Pirates Prospect Watch: Bins Excelling Despite Lack of Playing Time

The Salt River Rafters traveled to Surprise to face the Saguaros Tuesday night. Carter Bins was the only Pittsburgh Pirates position player to start the game for Salt River. 

In addition, Pirates LHP Nick Dombkowski made a relief appearance. 

The Rafters tumultuous slide continued Tuesday night after another implosion from their bullpen. Salt River was winning 7-5 heading into the bottom of the eighth until they surrendered seven runs to Surprise. 

Salt River attempted to come back in the ninth by scoring three runs but fell to Surprise 12-10. Three out of nine Rafters’ hitters registered three hits on the night. 

In addition, Salt River has lost six in a row and now holds a record of 9-11.

Bins 

Carter Bins continues to make the most of his opportunities in the Arizona Fall League. Tuesday night marked Bins’ seventh game and only the fourth with him as a catcher.

Bins went 3-5 on the night with a double and an RBI. Bins’ RBI occurred in the first inning with an RBI single through the left side, scoring David McCabe.

In Bins’ next at-bat, he smacked a double to left field, then scored on the next play after KeShawn Ogans singled him home. 

The righty now has ten hits in the AFL, and five of them have gone for extra-base hits (two homers, three doubles). In addition, Bins’ average was bumped to .357 with an OPS of 1.079.

Dombkowski

Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed prospect Dombkowski had a rough night on the bump. The first batter he faces, he lets up a solo shot. In addition, the at-bat was against CJ Alexander, and it was a seven-pitch at-bat.

Dombkowski then gives up a single, a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, a walk, a flyout, and then a single. Jacob Hurtubise’s RBI single marked the end of Dombkowski’s night. 

The lefty’s final line read 0.1 innings pitched, two hits, three runs (one earned), one walk, and no strikeouts.