Pirates Minor League Report: Barco Shines in Double-A Debut

Pirates’ affiliates lost every game they played for the second day in a row, though it wasn’t for lack of trying as No. 12 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) Hunter Barco shoved in his Double-A debut.

Triple-A Indianapolis fell 3-2 to the Omaha Storm Chasers via walkoff. Starting pitcher Luis Cessa went five scoreless innings against his former team and Ji-hwan Bae made it on base five times, but Ben Heller came unraveled in the bottom of the ninth and allowed the decisive rally.

Barco struck out five batters in three innings as the Curve kept the training wheels on. They ended up falling 3-2 to the Somerset Patriots, though, as Bubba Chandler struggled with command and allowed three runs in a piggyback appearance.

The Greensboro Grasshoppers succumbed 5-2 in ten innings, another walk off loss. Termarr Johnson homered in the ninth inning to keep them alive, but the Grasshoppers couldn’t find the go-ahead run.

Bradenton spotted the Tampa Tarpons a big lead early: while they rallied for five runs in the eighth inning, it wasn’t enough to avert a 9-6 loss.

Here are some of Sunday’s top performances amongst Pirates’ prospects ahead of an off day on Monday.

Triple-A Indianapolis (40-52)

RHP Luis Cessa

• Game: 5 IP, 0 ER, 2 K’s.
• Season: 59.2 IP, 4.22 ERA, 41 K’s in 17 appearances (15 starts) between Indianapolis and Triple-A Omaha (Royals).

2B Ji-hwan Bae

• Game: 3-for-3 with a homer and 2 walks.
• Season: .366/.446/.520 with 8 doubles, 2 triples and 5 homers in 47 games between Bradenton and Indianapolis.

Double-A Altoona (39-51)

LHP Hunter Barco

• Game: 3 IP, 0 ER, 5 K’s.
• Season: 65 IP, 3.18 ERA, 82 K’s in 17 appearances (15 starts) between Altoona and Greensboro.

LF Yoyner Fajardo

• Game: 1-for-2 with a double and 2 walks.
• Season: .278/.352/.370 with 8 doubles and 4 homers in 65 games between Altoona and Triple-A St. Paul (Twins)..

High-A Greensboro (55-34)

DH Termarr Johnson

• Game: 1-for-4 with a homer.
• Season: .247/.395/.405 with 14 doubles, a triple and 10 homers in 82 games.

CF P.J. Hilson

• Game: 1-for-4 with a homer.
• Season: .227/.303/.432 with 7 doubles, a triple and 12 homers in 67 games between Bradenton and Greensboro.

Single-A Bradenton (38-52)

SS Keiner Delgado

• Game: 2-for-4 with a homer.
• Season: .233/.302/.404 with 7 doubles, 2 triples and 9 homers in 58 games between rookie ball and Bradenton.

3B Wesley Zapata

• Game: 1-for-4 with a double.
• Season: .174/.264/.239 with 5 doubles and a triple in 40 games between rookie ball and Bradenton.