Pirates Prospect Watch: Future Stars Shine for Altoona

Among the Pittsburgh Pirates’ minor league affiliates, the Double-A Altoona Curve are home to a number of the club’s top prospects.

On MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 prospects list for the Pirates, five of the top six are currently rostered by the Curve. Four of those five were in action, and came through with strong performances.

A lot of that talent showcased their ability on Wednesday night, while a couple of pitching prospects threw the ball well for the Bucs’ two affiliates still in action.

Here are the Pirates’ prospects who performed the best on Wednesday night.

Indianapolis Indians (70-66)

RHP Osvaldo Bido

• Game: 5.0 innings, three hits, one run, two walks, five strikeouts
• Season: 3-7, 4.40 ERA, 104.1 innings, 94 hits, 60 walks, 109 strikeouts, 30 games/23 starts

CF Ji-hwan Bae

• Game: 1 for 4 with a double and a run
• Season: .295/.364/.438, 21 doubles, six triples, eight homeruns, 52 RBIs, 27 steals, 104 games

Bido was the Indians’ starter against the Toledo Mud Hens and pitched well, but Indianapolis lost the game 4-3.

Bae continued his nice season at the plate with a double and a run scored. Outfielder Brendt Citta also doubled for Indianapolis.

Altoona Curve (69-64)

RHP Kyle Nicolas

• Game: 5.2 innings, five hits, no runs, one walk, six strikeouts
• Season: 2-4, 3.97 ERA, 90.2 innings, 71 hits, 47 walks, 101 strikeouts, 24 games/22 starts

CF Matt Gorski

• Game: 3 for 5 with three RBIs
• Season: .277/.356/.500, seven doubles, two triples, six home runs, 26 RBIs, 10 steals, 35 RBIs

Nicolas pitched very well for Altoona and picked up his second win of the season in the Curve’s 8-0 shutout of the Reading Fightin’ Phils.

The offense broke out for eight runs, and Gorski was responsible for driving in three. Liover Peguero hit his 10th homer of the season and stole a base while Nick Gonzales doubled. drove in a run and scored twice. Endy Rodriguez collected two more hits and drove in a pair.