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, BB
3. Cole Tucker, SS, Indianapolis – 2-for-5
4. Oneil Cruz, SS, Bradenton – 2-for-4
5. Travis Swaggerty, CF, Bradenton – 2-for-3, BB
6. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Indianapolis – 1-for-4, BB
7. Bryan Reynolds, OF, Indianapolis – 1-for-4
8. Will Craig, 1B, Indianapolis – 1-for-3, HR, 2 BB, 2 RBI
9. Jason Martin, OF, Indianapolis – DNP
10. JT Brubaker, RHP, Indianapolis – 4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
11. Calvin Mitchell, OF, Bradenton – 1-for-4
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 – 0-for-3, HBP, SB, Run
16. Clay Holmes, RHP, Indianapolis – 1.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO
17. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Greensboro – DNP
18. Stephen Alemais, 2B/SS, Altoona – DNP
19. Michael Burrows, RHP, Extended Spring Training –
20. Jared Oliva, CF, Altoona – 0-for-0, BB
21. Ji-Hwan Bae, SS, Extended Spring Training – DNP
22. Max Kranick, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
23. Luis Escobar, RHP, Bradenton – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO
24. Osvaldo Bido, RHP, Greensboro – DNP
25. Eduardo Vera, RHP, Altoona – DNP
26. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Altoona – DNP
27. Aaron Shortridge, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
28. Blake Weiman, RHP, Altoona – DNP
29. Steven Jennings, RHP, Greensboro – 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
30. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Indianapolis – DNP
Indianapolis lost 10-4 in their season opener on Thursday night. JT Brubaker got the start and labored through 4.2 innings, though he limited the damage to just two runs. The game broke open after he left, as Jesus Liranzo, Tyler Lyons and Clay Holmes gave up eight earned runs over the next 1.2 innings. Brandon Maurer was able to calm things down after the damage was done. He struck out three batters over 1.2 shutout frames.
Will Craig had a big first game, highlighted by a two-run homer in the third inning. He also drew two walks and scored two runs. Patrick Kivlehan also added a solo homer in the ninth. Cole Tucker had the only multi-hit game, collecting two singles. Kevin Kramer had a single and a walk.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Altoona won 5-0 in their opener, as James Marvel pitched a game that will likely end up as one of the top performances all season from any affiliate. In six shutout innings, he allowed just one hit, with no walks and nine strikeouts. The strikeout total ties his career high set last July with Bradenton. Vicente Campos, Scooter Hightower and Matt Eckelman combined to allow one hit over the final three innings to seal the victory.
The day did not start well for the Curve, as Bralin Jackson and Jared Oliva collided on a play in the first inning. Oliva had to leave the game, though he was able to walk off the field on his own. He was replaced in the lineup by Robbie Glendinning, who earlier in the day had replaced Stephen Alemais on the roster for unknown reasons at this time. Glendinning ended up with two hits, a walk and a run scored.
Jerrick Suiter had two hits, a walk, a run scored and two RBIs. Arden Pabst drove in two runs. Bligh Madris collected a triple.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Bradenton won their season opener by a 1-0 score behind outstanding pitching from 20-year-old lefty Domingo Robles. He went six shutout innings on two hits, with no walks and one strikeout. Robles was facing a lineup that had two MLB players (Todd Frazier and Travis d’Arnaud) on rehab. The Marauders then sent out a trio of hard-throwers to follow, getting shutout innings from Blake Cederlind, Luis Escobar and Joel Cesar to finish off the win.
The lone run scored in the fifth inning. Lucas Tancas and Michael Gretler started the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Chris Sharpe then lifted a sacrifice fly for the only run. Oneil Cruz had two singles and two strikeouts. Travis Swaggerty had two singles and a walk. Elias Diaz caught the first five innings, while going 0-for-3 at the plate.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Greensboro won their first game as an affiliate of the Pirates, holding on for a 9-8 victory over Hagerstown. Steven Jennings got the start and got hit hard, while also getting some poor fielding behind him. He threw 4.1 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk. Four of those hits allowed went for extra bases. The bullpen was strong after Jennings, with Samuel Reyes, Cam Alldred and Conner Loeprich combining for 3.2 shutout innings. Logan Stoelke got the save despite giving up a two-run homer in the ninth.
Brett Kinneman had quite the season debut, driving in four runs on a home run and a double. Mason Martin had a walk, single, double and two runs scored. Zack Kone had two singles and a walk. Pat Dorrian collected two singles and drove in a run. Everyone in the lineup reached base at least once and contributed either a run scored and/or an RBI.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
