Morning Rundown: Paul Skenes strikes out eight, Quinn Priester added to taxi squad, Aroldis Chapman suspended
Paul Skenes has another fantastic night on the mound, Priester added to the taxi squad, and Chapman is suspended.
Paul Skenes made his fourth start of the season for Triple-A Indianapolis and struck out eight batters over 3.1 innings pitched. He struck out six of the first seven batters that he faced.
The St. Paul lineup made him work more than usual, as he allowed his first extra-base hit of the season and walked two.
He did work out of having a base runner on third and two outs with a strikeout after throwing a wild pitch to move the runner from second over.
Skenes has now struck out 27 batters in 12.2 innings pitched while still yet to allow a run.
The fastball averaged 100 MPH and was thrown 41 times with four whiffs and 12 called strikes.
If the rotation stays in order and there are no rain delays, Skenes should be in line to pitch next Wednesday. The following week should be his first opportunity to pitch on a Tuesday/Sunday
In what was maybe the worst-kept secret, the Pirates have added Quinn Priester to the taxi squad, which would put him in line to start on Friday against the Red Sox.
Marco Gonzales was put on the injured list over the weekend, but the Pirates replaced him with a reliever originally (Ryder Ryan). They had the option to skip over the fifth spot in the rotation with the off-day on Thursday but opted to bring up Priester.
Priester needs just one out to graduate from prospect status, and we will update our Top 25 list when that does happen.
In addition to being ejected from his last game, Aroldis Chapman has been suspended for two games for his actions earlier this week.
Ejected for arguing with the home plate umpire, there might have been more said that led to the ejection.
Connor Scott was transferred to the Development List while with the Altoona Curve
Altoona Curve activated SS Mike Jarvis from the 7-day injured list
LHP Nick Dombkowski was assigned to the Indianapolis Indians from the Altoona Curve
RHP Jack Carey was assigned to the Altoona Curve from the Greensboro Grasshoppers
Quinn Priester was added to the taxi squad
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Top Exit Velocity
Omar Alfonzo - BRD - 112 MPH - Groundout
Jake Lamb - IND - 106.1 MPH - Sac Fly
Malcom Nunez - IND - 105.7 MPH - Double
Omar Alfonzo - BRD - 105.3 MPH - Single
Gilberto Celestino - IND - 105.2 MPH - Groundout
Top Pitch Velocity
Paul Skenes - 102.1 MPH
Paul Skenes - 101.5 MPH
Paul Skenes - 101.4 MPH
Paul Skenes - 101.3 MPH
Paul Skenes - 101.2 MPH
Most Whiffs
Patrick Reilly - GBO - 13
Paul Skenes - IND - 11
Garrett McMillan - BRD - 11
Bubba Chandler - ALT - 8
Tyler Kennedy - BRD - 8
Indianapolis Indians - 6 vs St. Paul Saints - 5
Top Hitter - Malcom Nunez: 3-4, 2 RBI, 2B
Top Pitcher - Paul Skenes: 3.1 IP, H, 2 BB, 8 K
Altoona Curve - 7 vs Bowie Baysox - 6
Top Hitter - Abrahan Gutierrez: 2-4, R, RBI, 2B
Top Pitcher - Bubba Chandler: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 9 vs Hickory Crawdads - 6
Top Hitter - Sammy Siani: 4-5, 2 R, RBI, 2 2B
Top Pitcher - Domini Perachi: 3.2 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K
Bradenton Marauders - vs Daytona Tortugas
Top Hitter - Garret Forrester: 2-3, BB
Top Pitcher - Connor Oliver: 3 IP, BB, 2 K
Probable Pitchers
Pittsburgh Pirates - Quinn Priester
Indianapolis Indians - TBD
Altoona Curve - Sean Sullivan
Greensboro Grasshoppers - JP Massey
Bradenton Marauders - Carlson Reed
Mini report from Greensburo last night. It was my first ever minor league game, so I’m far from a professional scout.
I went armed with my handy-dandy prospect guide, but it was very hard to use real time. Next year I would suggest having a player index to help find specific guys. Anyway, Siani did have a nice night at the plate, but the guy who impressed me most was Sightler. He hit a monster shot to deep center-right that was half way up the net at 400+ feet just to the fence. Everything he hits is hard. His bat makes a different sound than the others.
T Johnson is a man among boys on the field. He had a nice double to left that was not cheap, but his fielding impressed me the most. There were many fielding errors in the game but he looked like a professional when fielding. In one play he ranged from 2nd across the bag into shortstop territory, cut off the ball before it could get to Jenn and make a smooth across the body throw to first. He also turns a smooth double play.
Today's FG "five things" piece has video of some Will Craig-level baserunning blunders by Joe and Triolo. Ugh.