Pirates Minor League Report: Mike Burrows Settling In

Pirates affiliates suffered an organization-wide sweep on Wednesday night with a couple of strong performances but little results to show from it.

Mike Burrows bounced back after an early exit last week, pitching four innings and striking out four batters. The 2018 prep pick, one of a couple holdovers still remaining from the Neal Huntington regime, allowed one run, a belt-high fastball he hung over the plate for a homer. Indianapolis went on to lose 5-1 to Columbus.

Altoona suffered yet another demoralizing defeat. Infield prospect Tsung-Che Cheng went 0-for-3 with a walk. It’s been an up-and-down season for the 23-year-old from Taiwan, one of the top-ranked position player prospects with the Curve. He started off the season freezing cold, picked things up in May and June but then fell into another extended slump… although he did manage a homer on Tuesday.

Greensboro managed just four hits in a 5-3 loss. Mitch Jebb accounted for two singles and P.J. Hilson doubled, while right-hander Garrett McMillan offered four scoreless innings in relief, punching out seven batters.

Bradenton lost 7-4, although 2024 ninth-round pick Duce Gourson hitting his third double in eight games. Khristian Curtis allowed three runs, two of them earned, in 4.1 innings, striking out three batters.

Here are some of the noteworthy performances throughout the system after a rough day at the office.

Triple-A Indianapolis (57-61)

RHP Mike Burrows

• Game: 4 IP, 1 ER, 4 K’s.
• Season: 31.2 IP, 5.97 ERA, 34 K’s in11 appearances (10 starts) throughout the Pirates’ organization.

CF Billy Cook

• Game: 1-for-2 with a double and 2 walks.
• Season: .289/.383/.493 with 24 doubles, 4 triples and 14 homers in 100 games between the Pirates and Orioles organizations.

Double-A Altoona (47-68)

SS Tsung-Che Cheng

• Game: 0-for-3 with a walk.
• Season: .222/.328/.360 with 16 doubles and 11 homers in 104 games.

High-A Greensboro (63-51)

RHP Garrett McMIllan

• Day: 4 IP, 0 ER, 7 K’s.
• Season: 62.1 IP, 2.31 ERA, 72 K’s in 33 appearances (3 starts) between Bradenton and Greensboro.

CF P.J. Hilson

• Game: 1-for-4 with a double.
• Season: .233/.296/.397 with 11 doubles, a triple and 12 homers in 88 games between Bradenton and Greensboro.

Single-A Bradenton (48-68)

2B Duce Gourson

• Game: 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
• Season: .192/.400/.308 with 3 doubles in 8 games.

RHP Khristian Curtis

• Game: 4.1 IP, 2 ER (1 unearned), 3 K’s.
• Season: 64.1 IP, 4.48 ERA, 69 K’s in 15 appearances (14 starts).