Pirates Prospect Watch: Jones Dominates Iowa Cubs, Strikes Out Ten

The Pittsburgh Pirates and their affiliates had early games Sunday afternoon. 

The one prospect that stood out on Sunday was Jared Jones and his performance against the Iowa Cubs for Triple-A Indianapolis. 

Jones registered 20 swings and misses, 19 of which came from his four-seam/slider combo (11 four-seam, eight slider). The Cubs put eight balls in play against Jones, and an average exit velocity of 81.8 mph was registered. 

Jones may have led the day, but let’s look at the other Pirates prospects down on the farm.

Indianapolis (59-65)

C Grant Koch

• Game stats: 3-4 and two RBIs
• Season stats: .68/.327/.415, four homers, one triple, seven doubles, and 19 RBIs (142 at-bats, or 44 games)

RHP Jared Jones

• Game stats: 6.0 IP, two hits, one earned run, four walks, and ten strikeouts
• Season stats: 4-7, 4.08 ERA, 103.2 IP, 44 walks, and 125 strikeouts in 22 games (21 starts)

The Iowa Cubs were living in a Jared Jones’ world Sunday afternoon.

Jones mowed Cubs hitters down. During his six innings, Jones induced 20 swings and misses while topping out at 98.7 mph on his four-seam.

Koch had the only runs batted in for the Indians as they beat the Cubs 2-1.

Altoona (56-61)

RHP Michell Miliano

• Game stats: 2.1 IP, no hits, no runs, three walks, and no strikeouts
• Season stats: 1-2, 3.95 ERA, 54.2 IP, 36 walks, and 63 strikeouts in 35 games (no starts)

SS Tsung-Che Cheng

• Game stats: 1-3, a double, and a walk
• Season stats: .294/.368/.478, 11 homers, ten triples, 21 doubles, 24 stolen bases, and 49 RBIs (402 at-bats, or 108 games between High-A and Double-A)

Saturday’s walk-off hangover lingered for the Curve as they fell to the Rubber Ducks 9-2.

Starting pitcher Nick Dombkowski lasted just 2.2 innings pitched while giving up five runs on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts.

Cheng was the only Curve member to hit an extra-base hit, but no player had more than one hit on the afternoon.

Greensboro (63-54)

CF Luke Brown

• Game stats: 3-4, one homer, one run scored, and three RBIs
• Season stats: .255/.357/.427, five homers, one triple, ten doubles, 11 stolen bases, and 22 RBIs (157 at-bats, or 53 games)

RHP Jack Carey

• Game stats: 2.0 IP, one hit, no runs, no walks, and four strikeouts
• Season stats: 2-1, 4.03 ERA, 44.2 IP, 19 walks, and 48 strikeouts in 34 games (two starts)

The Grasshoppers had a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning against Rome, but Cy Nielson allowed two runs to score off of him, and Greensboro took a 6-5 loss.

Brown registered three out of the five total hits for the Grasshoppers Sunday afternoon.

Bradenton (67-52)

C Omar Alfonso

• Game stats: 2-5 with two RBIs
• Season stats: .254/.406/.377, four homers, five doubles, and 34 RBIs (138 at-bats, or 50 games between the FCL and Low-A)

CF Lonnie White Jr.

• Game stats: 1-5, one run scored, and one RBI
• Season stats: .275/.410/.460, seven homers, two triple, 12 doubles, and 37 RBIs (189 at-bats, or 51 games between the FCL and Low-A)

The Marauders dropped game six by a score of 6-5 against Jupiter. Bradenton’s pitching was spotty at best, and they didn’t muster much from their offense.

Out of 13 opportunities, the Marauders went 3-13 with runners in scoring position. A .230 average in those situations isn’t going to get it done most nights.