Pirates Prospect Watch: Brannigan Homers for First Time in AFL

On Saturday night, it was a fun and exciting night for Pittsburgh Pirates prospects Jase Bowen (1B) and Jack Brannigan (SS). The Salt River Rafters squared off against the Glendale Desert Dogs. 

Fueled by some timely extra-base hits from Brannigan and Bowen, Salt River walked away victorious 7-2 over Glendale. Let’s take a look at how the Pirates prospects fared Saturday night. 

Bowen 

After a day off on Friday, Bowen was back in action for Salt River, batting leadoff and manning the first base position. 

Bowen’s first at-bat of the night was successful, as he worked the count to 2-2. The next pitch, Bowen received a juicy pitch down the middle, and he smacked it for a single. 

Unfortunately, advanced metrics were unavailable Saturday night, so we don’t have the exit velocity or what kind of pitch Bowen hit. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Bowen smashed a standup triple off of Zach Veen, currently ranked 92nd on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 list. 

In addition, Bowen’s triple was an epic eight-pitch at-bat, and yet again, Bowen received a mistake pitch down the middle, and he made Venn pay.

Bowen finished his night 2-4 with a triple, runs scored, and two strikeouts. 

Brannigan

 The shortstop had the most crucial at-bat of the night and made the most of it. Brannigan came to the plate to lead off the fourth inning with the game knotted up at two apiece.

On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Brannigan drove a ball deep to right-center field. That deep drive was Brannigan’s first home run of the Fall League.

In addition, Salt River would never relinquish the lead after Brannigan put them up 3-2.

That home run was the righty’s only hit of the night, but he made it count when needed. The Notre Dame product finished the night going 1-3 with a homer, RBI, and a strikeout.

In addition, no Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers entered the game Saturday night.