Pirates Prospect Watch: Braxton Ashcraft Shoves For Altoona

Pirates’ minor league affiliates played three games on Tuesday, picking up two wins and seeing a step in the right direction for a pair of pitchers.

Triple-A Indianapolis’ game with the Toledo Mud Hens ended up postponed due to inclement weather, set for a May 16 makeup date as part of a doubleheader.

Braxton Ashcraft worked his best start of the season after an inconsistent start to the year, firing seven scoreless innings and striking out 10 batters. His efforts went in vain, though, as the Curve managed just three hits themselves and his bullpen couldn’t hold on to the lead, allowing a 2-1 walk-off win.

The Greensboro Grasshoppers defeated the Hickory Crawdads 4-2, with another strong day at the plate from Charles McAdoo alongside home runs from P.J. Hilson and Hudson Head.

Former Yankee Domingo Germán made his first appearance of the season in Bradenton, allowing a solo homer across four innings and displaying inconsistent command, walking three batters to just four strikeouts. The Marauders ended up winning 4-3, extending their winning streak to 11 games.

Here are the top performing Pirates’ prospects to begin the week.

Triple-A Indianapolis (17-19)

DNP: inclement weather.

Double-A Altoona (8-26)

RHP Braxton Ashcraft

• Game: 7 IP, 0 ER, 10 K’s.
• Season: 32.1 IP, 4.18 ERA, 32 K’s in 7 appearances (6 starts).

3B Kervin Pichardo

• Game: 1-for-3 with a homer.
• Season: .211/.279/.305 with 3 doubles and 2 homers in 27 games.

High-A Greensboro (19-14)

RF P.J. Hilson

• Game: 2-for-4 with a homer.
• Season: .186/.240/.357 with a double, a triple and 3 homers in 22 games between Single-A Bradenton and High-A Greensboro.

LF Hudson Head

• Game: 1-for-3 with a homer and a walk.
• Season: .244/.386/.476 with 2 doubles, a triple and 5 homers in 26 games.

Single-A Bradenton (16-18)

RF Sergio Campana

• Game: 3-for-4 with 3 singles.
• Season: .429/.529/.500 with a double in 6 games.

LF Solomon Maguire

• Game: 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and a walk.
• Season: .271/.314/.563 with a double, 2 triples and 3 homers in 16 games.