Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: 2022 Draft Pick Has Strong Low-A Debut & More

2022 draft pick Jack Brannigan impressed in his Low-A debut, Double-A Altoona swept in a doubleheader and more in Saturday’s Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup

The Pittsburgh Pirates top farm club, the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, suffered an 8-3 loss against the Louisville Bats on Saturday night. The loss came after the Indians allowed 4 runs in the 8th inning, letting the game get away as they fell to 50-52 on the season.

Mike Burrows started for the Indians. Burrows allowed 4 runs, just 3 earned, on five hits, a walk, a home run and two strikeouts in 5 innings pitched. Cody Bolton pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief of Burrows. However, according to Jason Mackey, he was then removed from the game due to injury concern.

After Austin Brice pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, Cam Vieaux ran into trouble in the 9th inning. Looking to keep the Louisville lead at 4-3, Vieaux struggled mightily allowing 4 runs on four hits and a walk while recording just two outs. Zach Matson would get the final out of the 9th inning.

Travis Swaggerty continues to push to be re-called by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Swaggerty was 1-for-2 with two walks, raising his Triple-A OPS on the season to .778. Mason Martin was 2-for-4 with his 19th double of the season. Hoy Park was 1-for-4 with a two-run home run, his 5th of the season at Triple-A. Rodolfo Castro started at shortstop, going 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Double-A Altoona swept in Saturday doubleheader

In game one of the doubleheader Quinn Priester started and turned in his poorest start since being promoted to Altoona. Priester pitched 4.2 innings, allowing 3 runs on eight hits, a walk and five strikeouts. While it was not necessarily a poor start, it was the poorest start he has had since being promoted to Altoona.

J.C. Flowers followed Priester and allowed a run on two hits a walk and a strikeout. The 2022 season has been a strong one out of the Curve bullpen for Flowers. The lefty owns a 2.89 ERA in 62.1 innings pitched.

Third baseman Jared Triolo was 0-for-2 with a walk in the game one loss. He also made yet another tremendous defensive play at third base.

With Ke’Bryan Hayes having third base locked down for a long time at the major league level, it will be interesting to see what the Pirates do with Triolo, who is a minor league Gold Glove Award winner at third base, long-term. Andres Alvarez was 2-for-3 and Connor Scott was 1-for-3. Scott’s hit was his 4th home run of the season, accounting for the lone Curve run in the game one loss.

In game two the Curve were defeated 4-2, falling to 48-53 on the season after being swept on the day. Triolo also bat leadoff in game two, but started at shortstop as he went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Liover Peguero was 1-for-3 with a RBI. Alvarez also drove in a run when he drew a bases loaded walk in the 7th inning.

Alvarez’s walk was part of a near 7th inning rally by the Curve. Matt Fraizer, Josh Bissonette, Scott, and Alvarez drew four consecutive walks with one out in the inning. With the Akron RubberDucks lead cut to 4-2 and the Curve having the bases loaded with just one out, Triolo would hit into a game ending double play.

Colin Selby served as an opener for the Curve in game two, allowing  run on four hits, a walk, and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched. Selby owns a 2.70 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched for Altoona this season. Carmen Mlodzinski pitched the final 5.1 innings of the game, allowing three runs on four hits, no walks, a home run and three strikeouts.

Strong Low-A debut from Jack Brannigan highlights Bradenton’s victory

Saturday night saw the Pittsburgh Pirates Low-A affiliate, the Bradenton Marauders, defeated the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 9-6. The victory improved the Marauders to two games over .500 on the season at 51-49.

Jack Brannigan was selected out of Notre Dame as a two-way player in last month’s draft. Making his Low-A debut, he started at third base for the Marauders on Saturday and went 2-for-4 with a walk. Brannigan also launched a home run, as well as stealing two bases and scoring a pair of runs.

It was also a big game or shortstop and leadoff hitter Tsung-Che Cheng who went 2-for-4 with a walk, a RBI, a run scored, his 16th double of the season and his 6th triple. Right fielder Rodolfo Nolasco was 1-for-3 with a RBI. Jase Bowen hit a two-run home run in the 8th inning, his 14th of the season.

2020 first-round pick Nick Gonzales made a rehab start with Bradenton as he begins to work his way back from a foot injury. Gonzales was 0-for-3, but drew a walk and drove in a run. Outfielder Lolo Sanchez, another player who began the season with Altoona but is currently on the minor league injured list, also made a rehab start for the Marauders on Saturday and went 2-for-5, scoring a run and driving a run in.

Joelvis Del Rosario started for the Marauders and allowed 2 runs, but only 1 of which was earned in 5 innings pitched. Del Rosario allowed seven hits, walked a batter and struck out three. Quietly, Del Rosario has put together one of the most consistent seasons among Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitching prospects. Del Rosario has pitched 62.1 innings in 14 games, 13 starts, posting a 3.61 ERA.

Grant Ford followed Del Rosario. In 1.1 innings pitched he allowed a pair of runs on a hit, two walks and a strikeout. Yunior Thibo allowed 2 runs on two hits, a walk, a home run and three strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched. Mitchell Miller