Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Report – June 15th

Apr 19, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Major League baseballs sit on the field before the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to our weekly trip around the Pittsburgh Pirates’ minor league system. This is where we give you a look at how each Pirates’ affiliate did during the previous week along with division standings, updates about players who stood out during the previous week, take a look at the injury report, and give you a look at the week ahead.

We will start our weekly recap with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.

Next: The Surging Indians

Feb 21, 2014; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Alen Hanson (63) poses for a photo at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Triple-A Indianapolis Indians

The Indianapolis Indians went 6-1 over the last week. This included a three-game sweep in Rochester over the Red Wings. After that series, they returned home and took three of four from the Gwinnett Braves.

International League Western Division standings:

Indianapolis Indians – 41-24

Columbus Clippers – 34-29

Louisville Bats – 32-31

Toledo Mud Hens – 28-36

Players that stood out:

Alen Hanson collected six hits, two walks, two stolen bases, and three RBIs this week. He is batting .283.

Jaff Decker collected five RBIs, five hits, two stolen bases, one home run, and scored four runs and is now batting .320.

Elias Diaz went six for 20 with a walk, two home runs, seven RBIs, and raised his average to .281.

Adrian Sampson continues to lead the team with 67 strikeouts. He had his shortest outing of the season, however, pitching 1.2 innings while allowing twelve hits and eight runs this week. He picked up the loss but remains tied for the team lead with six wins.

Blake Wood picked up his team-leading 16th, 17th and 18th saves.

Radhames Liz saw his first action in Triple-A on Saturday. He pitched two innings and collected one strike out and one walk.

Wilfredo Boscan picked up two wins this week while throwing 10.2 innings. He struck out five and walked five over the course of two games.

Gorkys Hernandez  saw his average slip to .277 but collected three hits, one RBI, and three walks and scored three times.

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Steve Lombardozzi is now batting .316 after collecting six hits in 25 at-bats. He also had one stolen base and three RBIs.

Pedro Florimon went five for 14 with two walks and one RBI. He is now batting .246.

Tony Sanchez  went one for 14 with six walks. He struck out five times and his average slipped to .223. Tony has collected at least one walk in eight straight games.

Keon Broxton raised his average slightly to .186. He scattered six hits, including four in one game, as well as four RBIs, two stolen bases, one walk, and eight strike outs.

Casey Sadler picked up his sixth win of the season and lowered his ERA to 3.15.

Clayton Richard picked up a win taking his total to three wins for the season. His ERA now sits at 1.65.

Chris Volstad picked up his fourth win and lowered his ERA to 3.63.

John Holdzkom returned from the Disabled List this past week. He has thrown in three different games for a total of three innings, allowing just two hits, and two walks while striking out four.

John Bowker was acquired this week from the San Francisco Giants. He has had 12 at-bats and is still searching for a hit with the Indians.

Injury Report:

Brad Lincoln and Wilkin Castillo were both added to the disabled list this week. No word on the injuries.

A look at next week:

The Indians continue the current home stand with three games against the South Division leader Durham Bulls who come in with a 37-27 record. Thursday is an off-day, followed by a weekend series in Charlotte with the Knights of the South Division. The Knights currently have a record of 34-29.

Next, we step down to Double-A Altoona.

Next: Watch Out For the Curve

Feb 26, 2015; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Willy Garcia (73) poses for photo day at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Double-A Altoona Curve

The Altoona Curve went 4-3 over the last week. The Curve collected a win over the Erie SeaWolves on Monday and then they dropped two of three in Reading to the Fightin’ Phils, including a strange 18 inning game. The Curve then took two of three from the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Eastern League Western Division standings:

Altoona Curve – 37-24

Bowie Baysox – 34-28

Richmond Flying Squirrels – 32-28

Akron RubberDucks – 31-30

Harrisburg Senators – 27-35

Erie SeaWolves – 21-39

Players that stood out:

Willy Garcia extended his hitting streak to 19 games on Sunday. He went 11 for 33 with one home run and five RBIs and scored four runs. He is now batting .314 for the season. On Monday Willy was promoted to AAA Indianapolis!  

Angel Sanchez collected his seventh and eighth wins of the year. He now leads the team with eight wins and 49 strikeouts. He is the first Eastern League Pitcher to reach eight wins. Following his win on Sunday, it was reported that Sanchez had been called up to Triple-A Indianapolis.

  Josh Bell saw his average drop slightly over the past week to .316 while collecting six hits, three walks, and four RBIs. Josh also hit his third home run of the season.

Max Moroff raised his average slightly to .310. He collected nine hits, including one home run and five RBIs. He now has a six-game hitting streak.

Stetson Allie had nine hits, including two home runs and four RBIs and saw his average climb to .221. He also struck out nine times.

Jacob Stallings went five for 16 this week. He collected five RBIs and one home run, scored three runs, and stole a base. Jacob was behind the plate for all 18 innings in Thursday’s loss. On Friday, during a blow out loss, he was brought in to pitch to the last batter in the top of the ninth and got him to fly out to left.

Adam Frazier managed nine hits, a home run, and five RBIs. He is now hitting .349.

Gift Ngoepe scattered eight hits, including a home run and four RBIs, and is now batting .270.

