4
3. Cole Tucker, SS, Pirates – In Majors
4. Oneil Cruz, SS, Bradenton – 1-for-4, SB
5. Travis Swaggerty, CF, Bradenton – 2-for-4, 2B
6. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Indianapolis – DNP
7. Bryan Reynolds, OF, Pirates – In Majors
8. Will Craig, 1B, Indianapolis – 1-for-1
9. Jason Martin, OF, Pirates – In Majors
10. JT Brubaker, RHP, Indianapolis – 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
11. Calvin Mitchell, OF, Bradenton – 0-for-4
12. Cody Bolton, RHP, Bradenton – 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 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-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI
16. Clay Holmes, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
17. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Greensboro – DNP
18. Stephen Alemais, 2B/SS, Altoona – 1-for-1, SB
19. Michael Burrows, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
20. Jared Oliva, CF, Altoona – 2-for-4, RBI, BB, 2 SB
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 – DNP
26. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Altoona – DNP
27. Aaron Shortridge, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
28. Blake Weiman, RHP, Altoona – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO
29. Steven Jennings, RHP, Greensboro – DNP
30. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Indianapolis – 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO
Indianapolis lost 7-6 to Gwinnett. JT Brubaker started, which was a great sign for the Indians because he left his last start early feeling some elbow stiffness. He ended up just getting his start pushed back three days until tonight. Brubaker went five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out five batters. All three runs scored on home runs. He threw 74 pitches on the night (46 strikes) and had a 6:3 GO/AO ratio.
Jesus Liranzo followed and allowed three runs on four hits in his only inning. Brandon Waddell gave up a run in the seventh, walking two batters and giving up two hits. Michael Feliz threw a scoreless eighth despite three walks.
Kevin Newman continued his rehab by playing left field tonight, after starting in center field yesterday. He went 2-for-3 with two singles. Steven Baron hit a solo homer in the seventh and Patrick Kivlehan belted a three-run shot in the eighth inning. Lonnie Chisenhall played his fourth rehab game and went 1-for-4 with a run scored. He was at first base in this game. Chisenhall is 2-for-15 with no walks and four strikeouts.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Altoona won 10-5 over Harrisburg on Wednesday afternoon. Scooter Hightower started and lasted just three innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits, with no walks and one strikeout. Beau Sulser came on in relief and went two shutout innings, picking up four strikeouts. Tate Scioneaux followed and allowed one run in his only inning, then Sean Keselica tossed a scoreless frame, giving him 7.1 shutout innings on the season. Blake Weiman made his 2019 debut next and threw a shutout in the eighth, followed by Matt Eckelman closing things out. Altoona has off tomorrow, so they were able to get work for five relievers today.
Bligh Madris provided some big hits with a single and two doubles, driving in three runs. He also scored two times. Madris has six doubles this year. Jerrick Suiter also had three hits and drove in a pair of runs. Jared Oliva, Logan Hill, Hunter Owen, Arden Pabst and Brett Pope each had two hits. Hill has seven doubles this season. Owen drove in his 14th run. Hightower picked up his first RBI of the season.
Stephen Alemais left the game after injuring himself on a slide into second base in the first inning. He was able to stay in the game long enough to score a run, but did not come back out for defense. According to Wilbur Miller, it appeared to be a hand/wrist injury.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Bradenton won 3-1 over Fort Myers. Cody Bolton made the start and went six innings, allowing one run that was unearned. He gave up four hits, walked a batter and struck out six, while posting an 8:2 GO/AO ratio. Bolton threw 89 pitches, with 54 going for strikes. He now has an 0.82 ERA in 22 innings, with 23 strikeouts. Ike Schlabach followed with two shutout frames, while Blake Cederlind picked up the save with two strikeouts in the ninth. He threw all ten of his pitches for strikes.
Dylan Busby got the Marauders on the board early with a long two-run homer to left-center field, which cleared the stands. Chris Sharpe added an insurance run with an RBI single in the eighth. Oneil Cruz singled, stole his fourth base and scored a run. Travis Swaggerty hit his fourth double. He also had a single and a run scored. The Marauders have a 13-7 record.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Greensboro won 5-2 over Lexington on Wednesday morning. Brad Case got the start and pitched brilliantly, allowing just one soft hit that was inches away from being an out. Over six shutout innings, Case faced two over the minimum, with batters also reaching on a hit-by-pitch and an error. He had three strikeouts, an 11:3 GO/AO ratio and threw 53 of 77 pitches for strikes. He now has a 1.59 ERA and an 0.77 WHIP in his first 22.2 innings this season. Joe Jacques allowed two solo homers in his 1.2 innings, while Samuel Reyes picked up the final four outs for the save. Reyes has thrown 11.1 shutout innings this year, allowing just three hits and picked up 15 strikeouts.
Mason Martin hit a two-run homer in the first inning, an opposite field shot that hit the top of the fence. He now has five homers on the season, though this is his fourth straight game with a home run. Lolo Sanchez hit two doubles and drove in two runs. He is now hitting .328 this season, with a .930 OPS. Connor Kaiser had two hits and a run scored. Pat Dorrian collected his fourth double.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.