Morning Rundown: MiLB Preview - Week Ending 8/6

Quiet week in the Pirates system that features few Top 100 opposition.

Photo Credit: WTM

Indianapolis Indians: 15-12 (2.5 GB)

Opponent: Gwinnett (Braves)

• Team OPS: .746

• OPS Rank: 19th of 20

• Team ERA: 5.36

• ERA Rank: 12th of 20

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Quick Overview:

After a couple years of wheeling and dealing, while also signing a bunch of their young stars to extensions, the Atlanta Braves farm system has thinned out. The top prospect of their system is Top 100 RHP AJ Smith-Shaver, who at one point this season we were detailing pitching against Greensboro. The 20 year old hurler ascended all the way to the majors for four starts and five appearances, but found himself optioned once again to Triple-A.

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AJ Smith-Shawver | RHP | 1

• MLB Pipeline Top 100: #62

• Baseball America Top 100: #44

Braden Shewmake | SS | 5

Darius Vines | RHP | 7

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Altoona Curve: 10-14 (5.5 GB)

Opponent: Richmond (Giants)

• Team OPS: .700

• OPS Rank: 9th of 12

• Team ERA: 3.82

• ERA Rank: 2nd of 12

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Quick Overview:

San Francisco Giants have not only one Top 100 LHP prospect in their system, Kyle Harrison who is in Triple-A, but they have a second in rising prospect Carson Whisenhunt who was unfortunately recently added to the 7-Day injured list. That leaves 25 year old outfielder Vaun Brown as the headlining prospect. A 10th round draft pick in 2021 out of Florida Southern.

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Carson Whisenhunt (7-Day IL) | LHP | 3

• MLB Pipeline Top 100: #91

• Baseball America Top 100: #89

Vaun Brown | OF | 5

Landen Roupp (7-Day IL) | RHP | 10

Carson Seymour | RHP | 14

Ryan Murphy | RHP | 23

Jose Cruz | RHP | 26

Wade Meckler | OF | 27

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Greensboro Grasshoppers: 12-17 (7.5 GB)

Opponent: Asheville (Astros)

• Team OPS: .756

• OPS Rank: 4th of 12

• Team ERA: 6.12

• ERA Rank: 12th of 12

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Quick Overview:

The Houston Astros farm system isn’t particularly strong, with having not a single Top 100 representative, but what they do have is a lot of outfielders. In Pipeline’s (soon to be updated) Top 30, their top four are all outfielders. On Baseball America, three of their top four are outfielders. One of those is 2022 second round pick Jacob Melton.

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Jacob Melton | OF | 1

Miguel Ullola | RHP | 7

Logan Cerny | OF | 17

Edinson Batista (7-Day IL) | RHP | 21

Michael Knorr (7-Day IL) | RHP | 22

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Bradenton Marauders: 21-9 (0.0 GB)

Opponent: Tampa (Yankees)

• Team OPS: .727

• OPS Rank: 4th of 10

• Team ERA: 4.72

• ERA Rank: 8th of 10

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Quick Overview:

The Bradenton Marauders have been on a tear in the Florida State League second half, sitting in a three-way division tie with the Clearwater Threshers (first half winner) and Lakeland Flying Tigers. The New York Yankees affiliate Tampa Tarpons have played .500 ball in the second half, and the roster isn’t particularly prospect loaded. Trystan Vrieling was a 2022 third round pick out of Gonzaga University, but has been out this season with an elbow injury. That leaves #19 prospect Anthony Hall as the top healthy prospect, a 2022 fourth round selection out of Oregon University.

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Trystan Vrieling (60-Day IL) | RHP | 15

Anthony Hall | OF | 19

Sean Hermann | RHP | 21

Justin Lange | RHP | 25

Jared Serna | 2B/SS | 30

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Minor League Recap 7/31

FCL Pirates - 6 vs FCL Rays - 5

Top Hitter - Javier Rivas: 3-4, BB, 2B

Top Pitcher - Hunter Barco: 4 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 5 K

DSL Pirates Black - 3 vs DSL Tigers 1 - 2

Top Hitter - Carlos Caro: 1-4, RBI

Top Pitcher - Dariel Francia: 3.1 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 K

DSL Pirates Gold - 6 vs DSL Red Sox Red - 1

Top Hitter - Roinny Aguiar: 3-4, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2B, HR (1)

Top Pitcher - Alexis Torres: 2 IP, H, 3 K