We haven’t looked at the statistical leaders around the system recently, so today we will cover the hitters, followed by the pitchers tomorrow. It’s a little too early to get into the short-season teams, so below you will find the leaders among the full-season players. For stats such as average, OBP, etc., I used 150 plate appearances as the minimum. Stats are through games played on July 17th.
AVERAGE
- Kyle Mottice, Greensboro .394
- Jake Elmore, Indianapolis .353
- Robbie Glendinning, Altoona .324
- Ji-Hwan Bae, Greensboro .306
- Trayvon Robinson, Indianapolis .306
OBP
- Kyle Mottice, Greensboro .517
- Jake Elmore, Indianapolis .406
- Trayvon Robinson, Indianapolis .392
- Ji-Hwan Bae, Greensboro .390
- Robbie Glendinning, Altoona .377
SLUGGING %
- Mason Martin, Bradenton .555
- Hunter Owen, Indianapolis .542
- Robbie Glendinning, Altoona .535
- Pablo Reyes, Indianapolis .530
- Jake Elmore, Indianapolis .500
OPS
- Kyle Mottice, Greensboro .985
- Mason Martin, Bradenton .914
- Robbie Glendinning, Altoona .912
- Jake Elmore, Indianapolis .906
- Hunter Owen, Indianapolis .902
Runs
- Fabricio Macias, Greensboro 63
- Mason Martin, Bradenton 62
- Chris Sharpe, Altoona 55
- Jared Oliva, Altoona 49
- Logan Hill, Altoona 49
- Travis Swaggerty, Bradenton 49
Hits
- Fabricio Macias, Greensboro 94
- Robbie Glendinning, Altoona 92
- Calvin Mitchell, Bradenton 85
- Mason Martin, Bradenton 84
- Chris Sharpe, Altoona 84
Doubles
- Logan Hill, Altoona 24
- Kevin Kramer, Indianapolis 24
- Ke’Bryan Hayes, Indianapolis 23
- Robbie Glendinning, Altoona 23
- Lucas Tancas, Bradenton 22
Triples
- Lolo Sanchez, Bradenton 7
- Jared Oliva, Altoona 4
- Trayvon Robinson, Indianapolis 4
- Numerous players tied with 3
Home Runs
- Mason Martin, Bradenton 24
- Will Craig, Indianapolis 18
- Dylan Busby, Bradenton 18
- Rodolfo Castro, Bradenton 17
- Hunter Owen, Indianapolis 15
RBI
- Mason Martin, Bradenton 87
- Rodolfo Castro, Bradenton 56
- Will Craig, Indianapolis 54
- Robbie Glendinning, Altoona 51
- Dylan Busby, Bradenton 50
Stolen Bases
- Lolo Sanchez, Bradenton 26
- Jared Oliva, Altoona 26
- Kyle Mottice, Greensboro 19
- Ji-Hwan Bae, Greensboro 17
- Travis Swaggerty, Bradenton 16
Strikeouts
- Dylan Busby, Bradenton 116
- Mason Martin, Bradenton 111
- Calvin Mitchell, Bradenton 109
- Lucas Tancas, Bradenton 99
- Brett Kinneman, Greensboro/Morgantown 96
Walks
- Mason Martin, Bradenton 54
- Connor Kaiser, Greensboro 45
- Travis Swaggerty, Bradenton 42
- Chris Sharpe, Altoona 37
- Kevin Kramer, Indianapolis 35
- Mitchell Tolman, Altoona 35
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pittsburgh Pirates were off yesterday. They return home tonight for a seven-game homestand, starting with three against the Philadelphia Phillies. Jordan Lyles is scheduled to get the start. He failed to get out of the first inning in his last game, giving up seven runs. He also served up seven runs in his previous start, which went four innings. Lyles has given up at least three earned runs in each of his last seven starts. The Phillies will counter with right-hander Jake Arrieta, who has a 4.54 ERA in 113 innings, with 87 strikeouts and a 1.45 WHIP. In his last three starts combined, he has allowed ten runs over 15.1 innings. Arrieta has a 4.81 ERA in ten road games this season.
The minor league schedule includes Tahnaj Thomas making his sixth start for Bristol. He has allowed three runs over 14.2 innings in his last three outings combined, after giving up five runs in 1.2 innings during his first two starts combined. Domingo Robles makes his tenth start for Altoona tonight. In ten starts with Bradenton this season, he had a 2.61 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. In his nine starts with the Curve, he has a 4.70 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Bradenton will have Brad Case on the mound, making his seventh start since being promoted from Greensboro. His start last night was rained out. Case allowed five runs over six innings in his last outing. On the season, he has a 2.82 ERA in 102 innings, with an 0.87 WHIP.
Morgantown doesn’t have a starter listed for today, but I’d expect either fourth round pick JC Flowers or fifth round pick Grant Ford, with the possibility of both of them pitching. Greensboro will have Colin Selby on the mound. He has allowed a total of five runs over his last four starts combined. Alex McRae will go for Indianapolis. He has a 4.86 ERA in July, with a 1.74 WHIP and a .324 BAA.
