Morning Rundown: Connor Wietgrefe makes Greensboro debut, Matt Gorski hits two home runs
Wietgrefe pitches four shutout innings, Gorski has three extra-base hit game
Matt Gorski fueled the Indianapolis Indians’ offense on Saturday, going 3-4 with three runs scored and three RBI, while hitting a double and two home runs.
He’s been on quite the extra-base tear this week. In total, he’s gone 7-20 with three doubles and two home runs, driving in seven runs.
Liover Peguero also had a multi-hit game, going 2-3 with a run and two RBI.
Bubba Chandler pitched 4.2 innings, allowing one run while striking out five.
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Connor Wietgrefe made his debut for the Grasshoppers on Saturday, pitching four innings of shutout baseball, not allowing a hit or walk. The only baserunner reached on an error by Wietgrefe.
The base runner was erased on a double play, and Wietgrefe faced the minimum.
The Grasshoppers actually carried a no-hitter into the seventh when Jack Carey allowed a base hit.
Javier Rivas hit another home run, giving him four on the year now.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will have to stave off another potential sweep after dropping the first two games of their weekend series against the Cleveland Guardians. Mitch Keller will start for the Pirates. Logan Allen will get the nod for the Guardians.
Altoona Curve transferred OF Imanol Vargas to the Development List
RHP Fineas Del Bonta-Smith assigned to Altoona Curve from FCL Pirates
Indianapolis Indians sent RHP Burch Smith on a rehab assignment to Bradenton Marauders
LHP Connor Wietgrefe assigned to Greensboro Grasshoppers
RHP Jarod Bayless assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Greensboro Grasshoppers
Pittsburgh Pirates recalled RHP David Bednar from Indianapolis Indians
Pittsburgh Pirates sent RHP Colin Holderman on a rehab assignment to Indianapolis Indians
Top Exit Velocity
Oneil Cruz - PIT - 118 mph - Single
Jeral Toledo - BRD - 110.4 mph - Groundout
Axiel Plaz - BRD - 109.7 mph - Groundout
Liover Peguero - IND - 108.7 mph - Single
Ke’Bryan Hayes - PIT - 107.9 mph - Groundout
Top Pitch Velocity
Paul Skenes - PIT - 99.9 mph
Bubba Chandler - IND - 99.8 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 99.7 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 99.4 mph
Bubba Chandler - IND - 99.3 mph
Most Whiffs
Paul Skenes - PIT - 13
Bubba Chandler - IND - 12
Peyton Stumbo - BRD - 9
Po-Yu Chen - ALT - 8
Connor Wietgrefe - GBO - 6
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Indianapolis Indians - 6 vs Toledo Mud Hens - 2
Top Hitter - Matt Gorski: 3-4, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2B, 2 HR
Top Pitcher - Bubba Chandler: 4.2 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 5 K
Altoona Curve - 2 vs Somerset Patriots - 1
Top Hitter - Jack Brannigan: 2-4, 2 RBI
Top Pitcher - Po-Yu Chen: 5 IP, H, 5 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 9 vs Jersey Shore BlueClaws - 4
Top Hitter - Enmanuel Terrero: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Connor Wietgrefe: 4 IP, 5 K
Bradenton Marauders - 0 vs Fort Myers Mighty Mussels - 8
Top Hitter - Yordany De Los Santos: 2-4, 3B
Top Pitcher - Inmer Lobo: 3.1 IP, H, 4 K
Happy Easter everyone. Have a great day.
One more game in Greensboro and then heading home.
Really pleased with the hitting at the GBO A+ level. Javier Rivas has somehow flipped the switch on what looked like an All-Field, No-Hit, SS. Always K/BB issues that were in the 4/1 or 5/1 levels, but jumped to over 8/1 last year. He found some additional power last year hitting 12 HR (1 for every 30 AB), and has bumped that this year to a HR every 12+ AB, and the K/BB is down to 4/1.
Others at A+ - Shalin Polanco, 21, is another guy who seemed to be lost at the plate in A who has shown a lot better contact so far this year. Same for Lonnie White, Jr who was struggling with pro pitching after dedicating to baseball just before being drafted. And, Esmerlyn Valdez, 21, is still young, but his 17 doubles/22 HR and .815 OPS in A, is continuing with 3 doubles/3 HR and 1.072 OPS in 47 AB in A+. I know GBO is a hitter's level, and no better place to develop some confidence in hitting for average and power.