Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Cal Mitchell Hits Two Home Runs & More

Mandatory Credit: MLB Photos via USA Today Sports
Mandatory Credit: MLB Photos via USA Today Sports
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Mandatory Credit: MLB Photos via USA Today Sports
Mandatory Credit: MLB Photos via USA Today Sports /

Two Cal Mitchell home runs, strikeouts galore for the Altoona pitching staff, and more in Friday night’s Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup

Few hitters in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system have been more impressive this season than outfielder Cal Mitchell. Friday night Mitchell started in left field for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, going 2-for-5 with 4 RBI in a 7-5 extra innings victory. Both of Mitchell’s hits were home run, giving him 5 on the season.

On the season Mitchell is now hitting .312 with a .935 OPS. He’s collected 12 extra base hits and struck out just 14 times in 103 plate appearances. The left-handed hitting Mitchell has also stolen 6 bases. Mitchell is continuing to make it hard for the Pirates to keep him in the minors, and sooner rather than later he should make his MLB debut.

Second baseman Ji-Hwan Bae hit leadoff for the Indians, going 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. Mason Martin was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored, and Canaan Smith-Njigba was 0-for-2 but drew 3 walks. Catcher Jason Delay hit a double and drove in a run.

On the mound, top pitching prospect Roansy Contreras started and turned in a rare poor start. Contreras allowed 3 runs on 2 hits, 3 walks, a home run, and 4 strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched. Cam Vieux allowed an unearned run while striking a batter out in 1.2 innings pitched and Hunter Stratton struck out a pair in a scoreless inning pitched.

Yerry De Los Santos pitched 2 innings, striking out a batter and allowing just 1 hit. That hit, however, was a solo home run. After Mitchell homered in the top of the 10th to make the score 7-5 Indians, Austin Brice pitched a 1-2-3 bottom half of the inning to seal the deal.

(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Pittsburgh Pirates Double-A affiliate also picks up a 10 inning victory

Like Triple-A Indy, Double-A Altoona picked up a 10 inning victory on Friday night. For the Curve, however, it was a walk off victory. With Connor Scott starting the inning on second base, Andres Alvarez singled to start the bottom of the 10th inning. This was followed by a walk off single by Aaron Shackelford. Shackelford also drew a walk in the victory.

The Curve only collected 4 hits outside of the back-to-back 10th inning base knocks by Alvarez and Shackelford. Scott had a single, as did Jared Triolo who started at shortstop. Catcher Blake Sabol continued his tremendous season going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored. On the season Sabol has now hit  doubles to go with a .777 OPS.

The big story for the Curve was their pitching staff. Zach Matson started, issuing a walk and striking out a pair in 2 innings pitched. Travis MacGregor then followed with 4 scoreless innings of relief, punching out 8. Colin Selby struck out 5 batters in 2 innings of relief, while Enmaneul Mejia and Will Kobos each struck out a pair in 2 innings pitched.

All in all Cruve pitchers struck out 19 batters while allowing just 5 hits and issuing 5 walks in 10 innings pitched. 63% (19 of 30) of the outs recorded by the Altoona pitching staff on Friday night came via the strikeout, while they struck out 19 of 38 batters faced. A 50% strikeout rate will usually get the job done. The pitching staff also induced a pair of double play balls.

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 10: A wide angle view during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park on May 10, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 10: A wide angle view during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park on May 10, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Pittsburgh Pirates Single-A affiliates suffer a shutout and a rain out

High-A Greensboro suffered a 3-0 loss against the Hickory Crawdads. Following the loss, the Grasshoppers are now just 13-17 on the season.

Cam Junker started for the Grasshoppers, issuing a walk and striking a batter out in 2 scoreless innings to lower is ERA on the season to 2.84. Sean Sullivan followed Junker and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, walk and 2 home runs in 4 innings pitched.

Ricky DeVito and Tyler Samaniego followed Sullivan, combing to allow a hit, walk a pair and strikeout a pair in 2 scoreless innings pitched. On the season DeVito now has a 2.87 ERA and Samaniego’s is 0.87. Both appear to be emerging as quality relief pitching prospects for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Center fielder Matt Gorski and first baseman Ernny Ordonez each hit a single. These were the only two hits for the Grasshoppers in Friday night’s loss. Orodnez, right fielder Jack Herman and designated hitter Sammy Siani each drew a walk.

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Low-A Bradenton was rained out on Friday night. As a result the Marauders and Jupiter Hammerheads are now slated to play a doubleheader on Saturday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter.

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