Morning Rundown: Three assigned to minor league camp, Pirates lose to Phillies
Pirates assign three to minor league camp, lose their game Sunday.
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that they have assigned Abrahan Gutierrez, Ben Heller, and Michael Plassmeyer to minor league camp on Sunday.
Gutierrez played in 10 games, going 4-13 with two home runs and four RBI while also picking up a pair of walks. Signed as a minor league free agent, Plassmeyer appeared in three games, putting up 3.2 scoreless innings while striking out four.
Heller hadn’t pitched in any games at the time of getting reassigned.
Despite another three home runs by the offense, the Pirates dropped their Sunday game against the Phillies 9-7.
Oneil Cruz launched a couple of balls in the stands, both reading at 114 mph or better off the bat. He led off the game with a home run and was followed up by Bryan Reynolds with a solo shot of his own, giving the Pirates a quick 2-0 lead.
Ke’Bryan Hayes and Carter Bins also had a couple of hits on the day, with Edward Olivares hitting a double.
After a solid start to the game, the wheels fell off a bit for Quinn Priester in the fourth inning, and the former first-round pick ended up allowing five runs in 3.2 innings pitched.
Jared Jones pitched an additional 2.2 innings and allowed two unearned runs on two hits while striking out three.
The Pirates will face the Boston Red Sox on Monday, with Bailey Falter expected to make the start.
Top Exit Velocity
Oneil Cruz - 116.6 mph - Home Run
Oneil Cruz - 114.4 mph - Home Run
Ke’Bryan Hayes - 111.3 mph - Single
Ke’Bryan Hayes - 109.8 mph - Groundout
Ke’Bryan Hayes - 106.6 mph - Single
Pitch Velocity
Jared Jones - 100.3 mph
Jared Jones - 100 mph
Jared Jones - 99 mph
Jared Jones - 99 mph
Jared Jones - 98.8 mph
Most Whiffs (Whiff%)
Jared Jones - 11 (47.8%)
Quinn Priester - 10 (32.2%)
Braxton Ashcraft - 4 (30.7%)
Cy Nielson - 2 (66%)
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Just for S&G:
Jackson Holliday - 28 AB, 8 H, 2 Doub/2Trip/1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 11 K; Slash 286/310/607/917 OPS
Termarr Johnson - 17 AB, 7 H, 1 Doub/0 Trip/2HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 6 K ; Slash 412/474/824/1.298 OPS
Holliday turned 20 in Dec '23; TJ will turn 20 in Jun '24
In 2023 Holliday had 53 AB in A, 207 AB at A+, 142 AB at AA, 75 AB at AAA, Holliday had 101 Walks
In 2023 Johnson had 250 AB at A, and 99 AB at A+ - Johnson had 101 Walks, missed a month injured
Jared Jones, still only 22 until August, with 100 mph velo w/command, and a 47.8% Whiff Rate is definitely pushing the envelope with Pirate management. With our Rotation in flux and the BP currently missing Dauri Moreta and David Bednar, something has to give. Jones, Ortiz, or both?
Liked the way Quinn Priester looked for the first 3 innings and we need to remember that he is just getting ready for his age 23 season and already has 50 innings at the MLB Level. I like the way Keller and Perez have looked so far, and hoping Marco Gonzales can also help create a solid 1, 2, 3 of the Rotation. After that it is a jump ball for slots 4 and 5, but I think we have enough pitching talent to be competitive. Contreras, Priester with Ortiz helping in the BP could very well be the path.