Pirates Prospect Watch: Malcom Nuñez’s First 2023 HR Grand

Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Malcom Nuñez sure picked a good time to hit his first home run of the season for Triple-A Indianapolis.

The 22-year-old slugger hasn’t shown his typical power so far this season, but his grand slam for the Indians might be what he needs to get going at the plate.

In other news, Tsung-Che Cheng continues to impress at the plate with a couple more hits while a couple of pitchers again looked good on the mound.

Here are Sunday’s notable performers as three of the four Pirates’ affiliates were victorious.

Indianapolis (7-8)

1B Malcom Nuñez

• Game stats: 1 for 3, one home run, four RBIs, two runs, one walk
• Season stats: .217/.250/.283, one home run, six RBIs, 12 games

RHP Osvaldo Bido

• Game stats: five innings, two hits, no runs, four walks, nine strikeouts
• Season stats: 1-0, 0.75 ERA, 1er/12.0ip, six hits, four walks, 15 strikeouts, three appearances/two starts

Nuñez’s first home run of the season was a big one as his grand slam propelled Indianapolis to a 7-0 shutout win over the St. Paul Saints. Bido came into the game in the third inning and continued his excellent start to the season.

Pirates’ prospect Travis Swaggerty was on base twice, stole a base and scored a pair of runs and Carmen Mlodzinski struck out two in a scoreless ninth.

Altoona (3-6)

RF Henry Davis

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one home run, one RBI, one run
• Season stats: .226/.385/.484, one triple, two home runs, six RBIs, one steal, eight games

2B Domingo Leyba

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one home run, one RBI, one run
• Season stats: .308/.419/.538, two home runs, five RBIs, eight games

Whole both Davis and Leyba homered, the Curve were defeated by the Erie SeaWolves 7-3. Pirates’ prospect Josh Palacios also had a pair of hits in the loss.

Greensboro (7-2)

2B Tsung Che-Cheng

• Game stats: 2 for 5, two RBIs
• Season stats: .300/.382/.700, three triples, two home runs, seven RBIs, one steal, eight games

RHP Michell Miliano

• Game stats: 2.1 innings, three hits, no runs, no walks, five strikeouts
• Season stats: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0er/6.1ip, three hits, no walks, 14 strikeouts

Pirates’ prospect Michell Miliano continued his strong season and earned his first win of the year as Greensboro took down the Jersey Shore BlueClaws 5-2. Cheng stayed hot at the plate and increased his batting average to .300.

Jackson Glenn had two hits and an RBI while Eddy Yean earned the save.

Bradenton (5-4)

3B Jesus Castillo

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one double, one RBI, one run, one sacrifice fly
• Season stats: .414/.571/.448, one double, two RBIs, one steal, eight games

CF Tres Gonzalez

• Game stats: 2 for 5, one double, two RBIs, one run
• Season stats: .333/.400/.407, two doubles, five RBIs, two steals, seven games

Castillo and Gonzalez were each productive for Bradenton in their 7-5 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Both players have been performing well at the plate so far this season.

Pirates’ prospect Jauri Custodio hit his first home run of the season while Shalin Polanco and Alexander Mojica combined to reach base safely seven times.