Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Minute

In this edition of the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Minute, we will give you a quick look at the Minor League Players who have declared free agency and at how players from the Pirates system are doing in Winter and Fall Ball.

Free Agency

Let’s begin this segment by wishing Andrew Lambo farewell. Lambo was claimed by the Oakland Athletics.

#Athletics claim OF Andrew Lambo off waivers from Pittsburgh
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) November 6, 2015

Here is the list of the minor league players that are now free agents:

From the Indianapolis Indians: Adam Miller, Jeff Inman, Charlie Leesman, A.J. Morris, Brad Lincoln, Frank Herrmann, Jeremy Bleich, John Bowker, Zack Dodson, Gustavo Nunez and Wilkin Castillo.

From the Altoona Curve: Kieran Mattison, Drew Rossi, Sebastian Valle, Andy Vasquez, Felipe Gonzalez, Miguel Perez, and Clario Perez.

From the Bradenton Marauders: Junior Sosa

From the West Virginia Power: Francisco Diaz

We already had told you that Gorkys Hernandez and Wilfredo Boscan declared free agency. You can also add Deolis Guerra and Josh Wall to the list of players who declared. Steve Lombardozzi declared and has already signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox organization. Chris Volstad declared and has signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves organization.

Fall/Winter League Update

We give you a quick look at the players from the Pirates organization that are playing in the Arizona Fall League, Dominican Winter League, Venezuela Winter League and Mexico Winter League.

The Arizona Fall League is in full swing. The players from the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system will be playing for the Glendale Desert Dogs. These players will join other minor league players from the Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. The Pitchers from the Pirates organization on the roster are LHP Steven Brault from the Altoona Curve, LHP Cody Dickson from the Bradenton Marauders, RHP Tyler Eppler from the Altoona Curve and RHP Brett McKinney of the Altoona Curve. The only catcher from the Pirates organization is Reese McGuire from the Bradenton Marauders. The only outfielder is Austin Meadows. Meadows spent time with the Bradenton Maruaders and the Altoona Curve this past season. RHP Trevor Williams was recently acquired by the Pirates via trade and is playing as well. Adam Frazier of the Altoona Curve has left the Desert Dogs to join Team USA.

Just a few notable Pirates from the Arizona Fall League so far:

C Reese McGuire is now batting .323 after seeing action in two games. McGuire added two hits including a double over the past week. McGuire was named to the AFL Fall Stars West Team and had two at bats in the game but didn’t have a hit.The AFL West team won the game 8-3.

OF Austin Meadows played in four games over the past week. Meadows is now batting .158. In fifty-seven at bats, he has nine hits, including a double, two triples, a home run and nine RBIs. Meadows was also named to the AFL Fall Stars West Team. Meadows had two at bats and helped lead the West to victory with a two run home run. You can see a full recap of the game from MiLB. Below is video of Meadows home run.

LHP Steven Brault made his third start and went three innings. Brault allowed one hit, one walk and struck out four.

LHP Cody Dickson had two appearances in the past week. In the first appearance, he went one inning and allowed just one hit and one walk. In the second outing, Dickson suffered the loss while giving up one run on two hits during one inning of work.

RHP Tyler Eppler had two appearances in the past week. In his first outing, he went two innings and allowed one run on three hits. In the second outing, he went one inning and allowed one hit and struck out two.

RHP Brett McKinney had one appearance in the past week. He went one inning and gave up one hit, one walk and struck out three.

RHP Trevor Williams didn’t have an appearance other than the three we have already told you about.

The Dominican League is just getting underway and the Pittsburgh Pirates are represented on several teams:

INF Alen Hanson is playing for Toros del Este. Hanson saw action in two games this past week. He didnt have a hit and is now batting .245.

OF Mel Rojas Jr is playing for Tigres del Licey. Rojas has played in three games in the past week and is now batting .234. He had no hits but walked four times and scored twice.

OF Willy Garcia and INF Edwin Espinal are playing for Aguilas Cibaenas. Espinal played in three games and didn’t have a hit. Espinal is now batting .231. Garcia played in three games this past week and had one hit, two RBIs, one walk and and one strikeout.

Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Minute – November 9th

By Justin Frazee | Nov 9, 2015