Pirates Prospect Watch: Despite Scoring 15, Anthony Solometo Steals the Show

1. High-A Greensboro exploded for 15 runs, so the story should be about the Pittsburgh Pirates’ prospects at the plate, right? Wrong.

Sure, a handful of prospects had big games at the plate. Among them was Eli Wilson, who slugged a grand slam.

However, it was the Grasshoppers’ starter who really stole the show. Left-hander Anthony Solometo dazzled across six innings and was rewarded with his first win of the 2023 season.

The 20-year-old was drafted in the second round by the Pirates in the 2021 MLB Draft and has looked good in his first 22 professional appearances.

Low-A Bradenton was rained out, but here are the other Pirates’ prospects who stood out on Wednesday as all three affiliates in action scored double-digit runs.

Indianapolis (22-24)

INF Jared Triolo

• Game stats: 2 for 3, two RBIs, two runs, three walks
• Season stats: .231/.375/.308, three doubles, six RBIs, 11 games

OF Ryan Vilade

• Game stats: 3 for 4, one double, one RBI, two runs, one walk
• Season stats: .266/.372/.394, five doubles, three home runs, 12 RBIs, two steals, 30 games

Triolo and Vilade helped in pacing the Indianapolis to a dozen runs as they defeated the Columbus Clipperws 12-9.

Pirates prospects Nick Gonzales and Canaan Smith-Njigba each homered. Carmen Mlodzinski was awarded his first win of the season after striking out four in 1.2 innings of relief. Cody Bolton earned the save after throwing two scoreless innings to end the game.

Altoona (20-19)

SS Liover Peguero

• Game stats: 2 for 5, two RBIs, two runs, one steal
• Season stats: .270/.343/.432, 12 doubles, four home runs, 21 RBIs, 13 steals, 36 games

1B Mason Martin

• Game stats: 2 for 4, four RBIs, one sac fly
• Season stats: .202/.414/.512, five doubles, seven home runs, 19 RBIs, four steals, 27 games

Thanks to Peguero and Martin, the Curve won a 13-9 shootout over the Hartford Yard Goats.

Like Martin, Pirates prospect Henry Davis drove in four runs. Outfielder Matt Fraizer had two hits, two steals and scored three runs. Matt Gorski, Andres Alvarez and Dylan Shockley all also had two-hit games.

Greensboro (22-19)

LHP Anthony Solometo

• Game stats: 6.0 innings, three hits, no runs, one walk, six strikeouts
• Season stats: 1-3, 3.16 ERA, 15er/42.2ip, 29 hits, 22 walks, 52 strikeouts, nine appearances/nine starts

C Eli Wilson

• Game stats: 3 for 5, one home run, one double, five RBIs, two runs, one walk
• Season stats: .229/.383/.375, one doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs, one steal, 17 games

The battery of Solometo and Wilson led Greensboro to a dominating 15-1 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

In addition to Wilson, Pirates prospects Mike Jarvis and Hudson Head went deep. Will Matthiessen had three hits, drove in two and scored twice.

Bradenton (22-18)

POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN – MAKEUP GAME SCHEDULED FOR 5/25