Morning Rundown: Bubba Chandler strikes out 10, Charles McAdoo promoted, Joey Bart/Ji Hwan Bae start rehab
Bubba Chandler posts career highs with innings pitched and strikeouts. McAdoo promoted, two Pirates' begin rehab with Indianapolis.
Against one of the better lineups in the Eastern League, Bubba Chandler turned in perhaps the best start of his minor league career on Friday.
In seven innings pitched (career-high), Chandler allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out double digits (10, also career-high).
He gave up a lead-off double to get the bottom of the first inning going but turned around and retired the next 16 batters he faced. Alfredo Velasquez finally broke through and picked up a hit.
After giving up the double to start, Chandler also struck out seven batters in a row. He needed only 85 pitches to get through seven innings, 57 of them were for strikes.
In the five games since coming off the injured list, Chandler has walked just three batters while striking out 27 through 22.2 innings pitched.
Charles McAdoo was promoted to Double-A Altoona on Friday. The promotion comes just a day after the Grasshoppers wrapped up a playoff spot by winning their division during the first half of the season.
It’s a hard argument to come up with a hitter who has done better in the Pirates’ system than McAdoo this year.
McAdoo, 22, has hit .336/.415/.561 in 60 games with the Grasshoppers, adding nine home runs, 52 RBI, and 14 stolen bases on 17 attempts.
The Pirates also promoted Jaden Woods from the Grasshoppers to Altoona. A seventh-round pick out of Georgia, Woods has been great out of the Greensboro bullpen, posting a 2.13 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 25.1 innings pitched.
Ji Hwan Bae and Joey Bart began rehab assignments in Triple-A on Friday night. Bae hasn’t played since June 2, and he went 0-3 with a strikeout on the night.
Bart hasn’t played for the Pirates since late May. In his first rehab game, he went 2-3 with a double and three RBI.
Martin Perez will also begin a rehab assignment this weekend, giving the Pirates another option for the rotation shortly.
LHP Inmer Lobo assigned to Bradenton Marauders from FCL Pirates
LHP Jaden Woods assigned to Altoona Curve from Greensboro Grasshoppers
2B Charles McAdoo assigned to Altoona Curve from Greensboro Grasshoppers
Indianapolis Indians sent RHP Mike Burrows on a rehab assignment to Bradenton Marauders
Pittsburgh Pirates sent SS Ji Hwan Bae on a rehab assignment to Indianapolis Indians
Pittsburgh Pirates sent C Joey Bart on a rehab assignment to Indianapolis Indians
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Top Exit Velocity
Rowdy Tellez - PIT - 109.6 mph - Groundout
Javier Rivas - BRD - 108.2 mph - Double
Bryan Reynolds - PIT - 107.3 mph - Home Run
Joey Bart - IND - 105.4 mph - Single
Nick Gonzales - PIT - 104.5 mph - Flyout
Omar Alfonzo - BRD - 104.5 mph - Groundout
Top Pitch Velocity
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 98.1 mph
Tyler Kennedy - BRD - 98 mph
Khristian Curtis - BRD - 97.8 mph
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 97.6 mph
Khristian Curtis - BRD - 97.5 mph
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 97.5 mph
Most Whiffs
Bubba Chandler - ALT - 14
Derek Diamond - GBO - 13
Khristian Curtis - BRD - 12
Luis Cessa - IND - 9
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 9
Indianapolis Indians - 5 vs Iowa Cubs - 2
Top Hitter - Joey Bart: 2-3, R, 3 RBI, BB, 2B
Top Pitcher - Nick Dombkowski: 2.2 IP, 2 BB, 2 K
Altoona Curve - 5 vs Bowie Baysox - 0
Top Hitter - Jase Bowen: 2-3, RBI
Top Pitcher - Bubba Chandler: 7 IP, 2 H, BB, 10 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 10 vs Hudson Valley Renegades - 3
Top Hitter - Shawn Ross: 2-4, R, 4 RBI, HR, BB
Top Pitcher - Derek Diamond: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 8 K
Bradenton Marauders - 8 vs Lakeland Flying Tigers - 7
Top Hitter - Keiner Delgado: 3-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B
Top Pitcher - Inmer Lobo: 3 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K
FCL Pirates - 5 vs FCL Orioles - 4
Top Hitter - Richard Ramirez: 2-4, 3B, 2 R
Top Pitcher - David Matoma: 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K
DSL Pirates Gold - 5 vs DSL Angels - 8
Top Hitter - Antonio Pimentel: 3-4, R, 2 RBI
Top Pitcher - Brandison Polanco: 2 IP, H, 2 K
Was in great seats for the Chandler start. Nice, easy repeatable--fun to watch---also a little bit of swagger. The Bowie stadium clock had him hitting 98 3-5 times and 100 twice. Wish I could say ANY of our hitters showed anything.
I don't want to trade Bubba. Me and my crack scouting staff think he will be a top of the rotation type of starter. Add him to the current MLB mix then pick your #5......it could be amazing.