Pirates Prospect Watch: Jack Brannigan Has Found His Power Stroke

Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jack Brannigan didn’t record his first RBI of the season until June 4, his 20th game of the season.

The RBI came on a solo homer. Since then, Brannigan can’t stop hitting home runs or driving in runs.

With a home run in Friday’s game for the Bradenton Marauders, Brannigan has homered five times and has driven in 11 runs over his last five games.

In addition to another big night from Brannigan, here are the other Pirates’ prospects who stood out.

Indianapolis (28-32)

2B Nick Gonzales

• Game stats: 2 for 5, one home run, one RBI, one run
• Season stats: .254/.355/.438, 10 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 22 RBIs, one steal, 47 games

C Endy Rodriguez

• Game stats: 1 for 4, one run
• Season stats: .253/.342/.400, seven doubles, three triples. four home runs, 19 RBIs, four steals, 42 games

Despite a homer from Gonzales and Rodriguez behind the plate, Indianapolis was defeated 6-2 by the Omaha Storm Chasers.

Altoona (29-24)

RF Matt Gorski

• Game stats: 1 for 4, one home run, two RBIs, one run
• Season stats: .260/.317/.462, eight doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 31 RBIs, nine steals, 45 games

2B Liover Peguero

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one double, one run, one walk, one steal
• Season stats: .264/.341/.418, 14 doubles. one triple, five home runs, 26 RBIs, 14 steals, 49 games

Gorski and Peguero helped carry Altoona to a 4-3 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Friday night.

Pirates prospect Oliver Garcia was awarded the win, his fifth of the year, after throwing 1.2 innings of perfect relief.

Greensboro (30-23)

2B Tsung-Che Cheng

• Game stats: 3 for 4, one home run, two RBIs, two runs, one walk
• Season stats: .306/.415/.584, 10 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs, 27 RBIs, 13 steals, 47 games

DH Will Matthiessen

• Game stats: 2 for 2, one home run, one RBI, one run, two walks
• Season stats: .264/.374/.438, four doubles, one triple, five home runs, 16 RBIs, 36 games

Long balls from Cheng and Matthiessen, as well as Pirates prospect Jase Bowen, paved the way for a 6-0 shutout win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks.

Tres Gonzalez, Sammy Siani and Ernny Orodonez all had two hits a piece. Right-hander Braxton Ashcraft struck out seven in 3.1 scoreless innings.

Bradenton (29-26)

2B Jack Brannigan

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one home run, three RBIs, one run, one steal
• Season stats: .253/.410/.519, two doubles, two triples, five home runs, 11 RBIs, 10 steals, 24 games

RHP Alessandro Ercolani

• Game stats: 4.1 innings, five hits, two runs, two walks, nine strikeouts
• Season stats: 1-4, 5.35 ERA, 21er/35.1ip, 42 hits, 21 walks, 35 strikeouts, nine appearances/nine starts

Ercolani racked up the strikeouts and Brannigan’s big homer gave Bradenton a 6-4 win over the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Pirates prospect Brandan Bidois earned his first career win after throwing a scoreless inning of relief.