Pirates Prospect Watch: Jones Strikes Out Season-High

Wednesday night, Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jared Jones took the bump for the Indianapolis Indians.

The young righty looked good during his start, giving up three earned runs in 5.1 innings, but the most impressive stat was nine strikeouts.

Those nine punchouts mark a season-high for Jones. 

In addition, Jones introduced a cutter to his arsenal, or at least it looks like he did.

To go along with Jones’ start, Nick Gonzales blasted a homer in Triple-A after he took advantage of a hanging breaking ball down the middle.

The Pirates had plenty of prospects worth noting Wednesday night. Let’s go down to the farm and see how each level performed.

Indianapolis (54-60)

RHP Jared Jones

• Game stats: 5.1 IP, eight hits, three earned runs, two walks, and nine strikeouts
• Season stats: 3-6, 3.88 ERA, 92.2 innings pitched, 39 walks, and 119 strikeouts in 21 games (20 starts in Double-A and Triple-A)

2B Nick Gonzales

• Game stats: 4-5, a homer, and an RBI.
• Season stats: .271/.386/.458, seven homers, five triples, 16 doubles, and 30 RBIs (251 at-bats, or 66 games)

Jones struck out a season-high nine batters Wednesday night and even dropped his ERA to 5.40 (was 5.44). In addition, Gonzales blasted his seventh homer in Triple-A.

Ji-Hwan Bae hit a “little league home run.” After he hit a double down the left field line, the throw back into the infield went awry, and Bae hustled all the way home.

Indianapolis ended up winning it 4-3 over St. Paul.

Altoona (51-56)

LF Connor Scott

• Game stats: 2-3 with one double
• Season stats: .208/.264/.338, two homers, four triples, 13 doubles, and 30 RBIs (207 at-bats, or 59 games)

2B Jackson Glenn

• Game stats: 2-4 with one run scored
• Season stats: .286/.357/.467, ten homers, one triple, 14 doubles, and 48 RBIs (255 at-bats, or 68 games between High-A and Double-A)

The Curve managed just one run in their 5-1 loss against Bowie. Matt Gorski was the lone Altoona player to drive in a run, and Glenn scored the lone run.

Greensboro (57-50)

SS Jack Brannigan

• Game stats: 2-5, two singles
• Season stats: .282/.392/.543, 16 homers, three triples, ten doubles, 21 stolen bases, and 40 RBIs (245 at-bats, or 70 games between Low-A and High-A)

3B Brenden Dixon

• Game stats: 2-4, a double, and RBI
• Season stats: .220/.341/.451, ten homers, one triple, eight doubles, and 31 RBIs (173 at-bats, or 55 games between Low-A and High-A)

The Hoppers’ offense went stale Wednesday night. Dixon, Josiah Sightler, and Tres Gonzalez were the only Grasshoppers to drive any runs in.

As a result, Greensboro lost to Bowling Green 10-3.

In addition, Bubba Chandler had a rough outing. On Wednesday, the righty went six innings while giving up four hits, five runs, four walks, and struck out five.

Bradenton (62-46)

Game postponed, doubleheader Thursday.