Pirates Prospect Watch: Termarr Johnson Homers in Back-to-Back Games

Sunday afternoon, the Indianapolis Indians earned their first shutout victory since June 2 against the Toledo Mud Hens.

In addition, The Indians’ bullpen (John O’Reilly, Yohan Ramirez, Hunter Stratton, Rob Zastryzny) pitched four combined no-hit innings while only walking one (Stratton).

2022 first-round pick Termarr Johnson homered in his second straight game for High-A Greensboro. Max Kranick also made his first rehab start for the 2023 season, and things did not go well for him in Bradenton.

There were plenty of other notable Pittsburgh Pirates prospects to observe Sunday. Let’s take a look at the Pirates and their farm system.

Indianapolis (52-60)

OF Canaan Smith-Njigba

• Game stats: 1-4, one homer, and three RBIs
• Season stats: .249/.347/.452, 11 homers, one triple, 18 doubles, and 42 RBIs (261 at-bats, or 72 games)

RHP Beau Sulser

• Game stats: 5.0 IP, one hit, no runs, two walks, and six strikeouts
• Season stats: 1-2, 5.91 ERA, 21.1 IP, five walks, and 18 strikeouts in six games (six starts between Double-A and Triple-A)

The Indianapolis Indians ended their series against the Nashville Sound with a bang. Sulser gave up the lone hit to the Sound as the Indians bullpen pitched a combined four innings of no-hit ball.

Smith-Njigba blasted a huge three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to give the Indians the permanent lead as they won 4-0.

Altoona (50-55)

LF Matt Fraizer

• Game stats: 1-4, one homer, one run scored, and two RBIs
• Season stats: .247/.324/.355, seven homers, one triple, 14 doubles, 18 stolen bases, and 39 RBIs (344 at-bats, or 96 games).

SS Tsung-Che Cheng

• Game stats: 1-3, a double, run scored, and a walk
• Season stats: .299/.372/.496, 11 homers, ten triples, 18 doubles, 22 stolen bases, and 44 RBIs (361 at-bats, or 96 games between High-A and Double-A)

The Curve came within one run after a two-run homer from Matt Fraizer in the sixth inning but couldn’t muster anything else. Ultimately, the Curve lost the finale to Erie by a score of 5-4.

Anthony Solometo had a rough outing, going just one inning. In his lone inning of work, Solometo allowed four hits, three runs, one walk, and struck out one.

Greensboro (56-49)

CF Tres Gonzalez

• Game stats: 1-4 with a double
• Season stats: .286/.398/.415, eight homers, 22 doubles, 24 stolen bases, and 49 RBIs (357 at-bats, or 93 games between Low-A and High-A)

2B Termarr Johnson

• Game stats: 1-2, one homer, one RBI, and two walks
• Season stats: .233/.406/.432, 15 homers, one triple, ten doubles, and 47 RBIs (287 at-bats, or 85 games between Low-A and High-A)

Greensboro got obliterated in their series finale with Greenville, 11-2. On the bright side, Termarr Johnson’s homer gave him a long ball in back-to-back games.

Only one out of five pitchers used didn’t give up a run for the Grasshoppers (RHP Eddy Yean).

Bradenton (61-46)

LF Rodolfo Nolasco

• Game stats: 2-3, one homer, and three RBIs
• Season stats: .203/.343/.417, 15 homers, 17 doubles, ten stolen bases, and 55 RBIs (290 at-bats, or 82 games)

DH Charles McAdoo

• Game Stats: 2-3, one run score, and two walks
• Season Stats: .577/.676/.846, two homers, one double, and 11 RBIs (26 at-bats, or seven games)

The Marauders have now lost two in a row. Max Kranick started his first rehab game after Tommy John surgery in 2022, and was roughed up.

In 1.1 innings pitched, Kranick had six runs scored on him (five earned). In addition, Kranick walked three, allowed two hits, and struck out no one.

The Marauders lost 14-7 despite an impressive performance from Nolasco and McAdoo.