Pirates Prospect Watch: Solometo, Harrington Shine in Openers

For the first time this season, all of the top four minor league affiliates for the Pittsburgh Pirates were in action as High-A Greensboro and Low-A Bradenton kicked off their 2023 seasons.

Among the standouts down on the farm were several pitching prospects for the Pittsburgh Pirates, including a pair of high draft picks.

Indianapolis established a three-game win streak with a victory on Friday night and received contributions from a key Pirates’ prospect.

Indianapolis (3-4)

C Endy Rodriguez

• Game stats: 2 for 4 with one walk, one RBI and one run
• Season stats: .211/.304/.368, one home run, four RBIs, five games

RHP John O’Reilly

• Game stats: 1.2 innings, one hit, no runs, two strikeouts, one save
• Season stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0er/3.2ip, two hits, four strikeouts, one save, four appearances

The Indians picked up their third straight win with a 5-3 win over the Louisville Bats. Rodriguez had a nice game at the plate and reached base three times to help pace the offense. Travis Swaggerty recorded another extra-base hit with a double and now has an .875 OPS.

J.C. Flowers was awarded the win, his first of the season while O’Reilly preserved the victory with a save.

Altoona (0-2)

3B Andres Alvarez

• Game stats: 2 for 3, one double, two walks
• Season stats: .333/.556/.500, one double, two games

RHP Justin Meis

• Game stats: 3.0 innings, four hits, three runs (one earned), one walk, three strikeouts
• Season stats: 0-1, 3.00 ERA, 1er/3.0ip, four hits, one walk, three strikeouts, one game/one start

Bethel Park native Justin Meis made his Double-A debut and while he took the loss in the Curve’s 7-2 loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Alvarez was the star on offense for the Curve and outfielder Lolo Sanchez was the only Pirates’ prospect to record an RBI in the game.

Greensboro (0-1)

LHP Anthony Solometo

• Game stats: 4.0 innings, two hits, one earned run, one walk, five strikeouts
• Season stats: 0-0, 2.25 ERA, 1er/4.0ip, two hits, one walk, five strikeouts, one appearance/one start

RF Jase Bowen

• Game stats: 3 for 4 with, one double, RBI
• Season stats: .750/.750/1.000, one double, one RBI, one game

Solometo was impressive in his first start of the season for the Grasshoppers despite the 8-1 loss to the Hudson Valley Renegades. He ranks as one of the better pitchers among Pirates’ prospects.

On offense, Bowen recorded a game-high three hits. Outfielder Luke Brown doubled and drew a walk for Greensboro.

Bradenton (1-0)

RHP Thomas Harrington

• Game stats: 5.0 innings, four hits, no runs, no walks, seven strikeouts
• Season stats: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, four hits, no runs, no walks, seven strikeouts, one appearance/one start

2B Jesus Castillo

• Game stats: 2 for 2, one walk, one run
• Season stats: 1.000/1.000/1.000, one game

Harrington earned the win in his first professional start as the Marauders defeated the Clearwater threshers 3-2 in their season opener.

Castillo was on base three times for Bradenton and infielder Jack Brannigan had two hits, walked once and scored a run.