Pirates Prospect Watch: Contreras Makes Start After Injury Scare

A collective sigh of relief must’ve been had for the Pittsburgh Pirates and their fans when Roansy Contreras made another start in Triple-A after having soreness in his shoulder last week. 

After giving up a two-run homer, Contreras had some rust in the first inning, but he settled in after that. Contreras topped out at 94.1 mph on his four-seam and averaged 91.9 mph in average exit velocity on seven balls put into play. 

Contreras’ biggest accomplishment may be his six whiffs with the four-seam. It may not seem like a lot, but for Contreras, that’s significant progress.

In addition, Termarr Johnson shined for Greensboro. Let’s see what Johnson and the other Pirates’ prospects did Wednesday night.

Indianapolis (60-72)

CF Chris Owings

• Game stats: 2-4, a homer, run scored, and an RBI
• Season stats: .234/.341/.427, 12 homers, two triples, 13 doubles, and 32 RBIs (274 at-bats, or 75 games)

2B Nick Gonzales

• Game stats: 1-4, a homer, run scored, and an RBI
• Season stats: .270/.376/.470, ten homers, six triples, 21 doubles, and 37 RBIs (311 at-bats, or 82 games at Triple-A)

The Indians fell to the Mud Hens 7-2. The Mud Hens took a permanent lead in the fifth inning when Nick Maton hit an RBI triple off John O’Reilly.

Nick Gonzales and Chris Owings homered in back-to-back at-bats in the third inning. In addition, Roansy Contreras made a start after an injury scare last week.

Contreras gave up a two-run homer in the first inning but settled down and managed to go four innings. Contreras gave some encouraging signs to the Pittsburgh Pirates and it’s fans with that performance.

Altoona (59-66)

CF Matt Fraizer

• Game stats: 2-4, a homer, run scored, and three RBIs
• Season stats: .261/.331/.373, eight homers, three triples, 16 doubles, 19 stolen bases, and 47 RBIs (410 at-bats, or 112 games)

RF Joe Perez

• Game stats: 1-3, a homer, two runs scored, one walk, and two RBIs
• Season stats: .269/.357/.449, 17 homers, two triples, 15 doubles, and 63 RBIs (390 at-bats, or 108 games between Triple-A and Double-A)

The Curve bounced back against Harrisburg thanks to a pair of Matt Fraizer and Joe Perez homers. Perez’s two-run homer came in the eighth inning to give the Curve a 5-4 lead.

Cameron Junker finished the game out, and the Curve held on to win. In addition, Anthony Solometo pitched 4.1 innings and gave up one run on two hits.

Greensboro (65-60)

RHP Thomas Harrington

• Game stats: 5.0 IP, three hits, one run, two walks, and seven strikeouts
• Season stats: 7-6, 3.47 ERA, 124.1 IP, 39 walks, and 141 strikeouts in 25 games (25 starts)

2B Termarr Johnson

• Game stats: 3-6, a homer, double, five runs scored, two walks, and three RBIs (two games worth)
• Season stats: .240/.420/.442, 18 homers, one triple, 12 doubles, and 58 RBIs (337 at-bats, or 102 games between Low-A and High-A)

Greensboro had to continue the suspended game from Wednesday but suffered heartbreak as Bowling Green walked it off in the bottom of the ninth. Greensboro lost game one 5-4.

Pittsburgh Pirates first-round pick Termarr Johnson drove in two runs and led the way, going 3-4 with a deep homer.

In game two, the Grasshoppers were met with a familiar feeling as Bowling Green walked it off in the bottom of the tenth inning. A wild pitch and a single from Xavier Isaac allowed Bowling Green to walk away with two victories in one day.

Bradenton (73-53)

2B Mitch Jebb

• Game stats: 2-4, a homer, run scored, and two RBIs
• Season stats: .303/.375/.412, one homer, two triples, six doubles, and 11 RBIs (119 at-bats, or 30 games)

LF Rodolfo Nolasco

• Game stats: 2-4, a homer, run scored, and three RBIs
• Season stats: .218/.355/.443, 19 homers, 21 doubles, and 68 RBIs (348 at-bats, or 99 games)

Rodolfo Nolasco homered again, but Bradenton fell to Ft Myers 6-5 after the Mighty Mussels scored in the eighth inning, breaking the 5-5 tie.

In addition, Mitch Jebb hit his first professional home run in the top of the seventh inning; it was a two-run homer.