Pirates Minor League Report: Top Lefty Anthony Solometo Struggles

Pirates’ top-ranked left-handed pitcher Anthony Solometo suffered another setback on Friday night, getting knocked around by the Hartford Yard Goats for six hits and a walk in one completed inning.

The 21-year-old fired a 1-2-3 first inning before running into trouble to start the second, throwing 23 of 39 pitches for strikes and allowing plenty of contact. Altoona went on to lose 6-1.

Triple-A Indianapolis lagged behind the Toledo Mud Hens 13-1 after eight innings on Friday. They then put up eight runs in the final frame in a last ditch attempt at a comeback, with Billy Cook’s three-run homer serving as an exclamation point in a rally that still fell short. Malcom Nuñez added two doubles in the 13-9 decision.

2022 third round pick Jack Brannigan picked up three extra base hits in his second start since missing more than a month due to a shoulder injury, helping Greensboro to a 4-3 win.

Bradenton leapt out to a 6-2 lead through part of four innings before their game was suspended because of rain. That didn’t stop Esmerlyn Valdez and Jhonny Severino from each hitting their third homer in the past two games. Valdez’s homer, his 22nd of the year, tied a Marauders’ single-season record with parts of three games left on their schedule.

Triple-A Indianapolis (67-66)

DH Billy Cook

• Game: 2-for-4 with a homer and a walk.
• Season: .274/.375/.467 with 24 doubles, 4 triples and 16 homers in 114 games between the Pirates and Orioles organizations.

1B Malcom Nuñez

• Game: 2-for-5 with 2 doubles.
• Season: .260/.319/.388 with 21 doubles and 11 homers in 116 games.

Double-A Altoona (56-74)

LHP Anthony Solometo

• Game: 1 IP, 6 ER.
• Season: 65.1 IP, 5.85 ERA, 49 K’s in 22 appearances (19 starts) throughout the Pirates organization.

2B Termarr Johnson

• Game: 2-for-4 with a double.
• Season: .229/.362/.374 with 18 doubles, a triple and 14 homers in 120 games between Greensboro and Altoona.

High-A Greensboro (73-55)

3B Jack Brannigan

• Day: 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and a homer.
• Season: .235/.343/.483 with 15 doubles, a triple and 18 homers in 76 games.

Single-A Bradenton (53-75)

3B Jhonny Severino

• Game: 1-for-2 with a homer.
• Season: .273/.344/.529 with 18 doubles, 6 triples and 16 homers in parts of 82 games between rookie ball and Bradenton.

1B Esmerlyn Valdez

• Game: 1-for-1 with a homer and a sacrifice fly.
• Season: .222/.343/.455 with 17 doubles, a triple and 22 homers in parts of 105 games.