Pirates Minor League Report: Khristian Curtis Mows Through Blue Jays

Pirates’ affiliates picked up three wins on Saturday, aided by homers from several top prospects and six innings of three-hit ball from 2023 12th round pick Khristian Curtis.

Triple-A Indianapolis defeated the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 6-2. Andrés Alvarez reached base five times, Matt Gorski and Joshua Palacios both homered and doubled, and Isaac Mattison turned in four scoreless innings in relief.

The Altoona Curve walked off the Erie Sea Wolves 11-8 on a three-run homer from Brenden Dixon. Bubba Chandler flashed his stuff with seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings, but also got tagged for five runs.

The Greensboro Grasshoppers fell 6-3 to the Winston-Salem Dash, managing just one extra base hit.

Single-A Bradenton picked up a 4-1 win against the Dunedin Blue Jays, powered by homers from Omar Alfonzo and Esmerlyn Valdez as well as Christian’s lights-out performance.

Here’s a look at the top performances in the Pirates’ farm system on Saturday.

Triple-A Indianapolis (29-37)

CF Matt Gorski

• Game: 2-for-5 with a double and a homer.
• Season: .262/.308/.585 with 10 doubles, 5 triples and 13 homers in 53 games.

LF Joshua Palacios

• Game: 2-for-5 with a double and a homer.
• Season: .250/.316/.444 with 5 doubles and 3 homers in 21 rehab assignment games.

Double-A Altoona (23-39)

C Carter Bins

• Game: 2-for-4 with a double and a walk.
• Season: .236/.368/.436 with 10 doubles and 4 homers in 37 games between Altoona and Indianapolis.

3B Brenden Dixon

• Game: 2-for-4 with a homer.
• Season: .211/.304/.378 with 3 doubles and 4 homers in 31 games between Altoona and Indianapolis.

High-A Greensboro (35-26)

1B Nick Cimillo

• Game: 1-for-3 with a walk.
• Season: .318/.411/.618 with 3 doubles and 10 homers in 31 games.

SS Mitch Jebb

• Game: 1-for-4 with a triple.
• Season: .202/.262/.300 with 4 doubles, 2 triples and 4 homers in 51 games.

Single-A Bradenton (27-35)

RHP Khristian Curtis

• Game: 6 IP, 0 ER, 9 K’s.
• Season: 49.1 IP, 4.01 ERA, 53 K’s in 11 appearances (10 starts).

C Omar Alfonzo

• Game: 2-for-4 with a homer and a walk.
• Season: .254/.381/.390 with 12 doubles and 4 homers in 52 games.