Pirates Prospect Watch: Sullivan, Chen Deliver Strong Starts

A couple of under-the-radar Pittsburgh Pirates prospects delivered strong starts on the mound in Thursday’s minor league action.

Right-hander Sean Sullivan (Altoona) and fellow righty Po-Yu Chen (Greensboro) each had big games on the mound.

In addition to those two, here are some of the prospects who stood out.

Indianapolis (16-19)

C Grant Koch

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one home run, one RBI, two runs
• Season stats: .282/.341/.487, two doubles, two home runs, six RBIs, 14 games

CF Chavez Young

• Game stats: 1 for 3, one home run, two RBIs, one run, one walk
• Season stats: .193/.311/.364, five doubles, two triples, two home runs, 13 RBIs, nine steals, 29 games

Young and Koch each homered but Indianapolis fell 8-7 to the St. Paul Saints on Thursday.

Pirates prospect Cam Alldred struck out five in three innings while allowing just one run.

Altoona (13-15)

RHP Sean Sullivan

• Game stats: 6.0 innings, seven hits, two runs, no walks, three strikeouts
• Season stats: 0-0, 2.08 ERA, 5er/21.2ip, 19 hits, eight walks, 18 strikeouts, five appearances/five starts

2B Liover Peguero

• Game stats: 1 for 4, one home run, one RBI, one run, one walk
• Season stats: .222/.319/.333, five doubles, two home runs, 10 RBIs, nine steals, 25 games

Despite another strong start from Sullivan, Altoona was defeated 4-2 by the Akron RubberDucks. Peguero hit his second homer of the season in the loss.

Pirates prospect Connor Scott had two hits in the game and drove in a run.

Greensboro (19-11)

RHP Po-Yu Chen

• Game stats: 6.0 innings, five hits, two runs, no walks, five strikeouts
• Season stats: 0-3, 6.75 ERA, 19er/25.1ip, 29 hits, eight walks, 22 strikeouts, six appearances/six starts

SS Maikol Escotto

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one double, one RBI, one run
• Season stats: .225/.283/.348, two doubles, three home runs, 13 RBIs, three steals, 26 games

Chen’s performance led Greensboro to a 4-3 win over the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. Escotto had a pair of hits including a double in the win.

Pirates prospect Dante Mendoza earned his second win of the season after two innings of scoreless relief. He struck out four.

Bradenton (18-12)

DH Alexander Mojica

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one double, one RBI, two runs
• Season stats: .260/.412/.403, five doubles, two home runs, 12 RBIs, one steal, 23 games

LF Deivis Nadal

• Game stats: 1 for 4, one home run, two RBIs, one run
• Season stats: .185/.316/.415, four doubles, one triple, three home runs, 11 RBIs, seven steals, 22 games

Mojica and Nadal’s efforts at the plate helped Bradenton defeat the Lakeland Flying Tigers 6-4.

Pirates prospect Termarr Johnson was on base twice as he continues to get more comfortable at the plate coming off his hamstring injury.