Prospect Trends — Turning Around Flagging Careers
Hafner has fanned 12.8 hitters per nine innings.
The Pirates have several minor leaguers working to revive stalled careers. Surprisingly, the organization now has better depth in hitters than pitchers at the upper levels. Or maybe I should say “healthy pitchers.”
The Good
Chase d’Arnaud, SS (AAA): It’s a step forward for d’Arnaud just to be back on the field, but...
Top Performers: Power Surge For Willy Garcia; Mel Rojas Continues Hot Streak
Below are the top Runs Created* totals in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system from the last week. The rankings include every hitter who had an at-bat for a Pirates’ minor league affiliate, not including DSL teams, and with no limitations on whether the hitter has prospect eligibility. Players who spent time at different levels are counted multiple times, once for each level,...
Prospect Watch: Castro Pitches Gem, Morton Solid In Last Rehab Start
TOP OF THE SYSTEM
A look at how the current top 20 prospects did today. Note that this list doesn’t include players currently in the majors. If a player is in the majors, he will be removed, everyone below him will be shifted up a spot, and a new player will be added to the bottom of the list. Rankings are from the pre-season rankings, and links to each prospect writeup can be...
Prospect Watch: Polanco Has a Three Hit Night; Hanson and Garcia Homer
TOP OF THE SYSTEM
A look at how the current top 20 prospects did today. Note that this list doesn’t include players currently in the majors. If a player is in the majors, he will be removed, everyone below him will be shifted up a spot, and a new player will be added to the bottom of the list. Rankings are from the pre-season rankings, and links to each prospect writeup can be...
Meija Strikes Out Six In Rehab Start But St. Lucie Loses 5-4
Bradenton 5, St. Lucie 4
Willy Garcia drilled a bases loaded walk-off single to right off of reliever T.J. Chism as the host Bradenton Marauders defeated the Mets 5-4 on Friday.
Jenrry Mejia allowed two runs and five hits over three innings with three walks and six strikeouts in his first start on a major league rehab assignment with St. Lucie. Mejia had originally been scheduled...
Prospect Watch: Cole and Pimentel Have Good Starts, Lambo and Garcia Homer
TOP OF THE SYSTEM
A look at how the current top 20 prospects did today. Note that this list doesn’t include players currently in the majors. If a player is in the majors, he will be removed, everyone below him will be shifted up a spot, and a new player will be added to the bottom of the list. Rankings are from the pre-season rankings, and links to each prospect writeup can be...
Prospect Trends: Some Turnarounds and Some Struggling Altoona Hitters
Nick Kingham fanned 26 in his last 17 innings.
A month into the minor league season, things are starting to take shape with the Pirates’ full-season affiliates. With a deep roster and very talented pitching staff, Indianapolis is dominating the International League with a 20-7 record. By contrast, Altoona is increasingly struggling despite a good rotation led by Jameson Taillon...
Former Pirates Draft Pick Leads Brewers Affiliate in One Hitter Over Marauders
Eliecer Navarro gave up one run in six innings, striking out nine, but was out-dueled by Drew Gagnon.
The struggles against the Milwaukee Brewers aren’t just for the major league level. On Wednesday the Bradenton Marauders, the high-A affiliate for the Pirates, went up against the Brevard County Manatees, the high-A affiliate for the Milwaukee Brewers. The Manatees had Drew Gagnon...
Bradenton Marauders Riding a Wave of Walk Off Victories
Alen Hanson, pictured bunting earlier in the game, picked up four hits including the walk off double.
The Bradenton Marauders have now had three straight walk off victories. On Friday night, Alen Hanson came up in the bottom of the ninth inning with one runner on and the score tied at 5-5. Hanson had given up two errors in the top of the ninth inning, which cost Bradenton a two run...
The Marauders Defense Has Been Pretty Offensive So Far
Alen Hanson has six errors so far this season.
The Bradenton Marauders have a lot of offensive talent. They feature Alen Hanson and Gregory Polanco, the two biggest breakout players from last season. They’ve got Jose Osuna and Willy Garcia, guys who have just as much talent as Hanson and Polanco, but didn’t put up the ridiculous numbers. Dan Gamache was a sixth round pick who...
Lower Minors: Plawecki Smacks Two More Doubles, DeGrom Ks 7, Taijeron Rips Erupts With Four Hits
St. Lucie 6, Bradenton 5
Jacob DeGrom started the game strong for St. Lucie by retiring the first eight batters that he faced, but he ran into trouble in the fourth inning. DeGrom gave up three runs off four hits in the frame. He then gave up a home run to Willy Garcia in the sixth that put St. Lucie behind 4-3.
However, the Mets were able to retake the lead due to some sloppy...
Lower Minors: Plawecki Is A Doubles Machine, DeGrom So-So, Taijeron With 4 Hits
St. Lucie 6, Bradenton Marauders 5 by Vinny B.
Jacob DeGrom started the game strong for St. Lucie by retiring the first eight batters that he faced, but he ran into trouble in the fourth inning. DeGrom gave up three runs off four hits in the frame. He then gave up a home run to Willy Garcia in the sixth that put St. Lucie behind 4-3.
