Pirates Prospect Watch: Kevin Padlo Homers In Impressive Organizational Debut

Five games to focus on in Friday’s edition of Pirates Prospect Watch as the Indianapolis Indians played a doubleheader to make up for a rainout. In the first game of that doubleheader, newly-acquired infielder Kevin Padlo made his organizational debut and made quite the first impression.

Here are some of the highlights from the Pirates’ top four minor league affiliates.

Indianapolis Indians (52-54)

1B/3B Kevin Padlo

• Two Games: 3 for 6 with a home run, a double, four RBIs, two runs and a walk
• Season: Indianapolis Indians debut

1B Mason Martin

• Game: 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run
• Season: .212/.289/.422, 19 doubles, five triples, 15 home runs, 61 RBIs, 11 steals, 98 games

The Indians split the doubleheader with the Memphis Redbirds, taking game one 8-7 before falling in game two 7-0. All of Padlo’s three hits came in the first game, an impressive showing to kick off his Pirates’ tenure. Martin only played in the first game and had a key role in the victory.

.@KevinPadlo might hit a baseball out to Maryland St. #AtTheVic next week. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/Nd3XXEYoC9

— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) August 11, 2022

Altoona Curve (51-54)

RHP Quinn Priester

• Game: 5.0 innings, four hits, two earned runs, two walks, eight strikeouts
• Season: 1-3, 2.49 ERA, 43.1 innings, 46 strikeouts, 12 walks, nine games/nine starts

3B Jared Triolo

• Game:  2 for 4 with a double, an RBI, two runs, a walk and two steals
• Season: .274/.372/.390, 17 doubles, four triples, six home runs, 35 RBIs, 22 steals, 99 games

Part of Triolo’s big game included the go-ahead RBI in the ninth inning in the Curve’s 8-6 victory over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Priester continued his strong season with a season-high-tying eight strikeouts.

Aaron Shackelford homered for the fourth straight game, and Liover Peguero recorded two hits for the fourth straight game. Endy Rodriguez reached base twice, drove in a run, scored a run and stole a base. Blake Sabol tripled for one of his two hits.

Greensboro Grasshoppers (45-58)

RHP Justin Meis

• Game: 6.0 innings, three hits, two earned runs, one walk, six strikeouts
• Season: 2-4, 5.56 ERA, 43.2 innings, 21 walks, 44 strikeouts, 11 games/11 starts

OF Luke Brown

• Game: 2 for 3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored
• Season: .226/.246/.355, five doubles, one home run, eight RBIs, two steals, 26 games

Meis paved the way to a 6-3 Grasshoppers’ win over the Jersey Shore BlueClaws with a strong start. Brown hit his first homer of the year to pace the offense.

Recently-promoted Jase Bowen also slugged his first longball with the Grasshoppers. Eddy Yean picked up the save after tossing two perfect innings.

Bradenton Marauders (54-50)

INF Tsung Che-Cheng

• Game: 2 for 4 with a double and a run
• Season: .260/.355/.402, 18 doubles, six triples, four home runs, 39 RBIs, 22 steals, 79 games

TWP Bubba Chandler

• Game: 1 for 3 with an RBI, a run and a walk
• Season: .222/.308/.333, three doubles, one triple, six RBIs, two steals, 18 games

In what is becoming a common theme, Cheng again appears as a top performer as he picked up a couple of hits in Bradenton’s 6-4 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals. Infielder Norkis Marcos hit his second homer of the season.