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, Bryan Reynolds and Cole Tucker), 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, 2B
3. Oneil Cruz, SS, Bradenton – DNP
4. Travis Swaggerty, CF, Bradenton – 1-for-6
5. Kevin Kramer, 2B, Indianapolis – 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB
6. Will Craig, 1B, Indianapolis – 1-for-4, BB
7. Jason Martin, OF, Indianapolis – 2-for-5, 2B, BB
8. JT Brubaker, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
9. Calvin Mitchell, OF, Bradenton – DNP
10. Cody Bolton, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
11. Tahnaj Thomas, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
12. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
13. Lolo Sanchez, CF, Greensboro – 1-for-4, SB
14. Pablo Reyes, Util, Indianapolis – 0-for-3, BB, SB
15. Clay Holmes, RHP, Pirates – In Majors
16. Braeden Ogle, LHP, Greensboro – DNP
17. Stephen Alemais, 2B/SS, Altoona – Out for the Season
18. Michael Burrows, RHP, Extended Spring Training – DNP
19. Jared Oliva, CF, Altoona – 1-for-3, 2 BB
20. Ji-Hwan Bae, SS, Greensboro – 1-for-4, 2B, SB
21. Max Kranick, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
22. Luis Escobar, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
23. Osvaldo Bido, RHP, Greensboro – DNP
24. Eduardo Vera, RHP, Indianapolis – 5.2 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
25. Gage Hinsz, RHP, Altoona – DNP
26. Aaron Shortridge, RHP, Bradenton – DNP
27. Blake Weiman, LHP, Altoona – 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO
28. Steven Jennings, RHP, Greensboro – DNP
29. Brandon Waddell, LHP, Indianapolis – DNP
30. Jesus Liranzo, RHP, Indianapolis – DNP
Indianapolis won 7-6 over Louisville in ten innings. Eduardo Vera made the start and allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks. He had three strikeouts, a 7:4 GO/AO ratio and threw 51 of 83 pitches for strikes. We were told earlier this week that Vera made an adjustment in his delivery and it seemed to be work through five innings, but the sixth got out of hand, then two runs scored after he was removed from the game. Tyler Lyons let up those inherited runs, plus a run of his own during his 1.1 innings. Dovydas Neverauskas handled the eighth and ninth without any damage. Indianapolis took the lead in the top of the tenth and Neverauskas closed out the win, with one hit, one walk and four strikeouts in three shutout innings.
Indianapolis scored three runs in the fourth inning on a home run by JB Shuck. He replaced Trayvon Robinson, who left after being hit by a pitch. In the sixth inning, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Kevin Kramer hit back-to-back doubles. For Hayes, it was his 20th of the season, which leads all Pirates. Kramer now has 15 doubles. That was followed by an RBI single from Shuck to make it 5-1 at the time. The Indians got an RBI double from Jake Elmore in the ninth to tie the score, then took the lead in the tenth on Jason Martin’s seventh double. Martin, Shuck and Elmore each had two hits.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Altoona won 9-8 over Erie. James Marvel got the start and went 5.1 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on nine hits and a walk, while striking out seven batters. He threw 99 pitches, with 63 going for strikes. Marvel now has a 3.92 ERA in 64.1 innings, with 51 strikeouts. Blake Weiman followed and recorded the final two outs of the sixth, giving him a 2.12 ERA on the season. Joel Cesar was out next and he had a rough seventh inning, surrendering four runs to break the game open. Vicente Campos threw a scoreless eighth, followed by Angel German, who retired the side in order in the ninth for the save.
The Curve trailed 8-3 going into the eighth inning. That put up a run in that inning on a bases loaded walk, but couldn’t get any closer. In the ninth, one run scored on a ground out by Logan Hill, then Hunter Owen tied the game with a three-run homer, his 13th of the season. That was followed by a solo homer from Bligh Madris for the lead, his second of the season. Madris had an RBI earlier in the game. Arden Pabst drove in a pair with his first home run of the season. Mitchell Tolman had three hits and a run scored. Hunter Owen also collected his second triple and scored three runs.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Bradenton won 11-5 over Daytona. Hunter Stratton got his first start and went four innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks, with five strikeouts. Stratton was stretched out in his last relief outing, going 4.1 innings. He now has a 1.82 ERA in 34.2 innings this season, with 36 strikeouts. Joe Jacques was out next in his second appearances since being promoted from Low-A. He debuted with four strikeouts over two scoreless innings, then went three shutout innings tonight with four strikeouts. Shea Murray replaced him and had control issues, leading to four runs. Allen Montgomery handled the final 1.1 innings.
Deon Stafford had himself a night before leaving in the eighth after the benches cleared. He hit his second homer, singled twice, walked and drove in four runs. Lucas Tancas had three hits and three runs scored. Robbie Glendinning was ejected in the eighth, but not before he had two hits, a walk and two stolen bases. Adrian Valerio had two hits and an RBI.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
Greensboro lost 4-3 to Charleston. Brad Case got the start and gave up three runs on three hits over five innings. All three hits came in the third inning, capped by a three-run homer. Case had his first walk since early April and he struck out four batters. He was working on throwing inside to right-handed hitters tonight and that led to the first inning walk (and a hit batter). John O’Reilly followed and gave up one run over three innings of work. He now has a 1.88 ERA through 14.1 innings since joining Greensboro four weeks ago. Yerry De Los Santos retired the side in order in the ninth.
The offense had just five hits, but three of them went for extra bases. Fabricio Macias had a single and a double, plus the only RBI on the night. Ji-Hwan Bae had his fourth double, plus a walk and two runs scored. He also stole his sixth base. Pat Dorrian hit his third triple. Lolo Sanchez stole his 19th base. He had a single, walk and run scored. He’s hitting .320 this season. Mason Martin had the night off and Michael Gretler went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in his place. Justin Harrer had to leave for a pinch-runner due to a hit-by-pitch in the ninth.
Here is the boxscore from the MiLB site.
You can view the season preview here.
The DSL Pirates1 lost 13-1 on Monday morning. The team had just three hits total, with Luis Tejeda and Luis Tello each picking up singles, while Juan Jerez hit his first double. Jerez and Tejeda were two of the top signings last July for the Pirates. Osvaldo Gavilan, who was their top signing at $700,000, drove in his second run of the season.
With 13 runs scored, the Pirates had some poor pitching performances, as four pitchers gave up at least two runs each. Raydel Velette, a 17-year-old, 6’6″ RHP in his second season, tossed three shutout innings. Yeison Santos, a six-figure signing in 2017, allowed three runs without recording an out. Infielder Bladimir Susana finished out the game with 1.2 shutout innings.
The DSL Pirates2 won 10-6, despite committing seven errors. The Pirates used four pitchers for two innings each and another for one inning, partly due to the errors, but a total of nine walks also helped run up their pitch counts. Enmanuel Mejia, who is considered one of the better current pitchers on the team, had two perfect innings with four strikeouts. He is a smaller pitcher and 20 years old, so he doesn’t have a lot of projection, but he will likely move up to the U.S. at some point during this season. Felipe Mezquita, a 6’4″, 17-year-old RHP, got the start and allowed four runs, though just one was earned. Wilbur Martinez, who was one of the more intriguing players signed this year, tossed a scoreless frame, striking out two batters, in his pro debut.
The offense was led by Jauri Custodio, who drove in three runs on three hits, including his first pro home run. He was originally signed to a six-figure deal with the Colorado Rockies, but the Pirates got him for less after he failed his original physical due to a bad bone bruise. Catcher Jommer Hernandez was at first base and went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two walks. Rayber Romero went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
You can view the season preview here.
