Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Big Night for Travis Swaggerty & More

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PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 07: Travis Swaggerty #50 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during the game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park on June 7, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

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.

Jun 18, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Liover Peguero (60) reacts after hitting a single for his first major league hit against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Double-A Altoona gets blown out by Bowie Baysox

For the second time in as many nights the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates were blown out. The Altoona Curve suffered a 13-4 loss to the Bowie Baysox on Thursday night, falling to 46-47 on the season.

Luis Ortiz started for the Curve and struggled mightily. Ortiz allowed 6 runs on six hit, two walks, two home runs and a strikeout in 3.1 innings pitched. Ortiz also committed a throwing error in the loss. Brad Case followed Ortiz and struggled as well, allowing 4 runs in 1.2 innings pitched.

Enmanuel Mejia was next up after Case. Like Ortiz and Case, Mejia would struggle for Altoona on Thursday night. Mejia recorded just two outs while allowing 3 runs on three hits and three walks. Cristofer Melendez then got the last out of the night for Altoona.

Liover Peguero served as Altoona’s designated hitter and went 1-for-4, with his one hit being his 7th home run of the season. Leadoff man Jared Triolo was 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored, and his 12th and 13th doubles of the season. Triolo now has a .722 OPS this season at Double-A.

Andres Alvarez also went yard for the Curve. Starting at shortstop, Alvarez was 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI and his 15th home run of the season. At this point there is no reason for Alvarez to still be a Double-A, he has earned a promotion to Triple-A.

Following an 11 innings battle, the High-A affiliates of the Pittsburgh Pirates came up short in a 7-5 loss

Thursday night saw the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers play 11 innings. After allowing 4 runs in the top of the 11th inning, the Grasshoppers found themselves as 7-5 losers. With the loss, the Grasshoppers fell to 40-51 on the season.

Sean Sullivan pitched the 1st inning for Greensboro, allowing a run on two this while striking out the side. Adrian Florencio followed, allowing a run on three hits, three walks and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched.

Santiago Florez struck out three batters in 1.2 scoreless innings pitched, and Denny Roman pitched a scoreless inning. Eddy Yean pitched 2 innings, allowing a run leading to his season ERA rising to 6.15.

After Cam Junker pitched a scoreless 10th inning, things went sideways in the 11th. Dante Mendoza allowed 4 runs on four hits, a walk, a home run and two strikeouts in the 11th inning. Logan Hofmann then had to get the final out of the inning.

For the Grasshopper offense, Dariel Lopez had just one hit but it was his 15h double of the season. First baseman Jacob Gonzalez was 2-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBI and his 7th High-A home run of the season.

Starting at second base, Endy Rodriguez also had a big night for the Grasshoppers. Rodriguez hit his 15th home run of the season as part of a 2-for-5 performance, with a run scored and three RBI. Rodriguez continues to push for a promotion to Double-A.

Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /

Tough loss for Low-A Bradenton

In a back-and-fort high scoring affair, the Bradenton Marauders came up short on Thursday night. Following a 10-9 loss against the Lakeland Flying Tigers, the Marauders are now back to .500 on the season at 46-46.

Juan Jerez started at third base going 2-for-5 with his 7th double of the season and tow RBI. Right fielder Jase Bowen was 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI, while leadoff man and shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng went 1-for-4 with a walk, a RBI and two runs scored.

First baseman Brenden Dixon was 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Left fielder Jasiah Dixon was 0-for-3 but walked twice and scored a run. Bubba Chandler was 0-for-4 with a walk, Deivis Nadal was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a RBI and a stolen base.

Luis Peralta started for the Marauders. Peralta allowed 2 runs on four hits, two walks and six strikeouts in 4 innings pitched. Mitchell Miller followed Peralta. In 2 innings pitched the only hit Miller allowed was a solo home run, he did not walk a batter nor did he strike a batter out.

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Jack Hartman followed Miller and struggled mightily. Hartman recorded just two outs, allowing 5 runs on three hits and two walks. However, none of the runs Hartman allowed were earned due to errors by Nadal and Jerez. The error also burned Yunior Thibo who allowed 2 unearned runs in 1.1 innings pitched, before Wilkin Ramos finished the game off with a scoreless inning pitched.

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