Pirates Prospect Watch: Indy, Bradenton Start Weekend Hot

Pirates minor league affiliates lit up the scoreboard on Friday, June 23, scoring 41 runs across the four clubs but going just 2-2 on the day. 

Infielder Tsung-Che Cheng made his Double-A debut with the Altoona Curve after being called up on Thursday, while Indianapolis exploded for 18 runs.

Here are the notable performances from Friday night.

Triple-A Indianapolis Indians (32-40)

C Endy Rodriguez 

• Game: 3-for-5 with a double, a walk and three RBI.
• Season: .248/.336/.381, 11 doubles, four home runs and 29 RBI in 54 games.

DH Miguel Andújar

• Game: 4-for-6 with a double and four RBI.
• Season: .356/.423/.607, 20 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 42 RBI in 48 games.

Indy’s 18-5 victory over the Columbus Clippers marked their highest scoring game of the season. Outfielders Ryan Vilade and Chris Owings homered, as did shortstop Alika Williams, while third baseman Jared Triolo went 4-for-5, coming a home run short of the cycle including two triples. While he’s struggled this season, Endy Rodriguez had a strong day at the office as Indianapolis’ entire lineup clicker. After starter Kyle Nicolas allowed a five-run third, Indy’s bullpen turned in six scoreless innings to prevent the game from becoming a track meet. 

Double-A Altoona Curve (33-33)

DH Jacob Gonzalez

• Game: 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
• Season: .258/.318/.394, three doubles, five home runs and 22 RBI in 36 games.

CF Matt Frazier

• Game: 2-for-4 with one walk and one RBI.
• Season: .243/.318/.367, 11 doubles, five home runs and 24 RBI in 59 games.

Altoona fell 7-6 in ten innings to the Bowie Bay Sox at home, as the bullpen surrendered a 6-1 lead in the late innings. Cheng didn’t record a hit in his Altoona debut, but did draw two walks and hit a sacrifice fly RBI. 

High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers (36-29)

SS Maikol Escotto

• Game: 4-for-4 with a home run and one RBI. 
• Season: .217/.265/.349, seven doubles, six home runs and 24 RBI in 54 games.

3B Brendan Dixon

• Game: 1-for-4 with a three-run homer.
• Season: .220/.328/.420, five doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI in 31 games between Greensboro and Indianapolis.

The Grasshoppers managed 11 hits: eight singles and three home runs. Escotto and Dixon, the eight- and nine-hole hitters, provided most of the offense and the team struggled to come up with hits with runners in scoring position. Greensboro’s bats fell silent over the final four innings as they tried to scrape across the tying run without success.

Single-A Bradenton Marauders (36-30)

3B Jack Brannigan

• Game: 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
• Season: .212/.376/.415, two doubles, three triples, six home runs and 14 RBI in 35 games.

1B Alexander Mojica

• Game: 3-for-4 with two home run, two walks and three RBI.
• Season: .233/.351/.409, 10 doubles, six home runs and 25 RBI in 47 games.

Bradenton’s bats got off to a hit start for the weekend as well, downing the Lakeland Flying Tigers 12-4. The Marauders hit .375 as a team, churning through the lineup with a steady offensive output.