Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Endy Rodriguez Impressed in AA Debut, More

BRADENTON, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Endy Rodriguez #80 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a picture during the 2022 Photo Day at LECOM Park on March 16, 2022 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
BRADENTON, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Endy Rodriguez #80 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a picture during the 2022 Photo Day at LECOM Park on March 16, 2022 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 23: Miguel Yajure #89 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 23, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 23: Miguel Yajure #89 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 23, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Endy Rodriguez impressed in his Double-A debut, Jack Brannigan continued his strong start at Low-A and more in Tuesday’s Pittsburgh Pirates minor league recap

Triple-A Indianapolis suffered a 5-1 loss against the Memphis Redbirds on Tuesday night. Following the loss, the top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates fell to 51-53 on the season.

Miguel Yajure started for Indianapolis. After posting three zeroes to start the game, the wheels fell off the cart for Yajure in the 4th inning when he allowed 4 runs. Yajure’s final line was 4 runs allowed on six hits, a walk, a home run, and two strikeouts in 4 innings pitched. Yajure has struggled with both the Indianapolis Indians and the Pittsburgh Pirates this season, which is setting up for a potentially tumultuous offseason for the righty.

Johan Oviedo followed Yajure. In his debut with the Pirate organization, Oviedo allowed a hit and struck a batter out in a scoreless inning pitched. This was followed by a scoreless inning from John O’Reilly. After Joe Jaques allowed a run in the 7th inning, Hunter Stratton would pitch a scoreless 8th.

Leadoff man Hoy Park was 1-for-4 for the Indians. Designated hitter Brendt Citta was 1-for-4 and right fielder Jared Oliva was 1-for-3. The rest of the Indian lineup was a combined 0-for-19 with two walks.

BRADENTON, FLORIDA – MARCH 16: Endy Rodriguez #80 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a picture during the 2022 Photo Day at LECOM Park on March 16, 2022 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
BRADENTON, FLORIDA – MARCH 16: Endy Rodriguez #80 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a picture during the 2022 Photo Day at LECOM Park on March 16, 2022 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

It was an immaculate night including a shutout victory for the Pittsburgh Pirates Double-A affiliate

Double-A Altoona shutout the Binghamton Rumble Ponies 6-0 on Tuesday night. With the win, the Curve improved to 49-54 on the season. It was also an immaculate night for an Altoona pitcher.

Luis Ortiz started for the Curve and turned in a tremendous start. The righty pitched 6 shutout innings, allowing two his, issuing two walks and striking out eight. Ortiz also pitched an immaculate inning in the start. For those who do not know, an immaculate inning is when a pitcher strikes out all three batters they faced and they do so on just nine pitches. In fact, this was the second immaculate inning of the season for Ortiz.

Tahnaj Thomas followed Ortiz with two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 7th inning. A transition to the bullpen has been a very successful one for Thomas this season who now owns a 3.18 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 39.2 innings pitched this season. Enmanuel Mejia would allow a run in 2 scoreless innings pitched.

Serving as the team’s designated hitter, catching prospect Endy Rodriguez made his Double-A debut on Tuesday night. In his first game wit the Curve he went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and a RBI.

In the leadoff spot, third baseman Jared Triolo was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Making his debut in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization after being acquired in the José Quintana trade, first baseman Malcolm Nuñez was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

Connor Scott started in center field and went 1-for-4. Scott’s lone hit was his 18th double of the season as he drove in a pair of runs. Shortstop Liover Peguero was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and second baseman Aaron Shackelford was 2-for-4 with his 19th double, 20th home run and three RBI.

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 17: A detailed view of the Nike cleats and Stance Socks worn by Jake Marisnick #41 of the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game against the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on April 17, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 17: A detailed view of the Nike cleats and Stance Socks worn by Jake Marisnick #41 of the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game against the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on April 17, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

High-A Greensboro gets blown out

Tuesday night the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers suffered a 14-3 loss against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. Following another lopsided loss, the Grasshoppers have fallen to a porous 44-57 on the season.

Ricky DeVito started for the Grasshoppers and struggled mightily. DeVito pitched just 2.1 innings, allowing 6 runs on three hits, four walks and three strikeouts. Wandi Montout followed DeVito and failed to record an out. Montout walked all three batters he faced on his way to allowing 3 runs.

Denny Roman followed Montout and also had a woeful outing. Roman pitched just 2/3 of an inning, allowing 4 runs on four hits and a home run. Adrian Florencio was able to quiet things down, striking out five batters while allowing just 1 run on two hits in 4 innings pitched. Matt Eckelman pitched 2 scoreless innings to finish things off for the Greensboro pitching staff.

Leadoff man Yoyner Fajardo went 3-for-5 with a double. Dariel Lopez was 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI, but he also committed his 25th error of the season. Designated hitter Jacob Gonzalez was 1-for-5 with a RBI, and catcher Abrahan Gutierrez was 1-for-4 with his 16th double of the season.

Jase Bowen made his High-A debut starting center field, but went 0-for-4 at the plate. Hudson Head was 1-for-3 with a walk and a double. Shortstop Francisco Acuna was 2-for-4 and also picked up a double.

CHAPEL HILL, NC – MARCH 08: Jack Brannigan #9 of the University of Notre Dame hits the ball during a game between Notre Dame and North Carolina at Boshamer Stadium on March 08, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – MARCH 08: Jack Brannigan #9 of the University of Notre Dame hits the ball during a game between Notre Dame and North Carolina at Boshamer Stadium on March 08, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

Bradenton Marauders fall to the Palm Beach Cardinals

Tuesday night the Low-A Bradenton Marauders kicked off their week with a 6-4 loss against the Palm Beach Cardinals. This loss came after the Marauders allowed a pair of runs in the 8th inning, falling to 52-50 on the season.

The highly touted duo of Anthony Solometo and Bubba Chandler once again pitched for the Marauders. Solometo started, allowing 2 runs on three hits, a walk and four strikeouts in 4 innings pitched. Chandler followed by allowing 2 runs on a home run, three hits, three walks and six strikeouts in 3 innings pitched. Yunior Thibo pitched the final 8th and 9th inning, which included allowing a pair of unearned runs in the 8th inning.

Jack Brannigan started at designated hitter for the Marauders, remaining red hot since being promoted to Low-A. He went 2-for-5 with his 2nd double and a run scored. Brannigan is now batting .455 with a 1.409 OPS with the Marauders. The Pittsburgh Pirates may have landed a real gem in Brannigan in last month’s draft.

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Tsung-Che Cheng was 1-for-3 with a walk, his 17th double of the season and a run scored at the top of the lineup. Sergio Campana was 2-for-3 with two walks and a run scored, first baseman Brenden Dixon was 1-for-5 with two RBI and catcher Wyatt Hendrie was 1-for-2 with his 7th double of the season and a walk.

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