Pirates Prospect Watch: Termarr Johnson Makes Debut; Luis Ortiz Pitches Immaculate Inning

It was interesting day filled with notable storylines down on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm. For starters, 2022 first-rounder Termarr Johnson made his professional debut with the FCL Pirates. Nick Gonzales, rehabbing in the FCL, went 1 for 3 with an RBI-double in the contest.

Endy Rodriguez appeared in his first game with Double-A Altoona and recorded an RBI-double and drew a walk. Also in that game, Malcom Nunez, acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline last week, made his Pirates’ debut. He drew a walk and scored a run for the Curve.

Here are some of the top performers among the Pirates’ top four affiliates.

Indianapolis Indians (51-53)

RHP Johan Oviedo

• Game: 1.0 inning, one hit, no runs, no walks, one strikeout
• Season: 4-2, 5.47 ERA, 51 innings, 52 strikeouts, 23 walks, 11 games/10 starts

1B Mason Martin

• Game: 0 for 2 with a walk and an RBI
• Season: .206/.284/.418, 19 doubles, five triples, 15 home runs, 60 RBIs, 11 steals, 97 games

Pretty slim choices for the Indians in their 5-1 loss to Memphis. Oviedo made his debut with the Pirates after coming over in the same deal with Nunez. Martin drove in Indianapolis’ lone run.

Altoona Curve (49-54)

RHP Luis Ortiz

• Game: 6.0 innings, two hits, no runs, two walks, eight strikeouts
• Season: 4-8, 4.89 ERA, 99.1 innings, 103 strikeouts, 32 walks 21 games/20 starts

INF Aaron Shackelford

• Game: 2 for 4 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and two runs
• Season: .244/.318/.522, 19 doubles, a triple, 20 home runs, 58 RBIs, eight steals, 81 games

Ortiz set the tone for the Curve in their 6-0 shutout-win over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies by tossing six impressive frames, one of which was an immaculate inning. Shackelford stayed hot by slugging his 20th round-tripper of the season. Liover Peguero also collected a pair of hits and scored a run while Connor Scott drove in two.

Greensboro Grasshoppers (44-57)

RHP Adrian Florencio

• Game: 4.0 innings, two hits, no runs, no walks, five strikeouts
• Season: 1-9, 8.04 ERA, 56 innings, 60 strikeouts, 32 walks, 19 games/15 starts

SS Francisco Acuna

• Game: 2 for 4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs
• Season: .263/.352/.419, 16 doubles, three home runs, 18 RBIs, five steals, 51 games

The Grasshoppers got crushed by the Jersey Shore BlueClaws 13-3 but it would have been a lot worse had it not been for four dazzling frames from Florencio, who was named the Pirates’ top pitching prospect a season ago. Acuna led the way for the offense with a pair of doubles and a couple of runs scored.

Bradenton Marauders (52-50)

TWP Jack Brannigan

• Game: 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored
• Season: .455/.500/.909, two doubles, one home run, three RBIs and two steals in five games

LHP Anthony Solometo

• Game: 4.0 innings, three hits, two earned runs, one walk, four strikeouts
• Season: 3-0, 3.55 ERA, 29.1 innings, 31 strikeouts, 11 walks, nine games/five starts

Brannigan, the Pirates’ third-round draft pick from Notre Dame last month,, continued his impressive start to his professional career. Solometo got the start for Bradenton and fared well, though the Marauders fell to the Palm Beach Cardinals 6-4. Bubba Chandler struck out six and gave up two runs in three innings.