Morning: More draft picks make debut, Billy Cook grand slam, Pirates lose nine straight
Two more Pirates draft picks make professional debut, Pirates lose nine straight
The Pittsburgh Pirates have dropped nine straight games after losing 3-0 to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.
Luis Ortiz allowed two runs, only one earned, over five innings pitched, walking two and striking out another three.
It wasn’t enough, as Michael King was brilliant for the Padres, striking out 10 over six shutout innings. The Pirates outhit the Padres, they just went 0-7 with runners in scoring position.
The Pirates will look to avoid a third straight sweep on Wednesday with an afternoon game against the Padres. Mitch Keller is scheduled to start for the Pirates, with a familiar face, Martin Perez, going for the home team.
Two more 2024 draft picks have made their professional debut, as Will Taylor and Connor Wietgrefe were assigned to the Bradenton Marauders and played on Tuesday.
Taylor, the fifth-round pick out of Clemson, went 0-3 with a walk and was the team’s starting designated hitter. He was also thrown out trying to steal second base after reaching by walk.
Pitching in the sixth inning, Wietgrefe struck out all three hitters while allowing a double to Arjun Nimmala. Esmerlyn Valdez dropped a pop-up around foul territory that fell fair, which led to the double.
He got up to 93 mph with his fastball and got three total whiffs on eight swings.
Taylor and Wietgrefe join Derek Berg and Duce Gourson among the 2024 draft picks currently on active minor league rosters for the Pirates.
Billy Cook continued his fantastic start since joining the organization, hitting a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning as the Indianapolis Indians defeated the St. Paul Saints 5-4.
He has seven extra-base hits (five doubles, two home runs) in nine games played with the Indians.
The hitting streak for Nick Yorke was ended on Tuesday after going 0-4. He did reach on a fielder’s choice in the first inning and later stole second.
Yorke had gotten a hit in the first 10 games he had played in the Pirates’ organization.
OF Will Taylor assigned to Bradenton Marauders
LHP Connor Wietgrefe assigned to Bradenton Marauders
OF Solomon Maguire assigned to FCL Pirates from Bradenton Marauders
C Miguel Sosa assigned to FCL Pirates from Bradenton Marauders
SS Jeral Toledo assigned to FCL Pirates from Bradenton Marauders
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Top Exit Velocity
Axiel Plaz - BRD - 107.5 mph - Single
Bryan Reynolds - PIT - 106.5 mph - Double
Joey Bart - PIT - 106.1 mph - Single
Jhonny Severino - BRD - 105.7 mph - Lineout
Braylon Bishop - BRD - 104.5 mph - Groundout
Top Pitch Velocity
Kyle Nicolas - PIT - 97.7 mph
Kyle Nicolas - PIT - 97.7 mph
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 97.6 mph
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 97.4 mph
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 97.2 mph
Most Whiffs
Luis Cessa - IND - 11
Alessandro Ercolani - GBO - 11
Derek Diamond - GBO - 10
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 10
Luigi Hernandez - BRD - 8
Indianapolis Indians - 5 vs St. Paul Saints - 4
Top Hitter - Billy Cook: 1-3, HR, R, 4 RBI
Top Pitcher - Fineas Del Bonta-Smith: 2 IP, BB, 2 K
Altoona Curve - 0 vs Bowie Bay Sox - 5
Top Hitter - Matt Fraizer: 2-4, 2B
Top Pitcher - Justin Meis: 2.1 IP, BB, 3 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 1 vs Bowling Green Hot Rods - 8
Top Hitter - Termarr Johnson: 2-4
Top Pitcher - Alessandro Ercolani: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (ER), 4 K
Bradenton Marauders - 0 vs Dunedin Blue Jays - 2
Top Hitter - Esmerlyn Valdez: 2-3, 2B, BB
Top Pitcher - Luigi Hernandez: 3 IP, 2 BB, 5 K
DSL Pirates Black - 5 vs DSL Orioles Orange - 11
Top Hitter - Frankeli Mesa: 2-2, SB
Top Pitcher - Rubens Romero: 1.2 IP, H, 2 BB, K
DSL Pirates Gold - 3 vs DSL Tigers 2 - 5
Top Hitter - Isaias Dipre: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Keuri Almonte: 3 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Kiley has his updated 100 out. Three Bucs on there: Bubba (43), Griffin (86), TJ 94. He also has Ashcraft as a NR (notable riser).
Compared to the rest of the division, it’s predictably not great. The Cubs have six in the top 100, Brewers have five, Reds have four, Cards have three.
MAN. I'm building up one helluva cartload of carrots.
Wabbit