Spring Takeaways: Pirates play two on Sunday! Esmerlyn Valdez impresses, Griffin starts at shortstop

Some thoughts from Sunday's split-squad games

Photo Credit: Callie Cline/Greensboro Grasshoppers

The Pittsburgh Pirates played a split-squad doubleheader on Sunday, facing the Tampa Bay Rays at LECOM Park while heading to Clearwater to take on the Philadelphia Phillies.

An Esmerlyn Valdez grand slam represented all of the runs for the Pirates in Clearwater, which was all that they needed, winning 4-3. Nick Cimillo tied the game at LECOM up late with a solo home run, and then Shawn Ross gave them the lead later in the same inning, as the Pirates ended up with a win against the Rays.

Here are my takeaways from the action:

Valdez is looking like a pro in pro camp

It’s been two games, and obviously, the home run makes it easy to say it, but man, Esmerlyn Valdez put together three really solid, professional plate appearances in Clearwater.

He took a couple of close pitches in his first plate appearances, drawing a walk, and then singled in the fifth on a 2-0 fastball.

Then timed up a 93.6 mph fastball on the outer half and sent it 106.7 mph off the bat the other way for a grand slam, representing all of the scoring that they would do in Clearwater.

We’ll never doubt the power; it’s legit, but professional-looking at-bats that he continues to put together, that’s where you want to see the progress.

Pro at-bats from minor-league hitters

Valdez wasn’t the only minor league hitter putting together some professional-looking at-bats.

Duce Gourson drew a couple of walks and picked up a base hit. His second walk, he took some very close pitches. Termarr Johnson is no stranger to quality professional at-bats. He worked a deep count and then drove a fastball to center field for a triple.

Even Tony Blanco Jr. showed some quality hitability, punching a fastball on the inner half the other way for a bloop single, which scored a pair of runners. Edward Florentino struck out in his first at-bat, then worked a count full and walked his next time up.

A lot of quality at-bats from the minor league guys getting an opportunity to play.

Konnor Griffin first start

After coming off the bench on Saturday, Konnor Griffin made his first start today against the Phillies over in Clearwater. It was a 0-3 in the box score, but there was more to the story than that.

He hit a slow roller to the third base side of the pitcher’s mound and appeared to beat out the throw, but was called out. Another look at it showed he was safe, but since it was spring training, there was no review.

After showing off his strength his first time up, he showed some of the power potential, recording batted balls of 105.6 mph and 109.1 mph, but both were outs.

The one hit at 105.6 mph had a launch angle of 31°. Had the game been played in February and in Florida, that’s a home run just about anywhere, but the wind was particularly rough in Clearwater.

Griffin also made a smooth throw to first on a grounder to get an out—a much better outing than the first time around.

Mason Montgomery’s filthy stuff

Acquired in the Mike Burrows’ deal, Mason Montgomery made his Pirate debut at LECOM. Although he didn’t make it out of his inning, he came virtually as advertised.

Montgomery struggled to find the strike zone with the slider, but the four-seam he controlled fairly well. It’s two plus-level pitches that he gets great extension on, though.

The end result wasn’t ideal, but the stuff was electric.

‘The Password’ with a pair of hits

Liked the hits that Jhostynxon Garcia picked up on the day, especially the first one against a tough righty to face, Griffin Jax. He smoked a 97 mph fastball up the middle, 101.5 mph off the bat, for a single.

Then, down 0-2, hits a fastball for an RBI single in the fifth inning that finally put the Pirates on the board.

You saw a little bit of the free swinging when he fouled off a pitch not far off the ground, but stayed alive long enough to pick up a hit.

Some rapid-fire thoughts on the two games:

• Callan Moss picked up a base hit. It was a one-bouncer that hopped over the third baseman’s glove, which they still credited him with a base hit. It was good to see him getting a major league camp at-bat and doing something with it. The exit velocity was just a tad under 100 mph.

• Poor Jack Brannigan. Finally healthy. In major league camp. Getting a start at third base. Takes a ball straight to the nose, left with blood all over the place. You have to credit him, though; he still tried to make the play on the ball despite the blood steadily flowing.

• Stuff+ models weren’t a fan of it, but thought Braxton Ashcraft looked solid in his first outing. Gave up the home run to Kyle Schwarber, but everything looked sharp.

• Bryan Reynolds 3-3 with a double. Man, wouldn’t that be huge for the Pirates if he gets back to his usual self?

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