Pirates Prospect Watch: Could Shackelford Get a Chance in Majors?

Every year, there are multiple Pittsburgh Pirates’ prospects who fly under-the-radar. Sometimes, they’re knocking 0n the doorstep.

So far this season, one of those examples is Aaron Shackelford, who continued his solid season on Friday night with a big game for Triple-A Indianapolis.

The versatile infielder might not be one of the main guys discussed as a reinforcement, but he could be the guy the Pirates opt for as opposed to rushing a top prospect.

In addition to Shackelford, here are the Pirates’ prospects worth noting.

Indianapolis (23-25)

LHP Cam Alldred

• Game stats: 4.0 innings, two hits, one run, one walk, six strikeouts
• Season stats: 2-0, 4.18 ERA, 11er/23.2ip, 22 hits, 10 walks, 29 strikeouts, 11 appearances/three starts

1B Aaron Shackelford

• Game stats; 1 for 3, one home run, three RBIs, one run, one walk
• Season stats: .270/.410/.530, seven doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 18 RBIs, four steals, 37 games

Alldred’s brilliance and Shackelford’s second-straight game with a homer led Indianapolis to a 7-3 win over the Columbus Clippers.

Pirates’ prospect Canaan Smith-Nijiba connected on his fifth homer with Indianapolis.

Altoona (21-20)

CF Matt Fraizer

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one home run, one double, three RBIs, two runs
• Season stats: .258/.321/.391, eight doubles, three home runs, nine RBIs, four steals, 36 games

DH Matt Gorski

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one RBI
• Season stats: .240/.295/.392, four doubles, five home runs, 19 RBIs, seven steals, 33 games

Fraizer had a big night at the plate and Gorski had a good game too but Altoona fell 9-6 to the Hartford Yard Goats.

Cam Junker dominated in 2.2 innings of scoreless relief and Pirates prospect Andres Alvarez had two more hits.

Greensboro (23-20)

DH Abrahan Gutierrez

• Game stats: 3 for 4, two doubles, one RBI
• Season stats: .242/.347/.355, four doubles, one home run, seven RBIs, 16 games

INF Maikol Escotto

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one double, one run
• Season stats: .233/.270/.331, five doubles, three home runs, 15 RBIs, three steals, 36 games

The duo led Greensboro to a 4-3 extra-innings win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods. It was Guttierez’s first game back off the IL.

Pirates prospect Mike Jarvis sent the home crowd home happy with a sac fly in the 10th.

Bradenton (23-20)

2B Termarr Johnson

• Game stats (two games): 3 for 6, two runs
• Season stats: .273/.411/.351, three doubles, one home run, 10 RBIs, one steal, 24 games

RHP J.P. Massey

• Game stats: 5.0 innings, seven hits, one run, one walk, four strikeouts
• Season stats: 2-2, 2.62 ERA, 10er/34.1ip, 29 hits, 15 walks, 44 strikeouts, eight appearances/six starts

Johnson and Massey each played well despite Bradenton dropping both games of a doubleheader to the Jupiter Hammerheads. B0th Pirates’ prospects are ones to watch.