MLB: Pittsburgh (45-50) vs Phillies (50-47) 7:05 PM
Probable starter: Jordan Lyles (5.16 ERA, 80:31 SO/BB, 75.0 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (48-48) vs Durham (58-40) 7:15 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Alex McRae (5.03 ERA, 72:24 SO/BB, 82.1 IP)
AA: Altoona (50-43) @ Bowie (51-44) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Domingo Robles (4.70 ERA, 33:12 SO/BB, 46.0 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (51-43) @ Tampa (41-54) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Brad Case (3.50 ERA, 28:6 SO/BB, 36.0 IP)
Low-A: Greensboro (59-37) @ Augusta (50-45) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Colin Selby (3.19 ERA, 58:22 SO/BB, 62.0 IP)
Short-Season A: Morgantown (16-16) vs State College (16-17) 6:35 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: TBD
Rookie: Bristol (13-16) @ Johnson City (15-13) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Tahnaj Thomas (4.41 ERA, 21:6 SO/BB, 16.1 IP)
GCL: Pirates (7-12) vs Orioles (13-5) 12:00 PM (season preview)
DSL: Pirates1 (20-20) vs Indians (17-21) 10:30 AM (season preview)
DSL: Pirates2 (32-8) vs Royals2 (20-20) 10:30 AM (season preview)
HIGHLIGHTS
From Indianapolis on Wednesday, the Indians are getting clobbered by Syracuse (20-1 and 15-5 losses), so the highlights have been limited. Here’s Darnell Sweeney going yard, with two people who really want that home run ball
Diving on cement surfaces for home runs seems questionable.
7-3, Syracuse, in the sixth.#RollTribe pic.twitter.com/izXJcGi2Q6
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) July 17, 2019
Here’s Ke’Bryan Hayes hitting a two-run single
Two-out, two-run single for Young Hayes! It's now 9-5 in the eighth.#RollTribe pic.twitter.com/eAfHGboMXn
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) July 17, 2019
From Altoona, here’s one of two triples on the night from Jared Oliva
First inning RBI trip-TRIP-TRIPLE! @Jared_Oliva41 puts us on the board with his third three-bagger of the year#FullSteamAhead
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
7/18: Mike LoPresti promoted to Greensboro.
7/17: Bear Bellomy promoted to Morgantown.
7/16: Pirates sign Jesus Castillo.
7/16: Hunter Owen activated from Indianapolis injured list.
7/16: John O’Reilly promoted to Bradenton. Matt Eardensohn assigned to Bristol.
7/16: Lizardy Dicent assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
7/13: Ryan Valdes activated from Bradenton injured list. Raul Siri placed on injured list.
7/13: Keone Kela assigned to Indianapolis on rehab.
7/12: Blake Weiman placed on Indianapolis injured list.
7/11: Fernando Villegas assigned to Bristol.
7/11: Eric Wood placed on Indianapolis injured list.
7/10: Pirates release Roger Santana.
7/9: Pirates sign Tsung-Che Cheng
7/9: Pirates sign Deion Walker
7/9: Brendt Citta promoted to Morgantown. Luke Mangieri promoted to Greensboro. Ryan Peurifoy released.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Eight former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, including two born on the same day 152 years ago. Starting with the most recent players first, we have pitcher Brian Smith (2000), pitcher Vincente Palacios (1987-88, 1990-92), catcher Nick Koback (1953-55), lefty pitcher Earl Hamilton (1918-23), catcher Jeff Sweeney (1919) and first baseman Harry Davis (1896-98). Palacios was a member of three straight NL East champs. Koback signed with the Pirates at the age of 17 and went right to the majors. In three seasons with the Pirates, he played a total of 16 games despite being in the big leagues the entire time from July 1953 until July 1955. Harry Davis was acquired from the New York Giants in exchange for Hall of Fame first baseman Jake Beckley, in a deal that didn’t work out well for Pittsburgh.
Two players from the 1897 Pirates were born 152 years ago today. Along with Harry Davis, three players from that team shared the same birthday, but pitcher Bill Hart and third baseman Jim Donnelly were born on the same date. Hart won over 300 games in pro ball, though 251 of those wins came in the minor leagues. He played pro ball from 1885 until 1910. Donnelly came over from Baltimore in a trade that included the Pirates all-time batting average leader, Jake Stenzel. The deal didn’t work out for the Pirates, as Donnelly hit .193 in 44 games. You can find more info on every player in the link above.
On this date in 1902, the Pittsburgh Pirates won 5-0 over the Chicago Cubs and played an entire nine inning game without any of their four infielders recording an assist. Hall of Famer Jack Chesbro started and pitched a complete game. He struck out six batters. The three outfielders from left to right were Fred Clarke, Ginger Beaumont and Honus Wagner. They recorded 12 of the outs on fly balls and Beaumont chipped in a 13th out on a double play after one of his catches. Catcher Jack O’Connor threw out one runner and Chesbro fielded two grounders himself. The other five outs were spread among third baseman Tommy Leach, shortstop Wid Conroy and second baseman Jimmy Burke on pop ups and unassisted putouts. Burke actually had a chance to pick up an early assist on a ground ball, but he committed the only fielding error of the game.
