Morning Rundown: Luis Ortiz Rejoins The Pirates, Cal Mitchell Begins Rehab Assignment
The Pirates will call upon Luis Ortiz to make their start in their series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals, and Cal Mitchell begins a rehab assignment in Bradenton.
The Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t officially announced it yet, but it looks as if Luis Ortiz will be making the start in their finale of their three game weekday set against the St. Louis Cardinals.
After bursting on the scene late last year, even flying up some prospect lists, it’s been a real struggle for Ortiz in the majors this year. In 11 games, 10 starts, Ortiz has a 4.86 ERA (5.35 xFIP), and has a strikeout rate of just 13.8%.
His four-seam fastball is among the worst in baseball, according to most statistics on baseball savant. He’s used a sinker more, which has graded out better, but still hasn’t helped his overall numbers.
The struggles continued in Triple-A upon returning, as he’s posted a 7.77 ERA and has walked over 13% of the batters he’s faced in his second stint of the year with Indianapolis.
Ortiz has a wipeout slider, one of the better pitches in the league, but has been another Pirates’ pitcher that has struggled this year due to their fastball getting beat up.
Cal Mitchell was assigned to the Bradenton Marauders to begin his rehab assignment. He last played for the Indianapolis Indians on July 4, where has put up an .272/.347/.400 batting line.
Also making his first appearance in some time, Hudson Head also begun a rehab assignment, but with the FCL Pirates team. He fared better than Mitchell did, going 3-4 with three runs driven in as well as scoring three on his own.
Minor League Recap
Indianapolis Indians - 4 vs Iowa Cubs - 10
Top Hitter - Miguel Andujar: 3-3, BB, 2 R, RBI, HR (16), 2B
Top Pitcher - Kyle Nicolas: 2 IP, 2 K
Altoona Curve - 9 vs Akron RubberDucks - 2
Top Hitter - Mike Jarvis: 1-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR (1)
Top Pitcher - Omar Cruz: 3 IP, 2 H
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 2 vs Rome Braves - 0
Top Hitter - Jack Brannigan: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR (11)
Top Pitcher - Bubba Chandler: 7 IP, 4 H, 6 K
Bradenton Marauders - 2 vs Jupiter Hammerheads - 7
Top Hitter - Deivis Nadal: 2-4, RBI, 2B
Top Pitcher - Landon Tomkins: 1.1 IP, K
FCL Pirates - 15 vs FCL Orioles - 10
Top Hitter - Hudson Head: 3-4, 3 R, 3 RBI
Top Pitcher - Gilberto Alcala: 2 IP, H, 4 K
I attended the Grasshopper game last night so here are some ONE game observations (so don't over think these). First it was 93 and humid. Bubba pitched really well. There was a big MPH area on the scoreboard which was blank all night (ugh) but as expected he appeared to have excellent gas on the fastball. He spiked some curves/sliders but they were typically low in the zone so I think he meant to put them there. He was efficient as he was at 74 pitches after 6 and went a strong 7. He was better at putting hitters away earlier in the night (Only 1 K in his last 4 innings, 5 in the first 3) and there was more loud contact later in the game although his fast ball still past the eye/noise test late so I wish I could have known if he maintained his velocity. Both the Braves and Grasshoppers hit one or two that IMO the heavy air may have kept in the ball park. Overall a very good performance and ZERO walks and not a lot of 3 ball counts so that may be the most important thing. Termarr, I'll just say we all know he is only 19 in High A. Clearly Joe Niekro's son baffled him as he chased two spiked breakers in the dirt and K'd his first two AB's and didn't look good. He did work two walks in his last two at bats and laid off low breakers against the relievers. Tres Gonzales was as reported - looks like a hitter(very poor man's Tony Gwynn). Don't know if he is MLB caliber some day but he worked the counts and just missed two line drive hits by a foot foul (one to LF the other to RF). He ended up with a hit and a walk. Nothing spectacular in center but looked smooth. Escotto swings hard and misses. Connected on one that the bench and he thought was out and it sounded loud but the air may have kept it in. Brannigan was the only one who got a bomb through the air and out and looked good at the plate and made the only above average play in the field. Bowen hit the ball hard twice but way to0 high for a few long flyouts, but he 'looked' like a ball player(that was my Triolo report a few years ago). Once again.. nothing to report that those who know better have not already shared about these players but it was fun to see them up close.
SRO in Altoona.