Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Malcom Nunez Walk-Off & More
Jared Triolo leads off with a home run for Double-A, Malcolm Nunez walks it off and more in Thursday’s Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup
Thursday night saw the top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, suffer a 3-0 loss against the Iowa Cubs. With the loss, the Indians are now two games under .500 on the season at 55-57.
It was a poor offensive night for the Indians. Hoy Park started at shortstop and bat leadoff, going 0-for-4. Ji-Hwan Bae returned from the injured list, going 1-for-3 as a walk while serving as the team’s designated hitter.
Diego Castillo and Cal Mitchell were both 0-for-4. Travis Swaggerty was 1-for-4 and catcher Carter Bins was 2-for-4 with a double, the team’s lone extra base hit of the night. Jared Oliva finished 1-for-3.
Jerad Eickhoff started for the Indians, allowing 3 runs on five hits, two walks, a home run and five strikeouts in 5 innings pitched. Cam Alldred allowed two hits, did not walk a batter and struck out four in 2 scoreless innings pitched. John O’Reilly and Cam Vieaux each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Malcolm Nunez walks it off for Altoona
First baseman Malcolm Nunez was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the José Quintana trade. Thursday night, he made his first big impact as a member of the Pirate organization when he launched a three-run walk-off home run in an 8-5 victory for Double-A Altoona. With the win, the Curve are now 55-56 on the season.
Nunez’s home run was his 2nd with the Curve, and was part of a 1-for-3 night that also saw him draw a pair of walks. Jared Triolo led the game off with a home run. This was the third time this week he led the game off with a home run. His 8th home run of the season was part of a 2-for-4 performance with a walk and three runs scored.
Catcher Endy Rodriguez continues his red hot start at Double-A, going 3-for-5 with his 2nd double at Altoona, run scored and a RBI. Matt Fraizer was 2-for-4 with two runs and a RBI, Aaron Shackelford was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Cristofer Melendez started for the Curve and pitched 2 scoreless, hitless innings. He walked a batter and struck out three. Carmen Mlodzinski followed and struggled. Mlodzinski allowed 5 runs on nine hits, a walk and five strikeouts. Brad Case pitched 2.1 scoreless innings and Colin Selby got the final two outs of the game. Case and Selby combined to allow two hits while striking out three.
High-A Greensboro picks up a 3-1 victory
High-A Greensboro picked up a rare win on Thursday night. The Grasshoppers defeated the Rome Braves 3-1. With the win, the Grasshoppers are now just 47-62 on the season.
Nick Garcia started for Greensboro and turned in one of his best starts of the season. In 6 innings pitched Garcia allowed a run on three hits, three walks, and three strikeouts to lower his ERA on the season to 4.20.
Matt Eckelman followed Garcia, walking a batter and striking out a pair in 2 scoreless, hitless innings pitched out of the Greensboro bullpen. Cristian Charle finished the game off with a 1-2-3 9th inning.
Francisco Acuna bat leadoff, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Hudson Head was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Dariel Lopez was 1-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored, Yoyner Fajardo was 1-for-4 with a RBI and Jase Bowen also drove in a run.
Bradenton walked off in an extra inning loss
While the Low-A Bradenton Marauders still own the best record in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system, they suffered a loss on Thursday night. The Marauders were walked off 6-5 in 10 innings by the Tampa Tarpons, falling to 58-52 on the season.
Luis Peralta started for the Marauders and turned in a tremendous start. In 5 scoreless innings pitched, Peralta allowed just one hit, walked a batter and struck out nine. Johan Montero allowed a run on three hits, no walks and three strikeouts in 2 innings pitched. After this, the Marauder bullpen began to fall apart.
2022 draft pick Cy Nielson made his Low-A debut on Thursday night. Nielson faced four batters, issuing three walks and he was charged with 3 runs while recording just one out. Wilkin Ramos allowed a run on a solo home run in 1.2 innings pitched, Carlos Campos then got an out in the 10th inning before allowing the extra innings runner to score as the Marauders were walked off.
Leadoff man and shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng continues to be one of the most underrated prospect in the Pirate farm system. Cheng was 2-for-4 with a walk, his 21st double of the season and a run scored. Cheng will be a prospect to watch entering 2023.
2022 draft picks Jack Brannigan and Tanner Tredaway each had big games as well. Brannigan was 1-for-4 with a RBI and a walk. Tredaway was 1-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI. First baseman Brenden Dixon and second baseman Deivia Nadal each had a hit as well.