However, the Mets were able to retake the...
Nick Kingham Gets Too Comfortable With His Fastball In Marauders Loss
Nick Kingham got too comfortable throwing his fastball tonight.
Nick Kingham got off to a good start early in his high-A debut. He retired his first nine batters in order, getting three strikeouts in the process. Kingham was in total command, allowing only one ball to leave the infield, and getting a lot of ground ball outs. Then the right-hander ran into trouble in the fourth inning...
2013 Bradenton Marauders Season Preview
The 2013 minor league season begins on Thursday. In the days leading up to the opener, I will be previewing the full season affiliates of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Here is a look at the 2013 Bradenton Marauders, who will feature 2012 breakout prospects Alen Hanson and Gregory Polanco on their Opening Day roster.
Lineup
C – Jacob Stallings
1B – Jose Osuna
2B – Dan Gamache
SS –...
Prospect Notebook: Good Pitching in the Class A Games
Rodriguez allowed no earned runs and fanned four over four innings
The Pirates played host to the Yankees’ class A teams at Pirate City today, in games dominated by the pitching. Outside of a first inning outburst by the Pirates’ high A squad, there was little offense.
The low A game finished in a 1-1 tie, as Joely Rodriguez put together a strong start. He allowed just one...
MLB Top Twenty Pirates Prospects
Another Pirates prospect ranking has been posted today. MLB.com has posted their list of the top twenty prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates system, complete with scouting reports on each player. The top of the system ranks similar to almost every other list we’ve seen, although the order from third through six differ slightly. Gerrit Cole sits in the top spot, followed by Jameson...
Winter Leagues Recap: Playoff and WBC Notes
In Australian Baseball League action from today, Stefan Welch went 1-for-4, with two RBI’s, as Adelaide was handed an 8-2 loss. Hours before the game started, Welch was named to the provisional roster of the Australian team that will represent the country in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He now has 24 RBI’s on the ABL season, tops among all Adelaide players.
Welch was named...
First Pitch: The Minor Leagues Exist For a Reason
The Pirates are often criticized for having a slow approach at promoting prospects through the levels. That’s not accurate criticism. There are plenty of examples where they’ve made aggressive promotions. The decision to send Alen Hanson, Gregory Polanco, Willy Garcia, and Jose Osuna to West Virginia this year was aggressive. Sending Luis Heredia to the GCL at the age of 16,...
Winter Leagues Update: Howard Wins Player of the Week
Justin Howard has been named the Player of the Week by the Australian Baseball League for his performance during his team’s four-game sweep last week against Melbourne. Howard went 9-for-14, with three walks, six runs scored and four RBI’s. He finished the week with two three-hit games. Howard started the year off very slow, but has pushed his totals to respectable levels, now...
Winter Leagues Recap: Two Hits for Marte, Garcia’s Debut
In a light day of Winter League action yesterday, Starling Marte went 2-for-4, with two singles and a run scored. He now has a .320/.394/.485 line in 25 games. Marte started the season off showing improved plate patience, but has hit a wall the last eight games. After having 11 walks through just 17 games, Marte has failed to draw a walk in his last eight games, striking out six...
West Virginia Power 2012 Season Recap: Top Prospects
Complete West Virginia Coverage
The Hitters
The Pitchers
Top Prospects
1t. Alen Hanson, SS
1t. Gregory Polanco, OF
I had a tough time picking the top prospect from this pair. In a tiered ranking system, they’d both be in the same group. When it comes to picking between them, it’s splitting hairs.
Offensively, the difference is minimal. Polanco was more consistent this year, and...
West Virginia Power 2012 Season Recap: Hitters
Heading in to the season I had the West Virginia Power as the team to watch in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system, due to Josh Bell and the international talent that would be there. That international talent, led by Alen Hanson and Gregory Polanco, ended up making West Virginia a team to watch, not just in the system, but in all of minor league baseball.
Below are the stats from...
State College Spikes 2012 Season Recap: Hitters
The Spikes didn’t have many standout young hitting prospects. Most of the younger prospects skipped over State College this year and went directly to West Virginia. Alen Hanson, Gregory Polanco, Jose Osuna, and Willy Garcia all played in the GCL last year, and a few of them stopped briefly in State College at the end of the year before moving on to West Virginia this season.
Below...
Minor League Schedule: 9/7/12
Indianapolis lost game two of their playoff series against Charlotte last night, putting them down 2-0 in the best-of-five series. The two teams now switch locations to Charlotte for the rest of the series. Indianapolis will go with Phil Irwin, to try to stave off elimination. The DSL Pirates won their championship yesterday, giving the Pirates another minor league title this year...
Minor League Schedule: 9/5/12
Luis Heredia is on the mound tonight for State College, getting the last regular season start for the entire Pirates minor league system. Indianapolis begins their playoffs tonight against Charlotte. The first two games will be played in Indianapolis, while the third game will be played in Charlotte. If necessary, the fourth and fifth games will also be played in Charlotte. The...
THE PIRATES HOT 25
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