Pirates Prospect Watch: Endy Rodriguez Homers For Indianapolis

It hasn’t been the season that Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Endy Rodriguez had hoped for so far this season, but the 23-year-old had a big game on Sunday.

Rodriguez slugged his fifth home run of the season for the Indians as part of a two-hit performance while also scoring three runs.

Though Rodriguez has struggled at the plate this season, if he is able to heat up, he could be the latest top prospect to be promoted by the Pirates.

In addition to Rodriguez, here are the other Pirates’ prospects who stood out as another week of minor league ball is in the books.

Indianapolis (33-41)

DH Endy Rodriguez

• Game stats: 2 for 5, one home run, one RBI, three runs
• Season stats: .248/.332/.389, 11 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 31 RBIs, four steals, 56 games

RHP Jared Jones

• Game stats: 5.0 innings, seven hits, three runs, two walks, four strikeouts
• Season stats: 0-1, 5.06 ERA, 6er/10.2ip, 10 hits, four walks, nine strikeouts, two appearances/two starts

Rodriguez connected on his fifth home run of the season and Jones pitched pretty well in his second start with Indianapolis, but the Indians fell 7-6 to the Columbus Clippers.

Pirates prospect Vinny Capra was on base twice and drove in a run.

Altoona (34-34)

1B Mason Martin

• Game stats: 1 for 4, one home run, two RBIs, one run, one walk
• Season stats: .193/.356/.427, seven doubles, 11 home runs, 34 RBIs, five steals, 51 games

LF Matt Gorski

• Game stats: 2 for 4, two RBIs, one run
• Season stats: .258/.308/.436, nine doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 36 RBIs, 16 steals, 59 games

Martin and Gorski led Altoona to eight unanswered runs in their 8-4 come-from-behind win over the Bowie Baysox.

Pirates prospect Matt Fraizer doubled home a pair in the win.

Greensboro (37-30)
RF Sammy Siani

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one home run, two RBIs, one run
• Season stats: .226/.335/.387, sic doubles, seven home runs, 27 RBIs, 12 steals, 51 games

LF Mike Jarvis

• Game stats: 2 for 5, one home run, one RBI, two runs, one steal
• Season stats: .256/.342/.534, nine doubles, five triples, 10 home runs, 41 RBIs, 46 games

A pair of Pirates’ prospects in the outfield for Greensboro went deep, but the Grasshoppers were defeated 11-6 by the Winston-Salem Dash.

Thomas Harrington allowed only one run in four innings and recorded five strikeouts. Tres Gonzalez went 2 for 3 with a run scored, two walks and a stolen base.

Bradenton (38-30)

RHP Derek Diamond

• Game stats: 6.0 innings, five hits, one run, one walk, seven strikeouts
• Season stats: 5-3, 4.37 ERA, 27er/55.2ip, 63 hits, 11 walks, 49 strikeouts, 12 appearances/nine starts

C Omar Alfonzo

• Game stats: 2 for 3, one home run, one RBI, two runs, one walk
• Season stats: .233/.324/.400, two doubles, one home run, five RBIs, one steal, 12 games

Diamond was brilliant in the start and Alfonzo’s ninth-inning home run gave Bradenton a 6-5 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

Pirates prospect Nick Cimillo was 2 for 4 with a double and a pair of RBIs.