Pirates Minor League Report: Deadline Acquisitions Come Up Big

Chalk Sunday up as a feather in the cap of Pirates’ general manager Ben Cherington.

Nick Yorke and Billy Cook, who Cherington picked up at the trade deadline this year, helped power a five run comeback for Triple-A Indianapolis. They both homered (along with Edward Olivares and Dylan Shockley) as the Indians roared all the way back for a 10-9 win.

The Altoona Curve managed just three base hits, all singles, but still hung a 5-2 win on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, benefitting from seven drawn walks in doing so.

Greensboro lost 3-2 to the Rome Emperors, although Lonnie White Jr. made his way on base three times and 2022 left-handed prep pick Michael Kennedy turned in five innings of one run ball in his first start since promotion to High-A.

Bradenton got demolished 18-4 by Tampa, but 2024 fifth round pick Will Taylor homered and added two singles in his best game as a pro to date.

Here’s a look at the top performances amongst Pirates prospects to round out the week.

Triple-A Indianapolis (65-64)

INF Nick Yorke

• Game: 3-for-5 with a homer.
• Season: .297/.374/.439 with 28 doubles and 11 homers in 112 games between the Red Sox and Pirates organizations.

RF Billy Cook

• Game: 1-for-2 with a homer and 3 walks.
• Season: .276/.371/.470 with 24 doubles, 4 triples and 15 homers in 110 games between the Orioles and Pirates organizations.

Double-A Altoona (55-71)

INF Kervin Pichardo

• Game: 1-for-3 with a single and a walk.
• Season: .255/.309/.385 with 13 doubles, 2 triples and 11 homers in 108 games.

High-A Greensboro (70-54)

RF Lonnie White Jr.

• Day: 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
• Season: .163/.275/.343 with 9 doubles, 2 triples and 14 homers in 84 games.

RHP Michael Kennedy

• Game: 5 IP, 1 ER, 5 K’s.
• Season: 78 IP, 3.92 ERA, 85 K’s in 17 appearances (16 starts) between Bradenton and Greensboro.

Single-A Bradenton (52-74)

CF Will Taylor

• Game: 3-for-5 with a homer.
• Season: .174/.328/.348 with 2 doubles and 2 homers in 13 games.