Morning Rundown: Pirates start nine-game road trip in Seattle, Nick Cimillo hits walk-off home run, Castillo strikes out seven
Pirates head west for the first of nine on the road, Cimillo hits walk-off home run
After completing back-to-back sweeps at home against the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Pirates head west for the final nine games before the All-Star break.
They will kick things off with a series in Seattle against the Mariners.
From there, the Pirates will head to Kansas City to face the Royals three times before another weekend series, this time against the Minnesota Twins.
Nick Cimillo ended an 11-inning game with a two-run, walk-off home run on Thursday, his sixth of the season. He went 1-4 with a walk as well as the home run.
Mitch Jebb tied the game in the third with an RBI single, scoring Jase Bowen. Kervin Pichardo tied the game again in the sixth with an RBI single of his own.
Termarr Johnson went 0-4 with a walk and a run scored.
Carlos Castillo struck out a season-high seven batters for the Bradenton Marauders, allowing just two unearned runs in what was one of his better starts to date.
The slider was working for him, picking up four whiffs on seven swings. He picked up another six whiffs with his sinker.
Bucs on Deck: Pittsburgh Pirates Top 30 Midseason Update
We are past the halfway mark of the 2025 minor league season, and it seems like a perfect time for an update on our Top Prospect list, which has been expanded to 30 players.
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FCL Pirates placed OF Carl Calixte on the 7-day injured list
Top Exit Velocity
Malcom Nunez - IND - 105.9 mph - Single
Ronny Simon - IND - 105.9 mph - Lineout
Malcom Nunez - IND - 105.9 mph - Double
Shawn Ross - IND - 105.4 mph - Single
Jack Suwinski - IND - 105.1 mph - Single
Top Pitch Velocity
Michael Darrell-Hicks - IND - 98 mph
Michael Darrell-Hicks - IND - 97.6 mph
Michael Darrell-Hicks - IND - 97.6 mph
Michael Darrell-Hicks - IND - 97.4 mph
Michael Darrell-Hicks - IND - 97.4 mph
Most Whiffs
Hung-Leng Chang - GBO - 11
Carlos Castillo - BRD - 10
Sean Sullivan - IND - 9
Randy Labaut - IND - 7
Jesus Clode - BRD - 7
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Indianapolis Indians - 11 vs Louisville Bats - 3
Top Hitter - Malcom Nunez: 2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, 2B
Top Pitcher - Randy Labaut: 3 IP, 3 H, BB, 2 K
Altoona Curve - 4 vs Harrisburg Senators - 2
Top Hitter - Nick Cimillo: 1-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI, R
Top Pitcher - Wilkin Ramos: 2 IP, H, 4 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 9 vs Aberdeen IronBirds - 5
Top Hitter - Konnor Griffin: 1-4, 2 R, BB, HR, 3 RBI
Top Pitcher - Hung-Leng Chang: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Bradenton Marauders - 2 vs Fort Myers Mighty Mussels - 9
Top Hitter - Joel Mendez: 1-3, R, 2B
Top Pitcher - Carlos Castillo: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R (0 ER), BB, 7 K
FCL Pirates - 5 vs FCL Braves - 1
Top Hitter - Cristian Jauregui: 1-3, R, RBI, 3B
Top Pitcher - Irwin Ramirez: 3 IP, H, BB, 3 K
DSL Pirates Black - 5 vs DSL Blue Jays Red
Top Hitter - Edgar Walker: 2-4, 3 SB
Top Pitcher - Randol Martinez: 2 IP, 3 H, ER, 4 K
DSL Pirates Gold - 5 vs DSL Cle Goryl - 2
Top Hitter - Andres Villafane: 2-3, R, BB, SB
Top Pitcher - Adrian Aray: 5 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Since we’re getting into DSL guys a little, good time to mention the Pirates’ top 2025 bonus guy, the younger DLS (Johan). He’s not quite 17 and he has a .780 OPS. In 18 games, just 5 Ks, plus 11 BBs and 10-12 SB.
Raymond Mola and Bralyn Brazoban assigned to the FCL today.
Complex team a little light on players due to injuries/promotions.
Saw Mola play in a couple of games while he was in the DSL. Hit ball hard. Intrigued to see more