Pirates Prospect Watch: Ashcraft, Kennedy Enjoy Strong Starts

A rough weekend continued for the Pirates’ minor league affiliates, as Pittsburgh’s farm teams played to a 1-3 record on Saturday afternoon.

The St. Paul Twins blew Triple-A Indianapolis out of the water 12-4 despite Michael Plassmeyer’s best start of the young season; the Altoona Curve fell 6-2 on a walk-off for the second consecutive night, this one coming via grand slam, and the Bradenton Marauders lost 4-3, unable to complete a comeback win with the winning run on base in the bottom of the ninth.

The Greensboro Grasshoppers were the lone team in the Pirates’ system to achieve victory on the day, mowing down the Hickory Crawdads 8-0 with the help of three home runs.

Here’s a look at Saturday’s top performers for the Young Bucs.

Triple-A Indianapolis (10-10)

LHP Michael Plassmeyer

• Game: 4 IP, 0 ER, 5 K’s.
• Season: 19.2 IP,  6.86 ERA, 26 K’s in 5 starts.

1B Jake Lamb

• Game: 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.
• Season: .362/.458/.532 with 2 doubles and 2 home runs in 15 games.

Double-A Altoona (5-8)

RHP Braxton Ashcraft

• Game: 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 K’s.
• Season: 9.1 IP, 6.75 ERA, 7 K’s in 3 games.

1B Seth Beer

• Game: 3-for-3 with a double and a walk.
• Season: .270/.357/.378 with a double and a home run in 10 games.

High-A Greensboro (8-5)

C Geovanny Planchart

• Game: 2-for-4 with a homer and a double.
• Season: .158/.238/.421 with 2 doubles and a homer in 6 games.

INF Charles McAdoo

• Game: 2-for-4 with a homer.
• Season: .256/.365/.349 with a double and a homer in 13 games.

Single-A Bradenton (2-12)

LHP Michael Kennedy

• Game: 5 IP, 1 ER and 8 K’s.
• Season: 12 IP, 4.50 ERA, 16 K’s in 3 appearances.

CF Shalin Polanco

• Game: 1-for-4 with a two-run double.
• Season: .163/.241/.286 with 3 doubles and a homer in 12 games.