Pirates Minor League Report: Cheng, White Hit Homers

Pirates’ affiliates won two games on Wednesday, highlighted by homers from highly-ranked prospects like Tsung-Che Cheng and Lonnie White Jr.

Triple-A Indianapolis defeated the Nashville Sounds 4-3 in ten innings, with Billy Cook and Edward Olivares each notching doubles.

Altoona lost 13-8 to the Portland Sea Dogs, with a grand slam from 23-year-old infield prospect Tsung-Che Cheng not enough to overcome a rough start from left-hander Po-Yu Chen… and a meltdown from the bullpen.

The Greensboro Grasshoppers got on base just three times in a 4-1 loss to the Rome Emperors. 2021 compensatory pick Lonnie White Jr. accounted for the lone run with a solo homer, while Alessandro Ercolani struck out seven in four innings of relief.

Bradenton won 4-1 on the strength of their pitching and an Axiel Plaz home run.

Triple-A Indianapolis (50-56)

DH Billy Cook

• Game: 1-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice fly.
• Season: .284/.377/.491 with 21 doubles, 4 triples and 13 homers in 89 games between the Orioles’ and Pirates’ organizations.

RF Edward Olivares

• Game: 1-for-3 with a double.
• Season: .250/.317/.339 with 2 doubles and a homer in 15 games.

Double-A Altoona (44-60)

SS Tsung-Che Cheng

• Game: 2-for-4 with a homer and a walk.
• Season: ..234/.337/.374 with 15 doubles and 10 homers in 94 games.

RHP Po-Yu Chen

• Game: 4 IP, 5 ER, 5 K’s.
• Season: 113.1 IP, 3.9 ERA, 82 K’s in 21 appearances (19 starts).

High-A Greensboro (60-43)

LF Lonnie White Jr. 

• Game: 1-for-3 with a homer.
• Season: .175/.279/.382 with 8 doubles, 2 triples and 13 homers in 66 games.

RHP Alessandro Ercolani

• Game: 4 IP, 1 ER, 7 K’s.
• Season: 61.1 IP, 3.67 ERA, 75 K’s in 19 appearances (9 starts).

Single-A Bradenton (43-61)

C Axiel Plaz

• Game: 1-for-4 with a homer.
• Season: .204/.309/.469 with 7 doubles and 15 homers in 65 games between rookie ball and Bradenton.

LF Esmerlyn Valdez

• Game: 2-for-4 with a double and 2 steals.
• Season: .234/.344/.476 with 16 doubles, a triple and 17 homers in 84 games.