Morning Rundown: Pirates bats explode, beat Braves for first Spring victory
Pirates offense explodes fo 13 unanswered runs.
The Pittsburgh Pirates won their first Spring Training game of the 2024 season, defeating the Atlanta Braves after scoring 13 unanswered runs.
Ke’Bryan Hayes kicked things off with a Grand Slam, which was hit 105 mph off the bat for his first home run of the Spring. That was the first of four home runs hit by the Pirates, with Bryan Reynolds, Abrahan Gutierrez, and Jackson Glenn also going deep.
Marco Gonzales made his first start of the Spring and didn’t make it out of the second inning, going 1.2 while allowing six hits and three runs, walking one while striking out two.
Fighting for one of the open rotation spots, Luis Ortiz pitched a pair of innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two. A Oneil Cruz error allowed Eli White to reach base, who eventually scored on a Luke Williams single.
That was the only Run Ortiz allowed.
With his velocity a main concern for Ortiz going into the season, he hit 98 mph six times on Tuesday. He picked up one whiff on eight swings between the fastball and sinker.
Jase Bowen got into the game and drove in a run on a single. Jack Suwinski hit a double that went 107.9 mph off the bat.
Top Exit Velocity
Bryan Reynolds - 109 mph - Home Run
Abrahan Gutierrez - 108.4 mph - Home Run
Jack Suwinski - 107.9 mph - Double
Ke’Bryan Hayes - 105.1 mph - Groundout
Ke’Byran Hayes - 105 mph - Home Run
Top Pitch Velocity
Luis Ortiz - 98.8 mph
Luis Ortiz - 98.7 mph
Luis Ortiz - 98.5 mph
Luis Ortiz - 98.5 mph
Luis Ortiz - 98.2 mph
Most Whiffs (Whiff%)
Hunter Stratton - 6 (60%)
JC Flowers - 4 (40%)
Kyle Nicolas - 4 (36%)
Michael Plassmeyer - 3 (27%)
Luis Ortiz - 3 (25%)
Marco Gonzales - 3 (17%)
Former Pirates’ prospect Tahnaj Thomas has agreed to a deal with the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association. He pitched out of the Altoona bullpen the last two years before becoming a minor league free agent. He posted a 4.87 ERA across 44.1 innings pitched in the previous year.
Looking through the transaction log, joining him in the American Association will be right-handed pitcher Santiago Florez. Pitching out of Greensboro’s bullpen last year, he posted a 5-2 record but an ERA of 7.02.
Looking over at the Pioneer League, Michell Miliano was signed by Trois Rivieres Aigles. He came over in the Adam Frazier trade. He put up solid strikeout numbers but struggled with the control.
Lastly, Owen Sharts signed with the Idaho Falls Chukas and will join former Bradenton Marauders broadcaster Ben Pokorney there.
There are just two days left in our Season Kick-Off special, where you can get 20% off of a one-year subscription, which equates to just $3.33 per month.
Not only do you get access to the site’s top 25 prospect list, but you also get access to the video breakdowns I do throughout the year and any features from my in-person coverage. Last year, I spent four days in Greensboro, watching Bubba Chandler’s last game in High-A.
This is another reminder to pick up your copy of the 2024 Pirates Minor League Guide that Draft Nation put out, which some of us here at the site contributed to.
You can get in-depth scouting reports on 50 prospects in the system and information on as many as 75. Plus, some history on the Pirates’ farm system.
Can't believe we're getting lineups 4+ hrs before game time. So unlike them.
Luis Ortiz pitched like somebody who had a long look at the Statcast numbers from last year. His best pitch in 2023 was the Sinker and it was a +9 Run Value, but he threw it only 28.3% of the time. Yesterday my summary had him throwing 17 Sinkers of his 31 pitches or 54.8%. His worst pitch in 2023 was his 4 Seam FB which was a -14 Run Value, and he threw it 24.8% of the time. Yesterday, I had him throwing only 4 4-Seamers or 12.9%. Hope he maintains that correction, at least until the pitching coaches figure out why his 98+ mph 4 Seam is so hittable.
To continue with the Ortiz pitch repertoire he also throws a Slider and a Changeup. In 2023, the Slider was his most used pitch at 32.7% and was a -1 Run Value. Yesterday he threw the Slider 7 of the 31 pitches or 22.6%. The fourth pitch in 2023 was the Changeup which he threw 13.8 % and it was a 0 Run Value pitch. Yesterday he threw the Changeup 3 of the 31 pitches or 9.7%.
Overall, a very productive outing for him yesterday.