Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Power Surge Sunday

An Alexander Mojica grand slam, Mason Martin home run, and three victories highlighted Sunday’s performances by Pittsburgh Pirates prospects and minor league affiliates

Sunday afternoon was another successful day for the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system. Pirate affiliates went 3-1 with the lone loss being suffered by Double-A Altoona by a score of 5-3 against the Harrisburg Senators.

In the loss Luis Ortiz made his first Double-A start, allowing 2 runs on a hit, which was a home run,  a walk and 3 strikeouts in 3 innings pitched. Lefty Omar Cruz, who was acquired in the Joe Musgrove trade, followed and struggled allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, a walk, and 4 strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched.

Offensively there was not much to write home about for the Curve. At the top of the lineup Matt Fraizer, Nick Gonzales, and Jared Triolo combined to go 0-for-12 with a walk and 6 strikeouts. Outfielder Connor Scott, who was acquired in the Jacob Stallings trade, was one of the few offensive standouts going 3-for-4 with a triple and a RBI. Shortstop Andres Alvarez hit a solo home run and Tucupita Marcano drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

As for the three victorious teams on Sunday, we will start with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians who improved to 4-2 on the season with a 7-2 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers. The star of the game for the Indians was designated hitter Mason Martin. The left-handed hitting slugger was 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and 3 RBI.

Canaan Smith-Njigba started in center field and hit leadoff, going 2-for-5 with a double. Oneil Cruz started in left field going 0-for-3 with a pair of walks. He did, however, make a spectacular running catch.

Right fielder Bligh Madris was 1-for-4 with a double and a RBI for the Indians, while shortstop Rodolfo Castro drew 3 walks and drove in a run. Third baseman Hunter Owen and first baseman Brendt Cotta each drove in a run as well. Reliever Yerry De Los Santos had another dominant outing retiring all three batters he faced, striking two of them out.

High-A Greensboro picked up their first victory of the season by defeating the Rome Braves 3-2. Endy Rodriguez, making his first start at catcher, continued his hot start to the season by going 1-for-4 with his 3rd double of the season. Jackson Glenn was 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI, and outfielder Sammy Siani collected a pair of hits while also drawing a walk.

Santiago Flores started for the Grasshoppers, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits a walk and 3 strikeouts in 3 innings pitched. 2020 draft pick Nick Garcia had an impressive outing walking a batter and striking out 5 in 3 scoreless, hitless innings pitched. Ricky DeVito, who was acquired from the Braves last summer, also struck out a batter in a scoreless inning pitched.

As for the Low-A Bradenton Marauders, they experienced an offensive explosion in a 13-4 victory. 19-year-old third baseman Alexander Mojica led the way going 2-for-5 with a double and a grand slam. Catcher Jakob Goldfarb also hit a home run, while shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng and first baseman Jacob Gonzales each drove in a run as well.

On the pitching side of things Luis Oviedo made a rehab appearance, retiring all three batters he faced in the 1st inning. Dante Mendoza walked a batter and struck out 3 in 2.1 scoreless, hitless innings pitched. Joelvis Del Rosario allowed 3 runs but struck out 5 and did not walk a batter in 2.2 innings pitched. Nick Dombrowski and Valentin Linarez each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.