Pirates Prospect Watch: Henry Davis Continues to Mash

It was a bit of a surprising move when it was announced that Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Henry Davis would begin the season with Double-A Altoona.

Whether it was because they wanted Davis to get more time in Double-A or because they didn’t want he and Endy Rodriguez to split catching duties in Triple-A, Davis has proved Double-A competition hasn’t been much of a competition.

Davis has been red-hot at the plate for the Curve this season and that continued with two more extra-base hits on Saturday.

Along with Davis, here are the Pirates’ prospects who had big games down on the farm.

Indianapolis (14-7)

1B Ryan Vilade

• Game stats: 3 for 5, one home run, three RBIs, three runs
• Season stats: .288/.368/.409, two doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs, 17 games

RHP Osvaldo Bido

• Game stats: 5.0 innings, two hits, one earned run, two walks, six strikeouts
• Season stats: 2-2, 4.44 ERA, 12er/24.1ip, 18 hits, 11 walks, 31 strikeouts, six appearances/five starts

Vilade’s big game at the plate and Bido’s strong start led Indianapolis to their fourth-straight win as they took down the Toledo Mudhens 9-1.

Pirates prospects Canaan Smith-Njigba and Aaron Shackelford each had multi-hit performances for the Indians.

Altoona (13-11)

C Henry Davis

• Game stats: 2 for 5, two doubles, two runs
• Season stats:. .292/.446/.611, three doubles, one triple, six home runs, 15 RBIs, five steals, 20 games

3B Domingo Leyba

• Game stats: 2 for 4, three RBIs, one walk
• Season stats: .325/.402/.442, three doubles, two home runs, 17 RBIs, one steal, 21 games

Altoona scored twice in the top of the ninth inning to break a 2-all tie and they held on to defeat the Richmond Flying Squirrels 4-2. Leyba had the go-ahead RBI and Davis scored a pair to help the Curve get the win.

Pirates’ prospect Tyler Samaniego recorded his first save of the year while Tahnaj Thomas improved to 2-0 after a scoreless eighth.

Greensboro (15-11)

RF Tres Gonzalez

• Game stats: 1 for 3, one walk
• Season stats: .333/.412/.533, one home run, three RBIs, two steals four games

RHP Will Kobos

• Game stats: 1.0 inning, no runs, no hits, no walks, one strikeout
• Season stats: 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0er/13.0ip, four hits, four walks, 13 strikeouts

Kobos and Gonzalez have been rolling this season for Greensboro, and they were about the only two bright spots for Greensboro on Saturday. The Grasshoppers were shutout 8-0 by the Winston-Salem Dash.

The only other Pirates’ prospects with hits were Hudson Head, Will Matthiessen and Sammy Siani.

Bradenton (16-10)

J.P. Massey

• Game stats: 5.0 innings, one hit, no runs, four walks, seven strikeouts
• Season stats: 1-2, 4.42 ERA, 9er/18.1ip, 15 hits, 11 walks, 26 strikeouts

1B Alexander Mojica

• Game stats: 1 for 2, one double, one walk, one hit by pitch, one steal
• Season stats: .279/.443/.443, four doubles, two home runs, 10 RBIs, one steal, 19 games

Mojica’s double saved the Marauders from being no-hit as they were shutout 1-0 by the Tampa Tarpons. Massey worked around some walks, but was virtually untouchable on the mound.

Pirates prospect Ryan Harbin worked 1.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.