Pirates Prospect Watch: Burrows Hurt, Gonzales Homers, Escotto Steals Home

Down on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm, the Indianapolis Indians extended their winning streak to four games, but the victory came with a cost.

Pirates’ prospect Mike Burrows exited his start after just 1.2 innings and 28 pitches with an injury. It was Burrows’ second appearance of the season. The right-hander is ranked as the Pirates’ ninth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline. 

In better news, it was another full slate as Double-A Altoona, High-A Greensboro and Low-A Bradenton were all in action.

In Greensboro, infield prospect Maikol Escotto had an impressive straight-steal of home. He slid in safely before a throw was even made.

Here are some of the other highlights.

Indianapolis (4-4)

SS Nick Gonzales

• Game stats: 1 for 4, one home run, one RBI, one walk
• Season stats: .222/.382/.481, one double, two home runs, two RBIs, eight games

1B Endy Rodriguez

• Game stats: 1 for 4, one RBI, one run, one walk
• Season stats: .217/.321/.348, one home run, five RBIs, six games

Gonzales belted his second homer of the season for Indianapolis in their 5-4 win over the Louisville Bats. Rodriguez was on base twice and drove in his fifth run of the season.

Pirates’ prospect Chavez Young again showed off his speed by swiping a pair of bases.

Altoona (0-3)

DH Henry Davis

• Game stats: 1 for 3, one triple, two RBIs, one walk
• Season stats: .200/.429/.400, one triple, two RBIs, three games

RHP Jared Jones

• Game stats: 4.2 innings, one hit, two earned runs, two walks, six strikeouts
• Season stats: 0-1, 3.86 ERA, 2er/4.2ip, one hit, two walks, six strikeouts, one appearance/one start

Even though Jones took the loss, he pitched a good game for the Curve in his 2023 season debut. Davis drove in his first two runs of the year with a triple and reached base safely twice.

Pirates’ prospect Tahnaj Thomas pitched a scoreless inning of relief in his first appearance of the year. He walked a batter and struck out one.

Greensboro (1-1)

C Abrahan Gutierrez

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one home run, two RBIs, one run
• Season stats: .250/.333/.625, one home run, two RBIs, two games

2B Maikol Escotto

• Game stats: 2 for 4, two RBIs, one run, two steals
• Season stats: .429/.500/.429, two RBIs, two steals, two games

In addition to his steal of home plate, Escotto collected a second steal, a pair of hits and a two RBIs in the Grasshoppers 5-4 win over the Hudson Valley Renegades. Gutierrez launched his first homer of the season as part of a two-hit night.

Shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng was on base twice, stole a base and scored a pair of runs. Pirates prospect Eddy Yean was credited with the win after two scoreless innings of relief.

Bradenton (1-1)

RHP Derek Diamond

• Game stats: four innings, three hits, one earned run, four strikeouts
• Season stats: 0-1, 2.25 ERA, 1er/4.0ip, three hits, four strikeouts, one appearance/one start

C Wyatt Hendrie

• Game stats: 0 for 1 with two walks
• Season stats: .000/.286/.000

Why highlight a player who didn’t get a hit? Well, because the Maruaders were no-hit in their 3-0 loss to the Clearwater Threshers. Hendrie was the only player to reach base twice.

At least Bradenton received a positive contribution on the mound from Diamond, who looked sharp in his first start in Low-A.