Pirates Minor League Updates: Ashcraft Joins Top 100, Johnson’s Streak Hits 15

This is one in a weekly update on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top 10 prospects.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a new prospect on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 list as right-hander Braxton Ashcraft entered after Mets pitcher Christian Scott graduated.

In Greensboro, top position-player prospect Termarr Johnson stayed hot and extended his hitting streak to 15 games, which is tied for the longest streak in the South Atlantic League this season.

Full updates on the top 10:

1. RHP Bubba Chandler (Double-A Altoona)

• Weekly stats: 0-1, 5.40 ERA, five innings, four runs (three earned), four hits, three walks, three strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats: 5-6, 3.67 ERA, 68.2 innings, 31 runs (28 earned), 46 hits, 25 walks, 80 strikeouts, 17 appearances/14 starts

Chandler wasn’t quite as sharp as he has been of late in his first start after the break. Still, it’s been a wildly successful season for the Pirates’ top prospect.

2. INF Termarr Johnson (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: .333/.429/.667, 4 for 12, one double, one home run, two RBIs, three games
• 2024 stats: .247/.395/.405, 72 for 291, 14 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 40 RBIs, 14 steals, 82 games

Four hits including a double and a homer in three games for Johnson over the weekend. Since the start of June, the 20-year-old is third in the league in OBP (.412), sixth in batting average (.301) and seventh in OPS (.912).

3. LHP Anthony Solometo (Double-A Altoona)

• Weekly stats (FCL*): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, three innings, two hits, one walk, three strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats (AA): 0-4, 6.27 ERA, 33 innings, 23 runs, 32 hits, 21 walks, 24 strikeouts, 13 appearances/10 starts

Solometo returned from the development list and pitched for the FCL Pirates. It was his first outing since June 14.

4. RHP Braxton Ashcraft (Triple-A Indianapolis)

• Weekly stats: DID NOT PITCH — PLACED ON 7-DAY INJURED LIST ON JULY 12
• 2024 stats (AA, AAA): 3-2, 2.88 ERA, 72 innings, 25 runs (23 earned), 65 hits, 12 walks, 76 strikeouts, 15 appearances/13 starts

Ashcraft did not pitch as he’s currently on the IL with an unspecified injury.

5. RHP Thomas Harrington (Double-A Altoona)

• Weekly stats: 0-0, 1.50 ERA, six innings, one run, three hits, no walks, 10 strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats (AA) : 2-2, 2.33 ERA, 65.2 innings, 25 runs (17 earned), 55 hits, nine walks, 72 strikeouts, 10 appearances/nine starts

For the second-straight start, Harrington recorded double-digit strikeouts in another dominant outing. Harrington is first in the Eastern League in ERA (1.54) since June 11.

6. INF Mitch Jebb (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: .154/.154/.385, 2 for 13, one double, one triple, one RBI, three games
• 2024 stats: .221/.325/.329, 64 for 289, five doubles, four triples, six home runs, 31 RBIs, 24 steals, 76 games

Jebb managed a pair of hits in 13 at-bats for the Grasshoppers but both went for extra-bases. The struggles this season continue for the Pirates’ infield prospect.

7. INF Tsung-Che Cheng (Double-A Altoona)

• Weekly stats: .100/.250/.200, 1 for 10, one double, one steal, three games
• 2024 stats: .224/.324/.372, 62 for 277, 14 doubles, nine home runs, 38 RBIs, 14 steals, 81 games

It’s been a similar story for Cheng as it has been for Jebb. A lot of promise heading into the season but not much production. Cheng is 2 for his last 28.

8. INF Jack Brannigan (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: .182/.250/.182, 2 for 11, one RBI, one steal, three games
• 2024 stats: .223/.340/.445, 59 for 265, 12 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 46 RBIs, 12 steals, 71 games

Brannigan didn’t produce much over the weekend but has been playing well in recent weeks.

9. RHP Mike Burrows (Low-A Bradenton*)

• Weekly stats: 0-0, 13.50 ERA, 2,2 innings, six runs (four earned), two walks, three strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats (FCL, A-): 0-2, 8.56 ERA, 13.2 innings, 14 runs (13 earned), 17 hits, nine walks, 14 strikeouts, six appearances/six starts.

As he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Burrows pitched in the FCL on Thursday. It did not go well.

10. OF Lonnie White Jr. (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: .000/.200/.000, 0 for 4, one steal, two games
• 2024 stats: .186/.292/.402, 38 for 204, seven doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 31 RBIs, nine steals, 55 games

White returned from the 7-day injured list and appeared in a pair of games at Greensboro.