Pirates Prospect Watch: Bowen Nearly Completes Cycle in AFL

Game number six occurred Saturday night for the Arizona Fall League, and Pittsburgh Pirates prospects Jase Bowen (1B) and Jack Brannigan (SS) started for the Salt River Rafters. 

In addition, LHP Tyler Samaniego and LHP Nick Dombkowski appeared in Saturday’s game and struggled for a combined 2.0 innings pitched, five hits, five runs (four earned), three walks, and two strikeouts.

The game’s story was Bowen, who nearly completed the cycle but fell a home run shy of the accomplishment. 

In the first inning, Bowen found himself in a full count. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Bowen received a four-seamer up in the zone, and he made them pay. 

Bowen smashed an RBI triple that went 100.3 mph off the bat and traveled 346 feet.

In Bowen’s next at-bat, he hit his third double of the fall. In addition, Bowen’s double was a drastic difference from his triple, as it registered just 76.6 mph off the bat, but he got the double nonetheless.

Bowen made things interesting in the sixth inning with a two-run single, giving him three RBIs on the night. 

Bowen’s final at-bat in the bottom of the ninth had the bases loaded with two outs and a chance to complete the cycle. Unfortunately for Bowen, he struck out on three pitches. 

Bowen finished the night going 3-6 with a triple, double, strikeout, and three RBIs.

On another bright note, Brannigan registered his first hit of the Fall League. In the sixth inning, Brannigan smacked an RBI single to right field. 

In addition, Brannigan’s single registered 93.1 mph off the bat and had an xBA of .960. Another bright spot for Brannigan was his flyout in the third inning. Brannigan’s flyout registered 100.5 mph off the bat with a launch angle of 30 degrees and an xBA of .590.

Brannigan’s night finished with him going 1-4, a walk, strikeout, and an RBI. In addition, Salt River’s pitching staff struggled mightily and as a result lost 18-11 to Peoria.