Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Big Night for Travis Swaggerty & More

A big night for Travis Swaggerty, Endy Rodriguez’s 15th home run, and more from Thursday’s Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup

The Pittsburgh Pirates top farm club, the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, fell to 44-49 on the season on Thursday night. This came as a result of a 7-6 loss against the Toledo Mud Hens that saw the Indians blow a 9th inning lead.

Left fielder Travis Swaggerty stayed hot for the Indians. Swaggerty was 2-for-4 on the night, with a double, a triple, a run scored, and three RBI. Swaggerty deserves to be recalled to the majors, and, this time, he deserves to get a legitimate look against MLB pitching.

Another player who deserved to be recalled to the majors is Tucupita Marcano. Marcano started at second base and bat leadoff. After going 1-for-5 with a RBI, Marcano now has an .893 OPS since being demoted to Triple-A.

Rodolfo Castro started at shortstop and picked up a pair of hits, Mason Martin was 1-for-4 with his 15th double a pair of RBI. However, Martin also struck out three times. Center fielder Jared Oliva also had a two-hit performance for the Indians.

Jerad Eickhoff started for Indy, allowing 2 runs on four hits, two home runs, a walk and six strikeouts in 5 innings pitched. After Zach Matson pitched a scoreless innings of relief, Travis MacGregor allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, on two hits, a walk and a strikeout in the 7th inning.

Ater Cam Alldred struck out a pair and allowed two hits in a scoreless 8th inning of work, Eric Handhold took the ball in the 9th. Looking to preserve a 6-5 lead, Handhold failed to do so allowing 2 runs. Although, neither run was earned due to a Swaggerty error.