Jose Osuna had eight hits, five RBIs, and nine strike outs. He is batting .352.

Jason Creasy suffered a loss this week but still has seven wins and 33 strikeouts for the season.

Chad Kuhl suffered a loss this week as well. He sits second on the team with 48 Ks. His record sits at 4-2 after going 1-1 over the past week and striking out 11.

John Kuchno picked up the save in Sunday’s win despite allowing four hits and one run.

Yhonathan Barrios had been the team leader in saves with ten. However, he was recently called up to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Injury report:

Tyler Glasnow remains on the Disabled List with a sprained right ankle.

 A look at next week:

The Curve are enjoying an off-day Monday before they head to Akron to face the RubberDucks in a three-game series. The Curve then return home for five games against the Harrisburg Senators, which includes a double-header on Saturday.

We now heat up as we head south for a look at the Advanced A Bradenton Marauders.

Next: Fly South to Bradenton

Mar 12, 2015; Bradenton, FL, USA; The field is made ready for play before a spring training baseball game at McKechnie Field. The Boston Red Sox beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Advanced A Bradenton Marauders

The Bradenton Marauders went 3-4 over the course of last week. The Marauders took one of four from the Clearwater Threshers, then took two out of three from the Fort Myers Miracle.

Florida State League South Division standings:

Charlotte Stone Crabs – 43-20

St. Lucie Mets – 32-31

Fort Myers Miracle – 31-32

Jupiter Hammerheads – 31-32

Bradenton Marauders – 29-34

Palm Beach Cardinals – 29-34

Players that stood out:

Harold Ramirez leads the way with a .403 average. He collected eleven hits and two RBIs.

Austin Meadows had four hits and is now batting .279.

Jacoby Jones had five hits and two RBIs and is now batting .267.

Reese McGuire had two hits and raised his average to .243.

Cody Dickson picked up his team-leading fifth win.

Frank Duncan  leads the team with 51 strikeouts.

Brett McKinney still leads the team with nine saves.

All Star News:

The Florida State League All-Star Game will be played on June 20th in Port St. Lucie. As reported by The Marauders and MILB.com, the team will have five players on the South Division All-Star Team. These players include Austin Meadows, Reese McGuire, JaCoby Jones, Jin-De Jhang, and Jose Osuna. Osuna had recently been called up to Altoona so he will not be taking part in the game.

A look at next week:

The Marauders host the 30-33 Tampa Yankees of the North Division before beginning the Florida State League All-Star Break. Regular season play resumes next Monday.

We dig deep and head for the hills as we take a look at the Class-A West Virginia Power.

Next: Feel the Power

Oct 15, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; The lights are out during a power outage during game three of the American League Championship Series baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Class-A West Virginia Power

The West Virginia Power went 1-5 over the last week. They were swept by the visiting Savannah Sand Gnats to start the week. Then, they took one of three from the Augusta GreenJackets.

South Atlantic League Northern Division standings:

Hickory Crawdads – 40-22

West Virginia Power – 35-28

Lakewood BlueClaws – 31-28

Kannapolis Intimidators – 32-31

Hagerstown Suns – 30-31

Delmarva Shorebirds – 28-33

Greensboro Grasshoppers – 25-37

Players that stood out:

Michael Suchy only had two hits, two RBIs, and a home run this week before being lifted Friday due to a possible leg injury. His average sits at .253.

Jerrick Suiter went seven for 21 with two walks, one stolen base, and four RBIs. His average now sits at .308.

Elvis Escobar went four for twenty with one RBI and is now hitting .284.

Connor Joe went six for 14 with three RBIs, six hits, and one walk and raised his average to .253.

Chase Simpson went five for 20 with a home run, a walk, and three RBIs. He also struck out six times and is now batting .263.

Jordan Luplow went five for 11 with a home run, three RBIs, one walk, and three strikeouts. He is now batting .237.

Austin Coley picked up the week’s only win and now leads the team with eight wins.

Nick Neumann still leads the team with nine saves on the season.

All-Star News:

As reported by the West Virginia Power and milb.com, The Power have three players, Elvis Escobar, Yeudy Garcia and Junior Lopez, that were voted onto the 2015 South Atlantic League North Division All-Star Team. The game will take place on June 23rd in Asheville, North Carolina.

A look at next week:

The Power wrap up the four-game weekend series with the Augusta GreenJackets on Monday. Then, they head to Charleston to face the RiverDogs of the Southern Divison. The RiverDogs currently sit at 30-33. Finally, the Power head home for a three-game showdown with the Hickory Crawdads.

Next, we look at the newest member of the farm system with the Short Season A West Virginia Black Bears.

Next: Short Season, Short Drive

Feb 13, 2014; Bradenton, FL, USA; A freshly painted logo adorns at wall at Pirate City before the Pittsburgh Pirates first spring training workout. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Rookie Bristol Pirates

The Bristol Pirates will begin the season on June 23rd. Keep watching this page during our weekly Minor League Report for more information.

This has been the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Report for June 15th. Make sure to check back next Monday for our weekly Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Report!

Next: A.J. Burnett shines as Pittsburgh Pirates walk-off Phillies 1-0 in extras