Morning Rundown: MiLB weekly preview, Pirates score eight runs in win over Cardinals

Full week of baseball from MLB down to Low-A

The Pittsburgh Pirates had their biggest offensive explosion of the season Monday night, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-4.

Joey Bart hit a triple and a home run—the first of each for him on the season. Endy Rodriguez and Andrew McCutchen hit doubles, giving the Pirates four extra-base hits in the game.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa went 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while batting in the eight-hole.

Carmen Mlodzinski, making his second start as an official starter, went five innings and allowed just one earned run while striking out six.

Not having pitched since his major league debut a week ago, Thomas Harrington pitched the final four innings, struck out five, and allowed three runs, picking up his first save of his career.

The Pirates and Cardinals continue their series on Tuesday with a strong pitching matchup—Paul Skenes and Sonny Gray.

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Indianapolis Indians: 2-4

Last Week: 2-3

Opponent: Louisville (Reds)

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Quick Overview:

It was an interesting first full week for the Indianapolis Indians, beginning with the fact they once again had to deal with a rain shortened series, completing only five of their six scheduled games against the Iowa Cubs. They lost two of five, although they could’ve won three if not for a blown save.

What I find fun about these lists is not only do you get a quick look into other organization’s top prospects the Pirates’ affiliates may face, but it also can show the wild variance of rankings. Starting with Chase Petty, who was the Minnesota Twins' first-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft (acquired in the Sonny Gray trade). A prep RHP who made his debut with the Louisville Bats in 2024, he just slid onto Pipeline’s Top 100 by way of Athletics’ shortstop — and Jack Wilson’s kin — Jacob Wilson reaching service time limits. That would be the Bats’ only top 100 representative — and technically still is as of today — unless Fangraphs updates their list in real time. The aforementioned Wilson will reach the at-bats limit Monday evening, and then later in the week, Jasson Dominiguez should surpass the 130 at-bat threshold. That would move Louisville Bats reliever Luis Mey — currently sitting at 102 since Fangraphs takes their list a little further at times — into Fangraphs Top 100, while sitting at 20th on the Reds’ top 30 per Pipeline.

All that to say, it should be another fun week in Triple-A with the Pirates’ affiliate facing divisional foe Reds’ affiliate. Not to mention the Reds and Pirates will face off this week in MLB as well.

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• Chase Petty | RHP | 6

  • MLB Pipeline Top 100: #100

  • Baseball America Top 100: #96

  • ESPN Top 100: #75

  • Fangraphs Top 100: #45

• Connor Phillips (7-Day IL) | RHP | 15

• Luis Mey | RHP | 20

  • Fangraphs Top 100: #102

• Zach Maxwell | RHP | 23

• Tyler Callihan | 2B | 29

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Altoona Curve: 1-2

Opponent: Akron (Guardians)

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Quick Overview:

Not to be left out of the excitement, the Altoona Curve lost two of three, but they get to go up against the first overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Guardians, Travis Bazzana. The Aussie kicked off his 2025 campaign going 7-for-13 with a home run and three RBI. Unfortunately, the next up-and-coming international infielder development of the Guardians, whose stock has been rocketing up, Angel Genao, suffered a shoulder sprain during spring training and is likely out at least this series.

Taking it back to the fun storyline in the Triple-A overview, the Guardians also have one of their own unmentioned by any list but one, prospect Cooper Ingle. A catcher drafted out of Clemson in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft, he has hit since turning pro, and continued to hit. Not showing face on any top 100 list, but may find himself on one at some point, is another 2023 Draft pick by the Guardians, third-rounder C.J. Kayfus out of Miami. Considered by some scouts to not have enough power to project as a first baseman, he has hit since turning pro, and continued to hit. Kayfus belted 17 home runs across two levels in 2024.

It should be a very competitive week to keep an eye on the Pirates’ pitching in Double-A.

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• Tyler Bazzana | 2B | 1

  • MLB Pipeline Top 100: #9

  • Baseball America Top 100: #23

  • ESPN Top 100: #24

  • Fangraphs Top 100: #37

• Angel Genao (7-Day IL) | INF | 4

  • MLB Pipeline Top 100: #59

  • Baseball America Top 100: #36

  • Fangraphs Top 100: #31

• Cooper Ingle | C | 7

  • Fangraphs Top 100: #56

• C.J. Kayfus | 1B/OF | 8

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Greensboro Grasshoppers: 2-1

Opponent: Winston-Salem (White Sox)

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Quick Overview:

High-A is where things begin to slow down. The Grasshoppers, not too dissimilar to the 2024 season, opened up the year swiping bags and running up the scoreboard. Asheville Tourists — Houston Astros — affiliate generally doesn’t carry the highest upside roster. To that note, neither does Chicago White Sox High-A affiliate the Winston-Salem Dash. It’s fun to watch games played in Winston-Salem, though, if not only for the comically low right-field wall.

The top-ranked prospect is infielder Jeral Perez. He originally signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, but was acquired by the White Sox in a trade that saw Michael Kopech end up in Los Angeles, while Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham (yes, that guy) went to St. Louis. The 20-year-old currently has a .983 OPS through his first three games.

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• Jeral Perez | 2B/SS | 20

• Aldrin Batista | RHP | 24

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Bradenton Marauders: 1-2

Opponent: Palm Beach (Cardinals)

Quick Overview:

The prospect capital thins out as we move down the ladder, with the Palm Beach Cardinals' top prospect being Brian Holiday, a 2024 third-round selection out of Oklahoma State by the St. Louis Cardinals. The kicker is, he’s currently on the 7-day IL. To add injury to insult, so is the second and only other rostered prospect, 2023 third-round selection Travis Honeyman.

The good news is that thanks to the good brains here at Bucs on Deck, we won’t leave you without at least a name to know. Braden Davis was a 2024 fifth-round selection out of Oklahoma. Left-hander that generally sits low 90s, gets up to 95 MPH, and kind of fits the profile of what the Pirates organization has seemed to like lately with arm slot and approach angle. Good sleeper arm to get to know. In addition, Won-Bin Cho was an international signing out of Korea who had gotten some low-key hype as being a very tooly outfield prospect, but after a rough 2024 campaign in High-A, he has found himself back in the Florida State League to begin the season.

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• Brian Holiday (7-Day IL) | RHP | 15

• Travis Honeyman (7-Day IL) | OF | 24

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