Pirates Prospect Watch: Skenes Goes Two Innings, Brannigan Hits Grand Slam

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Aug 21, 2023
Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates first round draft pick, pitcher Paul Skenes walks to the bullpen at PNC Park following a meeting with reporters after signing with the team in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. The Pirates drafted Skenes first player overall in this year's Major League Baseball draft. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

For the first time in affiliated baseball, Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Paul Skenes worked more than one inning.

The 2023 No. 1 overall pick pitched a pair of scoreless innings with the Bradenton Marauders on Sunday afternoon in his third career appearance.

Elsewhere, Jack Brannigan continued to produce for High-A Greensboro and hit a grand slam for the Grasshoppers.

Plenty more to get into amongst Pirates’ prospects on Sunday.

Indianapolis (55-63)

DH Aaron Shackelford

  • Game stats: 2 for 3, one double, one RBI, one run, one walk
  • Season stats: .227/.347/.419, 16 doubles, one triple, 14 home runs, 49 RBIs, eight steals, 98 games

SS Nick Gonzales

  • Game stats: 2 for 4, one double, one RBI, one run, one walk
  • Season stats: .267/.383/.450, 17 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, 31 RBIs, three steals, 69 games

Despite big games from Shackelford and Gonzales, Indianapolis fell 7-6 to the St. Paul Saints.

Vinny Capra finished the game with three hits and Pirates’ prospect Ryan Vilade had a two-hit game.

Altoona (52-59)

CF Chavez Young

  • Game stats: 1 for 5, one home run, three RBIs, one run
  • Season stats: .214/.329/.286, four doubles, two home runs, nine RBIs, 13 steals, 47 games

SS Andres Alvarez

  • Game stats: 2 for 5
  • Season stats: .219/.288/.351, 14 doubles, seven home runs, 29 RBIs, three steals, 75 games

Young hit a three-run homer while Alvarez had a two-hit day but Altoona was defeated 7-6 in 13 innings by the Bowie Baysox.

Pirates prospect Jackson Glenn hit a solo homer while Joe Perez connected on a two-run shot.

Greensboro (61-50)

1B Jase Bowen

  • Game stats: 3 for 4, one home run, one double, one RBI, two runs
  • Season stats: .265/.341/.486, 13 doubles, four triples, 22 home runs, 85 RBIs, 22 steals, 99 games

SS Jack Brannigan

  • Game stats: 1 for 5, one home run, four RBIs, two runs
  • Season stats: .305/.358/.674, three doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 27 RBIs, five steals, 24 games

A big game from Bowen and Brannigan’s grand slam carried Greensboro to a 12-5 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Pirates prospect Luke Brown homered and drove in four runs while Francisco Acuna collected a pair of hits.

Bradenton (64-49)

RHP Paul Skenes

  • Game stats: 2.0 innings, no hits, no runs, no walks, two strikeouts
  • Season stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA (0er/3.0ip), one hit, no walks, four strikeouts, two appearances/two starts

LF Rodolfo Nolasco

  • Game stats: 1 for 2, two walks
  • Season stats: .211/.353/.425, 18 doubles, 16 home runs, 58 RBIs, 10 steals, 88 games

In addition to Skenes’ performance, Nolasco was the only Bradenton player with a hit and reached three times but the Marauders were blanked 6-0 by the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

Pirates prospect Luis Peralta threw three scoreless innings of relief and punched out four.

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