Pirates Prospect Watch: Liover Peguero Hits First Homer of the Season

Among the Pittsburgh Pirates’ prospects who stood out on Wednesday was a player who has started to find his groove at the plate.

In Double-A Altoona, infielder Liover Peguero hit his first home run of the season in another solid game at the plate for the Curve. Peguero now has hits in five of his last six games played.

In other news, recently-optioned outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba also went deep for the first time this season with Triple-A Indianapolis.

Along with those two players, here are some of the other Pirates’ prospects who highlighted the action down on the farm.

Indianapolis (11-17)

OF Canaan Smith-Njigba

• Game stats (two games): 1 for 6, one home run, one RBI, three runs, two walks
• Season stats: .125/.462/.500, one home run, one RBI three games

C Grant Koch

• Game stats (two games): 2 for 5, one double, two RBIs, one run
• Season stats: .276/.313/.414, one double, one home run, five RBIs, 11 games

The Indians split a doubleheader with the Toledo Mudhens, losing the first game 4-3 and picking up a 9-0 shutout win in the second game. After appearing late as a pinch hitter in game one, Koch had a big hand in the win in game two. Meanwhile,  Smith-Njigba hit his first homer of the season.

Pirates prospect Vinny Capra, who was recently acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays, made his organizational debut and went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run.

Altoona (11-10)

SS Liover Peguero

• Game stats: 2 for 5, one home run, one RBI, three runs
• Season stats: .254/.346/.366, five doubles, one home run, eight RBIs, nine steals, 18 games

2B Domingo Leyba

• Game stats: 2 for 5, two RBIs, one run
• Season stats: .333/.410/.464, three doubles, two home runs, 14 RBIs, one steal, 19 games

The Curve improved to a game over .500 as they were able to hold off the Richmond Flying Squirrels 5-4 in 10 innings, thanks in part to the games from Peguero and Leyba.

Like Peguero, Pirates prospect Matt Gorski also homered. Gorski drove in a pair for Altoona.

Greensboro (14-9)

2B Miakol Escotto

• Game stats: 2 for 3, one double, three RBIs, one sac fly
• Season stats: .224/.299/.328, one double, two home runs, 11 RBIs, three steals, 20 games

RF Sammy Siani

• Game stats: 2 for 3, one home run, one RBI, two runs, one walk
• Season stats: .313/.421/.438, three doubles, one home run, six RBIs, seven steals, 15 games

Siani hit his first home run of the season and while he and Escotto each had big games, the Grasshoppers lost 7-6 to the Winston-Salem Dash.

Pirates’ prospect Brad Case took the loss, but he only allowed one run in 2.2 innings pitched and struck out five batters.

Bradenton (14-9)

RHP Owen Kellington

• Game stats: 4.0 innings, five hits, two runs. one walk five strikeouts
• Season stats: 0-1, 3.78 ERA, 7er/16.2ip, 14 hits, seven walks, 23 strikeouts, five appearances/two starts

LF Enmanuel Terrero

• Game stats: 2 for 4
• Season stats: .312/.419/.494, four doubles, two triples, two home runs, 14 RBIs, seven steals, 21 games

Despite a pretty good start from Kellington, Bradenton was defeated by the Tampa Tarpons 6-2. Terrero continued his strong start to the season with two more hits.

Pirates prospect Yoldin De La Plaz struck out the side in his lone inning of relief.