Morning Rundown: MiLB Preview - Week Ending 9/03

Up close and personal week ahead with Anthony Murphy headed to Greensboro

Photo Credit: WTM

Indianapolis Indians: 26-24 (5.0 GB)

Opponent: Buffalo (Blue Jays)

• Team OPS: .801

• OPS Rank: 13th of 20

• Team ERA: 5.15

• ERA Rank: 9th of 20

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Quick Overview:

For their final series in the month of August, the Indianapolis Indians will take on Ben Cherington’s former club’s affiliate the Buffalo Bisons. The top player on the roster is resurgent prospect Orelvis Martinez. The Toronto Blue Jays farmhand burst onto the scene in 2021 as a 19-year old who tore up the Florida State League, and continued upon promotion to High-A. In 2022 at the young age of 20 in Double-A, he hit 30 home runs, but otherwise struggled to get on base. Striking out 28.5% of the time with only a .203 batting average and .286 OBP. In 2023 he found his footing in Double-A, and has since carried it over to Triple-A, regaining Top 100 status again on most lists.

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• Orelvis Martinez | SS/3B | 2

  • MLB Pipeline Top 100: #93

  • Baseball America Top 100: #56

• Addison Barger | INF | 5

• Spencer Horwitz | 1B | 17

• Hayden Juenger | RHP | 22

• Connor Cooke | RHP | 24

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Altoona Curve: 22-27 (6.0 GB)

Opponent: Erie (Tigers)

• Team OPS: .753

• OPS Rank: 3rd of 12

• Team ERA: 4.18

• ERA Rank: 4th of 12

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Quick Overview:

Heading into September, the Altoona Curve will take on an Erie Seawolves team they’ve gotten to know very well this season. Wilmer Flores began the year as a Top 100 pitcher, but early struggles saw him fall off, and he’s currently on the injured list since July. The Detroit Tigers first round pick Jace Jung (younger brother of Josh Jung), and fourth overall prospect will look to continue a strong step up to Double-A.

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• Jace Jung | 2B | 4

  • MLB Pipeline Top 100: #71

• Ty Madden | RHP | 6

• Wilmer Flores (7-Day IL) | RHP | 7

• Brant Hurter | LHP | 12

• Justice Bigbie | OF | 21

• Danny Serretti | SS/2B | 25

• Tyler Mattison | RHP | 28

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Greensboro Grasshoppers: 27-26 (4.5 GB)

Opponent: Hickory (Rangers)

• Team OPS: .711

• OPS Rank: 7th of 12

• Team ERA: 4.52

• ERA Rank: 8th of 12

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Quick Overview:

The big showing of the week will be the Greensboro Grasshoppers getting to face 2023 fourth overall pick Wyatt Langford. Barring a late promotion, this will likely be the only chance we get to see a Pirates affiliate face Langford, as neither Indy or Altoona play against Texas Rangers affiliates. The other big name is Kumar Rocker, but he went down with Tommy John surgery earlier in the season.

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• Wyatt Langford | OF | 2

  • MLB Pipeline Top 100: #13

  • Baseball America Top 100: #8

• Kumar Rocker (Full Season IL) | RHP | 9

• Cameron Cauley | SS/2B | 13

• Abimelec Ortiz | 1B | 14

• Mitch Bratt (7-Day IL) | LHP | 17

• Emiliano Teodo | RHP | 22

• Jose Corniell | RHP | 23

• Winston Santos | RHP | 27

• Alejandro Osuna (7-Day IL) | OF | 29

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Bradenton Marauders: 32-22 (4.0 GB)

Opponent: Palm Beach (Cardinals)

• Team OPS: .715

• OPS Rank: 6th of 10

• Team ERA: 4.34

• ERA Rank: 4th of 10

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Quick Overview:

The previous week had Pirates affiliates facing a handful of 2023 first round drafted pitchers, this week is outfielders. The Bradenton Marauders will get to see the St. Louis Cardinals first round selection, Chase Davis. He is a toolsy player out of the University of Arizona with big power. Another intriguing name on the Palm Beach Cardinals is outfielder signed during the 2022 International period, Won-Bin Cho out of South Korea. Another toolsy kid with a lot of potential upside.

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• Chase Davis | OF | 3

• Leonardo Bernal (7-Day IL) | C | 10

• Won-Bin Cho | OF | 13

• Zack Showalter (7-Day IL) | RHP | 20

• Brycen Mautz | LHP | 24

• Pete Hansen | LHP | 26

• Joshua Baez | OF | 27

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Minor League Recap 8/28

DSL Pirates Gold - 0 vs DSL Phillies White - 7

Semifinals Series tied 1-1

Top Hitter - Eduardo Oviedo: 2-for-4, and OF assist

Top Pitcher - Keuri Almonte: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K