Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: 3-Hit Day for Endy Rodriguez, Termarr Johnson Stays Red Hot, & More

A 3-hit day for Endy Rodriguez, Termarr Johnson stays red hot at Low-A, Tsung-Che Cheng continues to push for a promotion to Double-A, and more Pittsburgh Pirates minor league action

After scoring 4 runs in the top of the 7th inning things were looking promising for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. However, they would allow 6 runs across the 8th and 9th inning on their way to being walked off against the Iowa Cubs by a score of 12-11. With the loss, the top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates is now 29-38 on the season.

Quinn Priester started for the Indians and struggled. Priester allowed 6 runs on eight hits, a walk, home run, and three strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched. The former first-round pick now owns a 4.74 ERA to go with a 30:65 BB:K ratio in 68.1 innings pitched this season. He has allowed 70 hits and 5 home runs. Not at all what the Pirates were hoping to see from the former first-round pick this season.

After Daniel Zamora pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, Chase De Jong took the ball in the 8th. De Jong recorded just one out while allowing 4 runs on a hit and three walks. Between the 8th and 9th inning Duane Underwood Jr. allowed 2 runs on two hits and three walks. Hunter Stratton recorded an out in the 9th inning, but that out was a walk off sacrifice fly.

Catcher Endy Rodriguez had a huge game at the plate for Indy, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI. While Henry Davis is on his way to the majors, Rodriguez should not be far behind. Hopefully, Rodriguez will join Davis in Pittsburgh soon.

Cal Mitchell was 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored, Miguel Andújar was 1-for-5 with a run scored and a RBI, and Aaron Shackelford went 1-for-4 with two runs scored and his 9th home run of the season. Infielder Vinny Capra also had a big game going 4-for-4 with a walk, a RBI, and two runs scored.

Greensboro gets walked off by Greenville

Triple-A Indianapolis was not the only Pirate farm club to get walked off on Sunday afternoon. The High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers suffered a 6-5 walk off loss against the Greenville Drive, falling to 33-28 on the season.

Tres Gonzalez was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored at the top of the Greensboro lineup. Tsung-Che Cheng was just 1-for-4, but that lone hit was his 9th home run of the season. It's time for Cheng to get to Double-A.

Mike Jarvis went 2-for-5 with a triple, a run scored, and a RBI. Second baseman Maikol Escotto was 2-for-4, Sammy Siani was 1-for-4 with a RBI, and catcher Wyatt Hendrie was 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and a RBI.

Bubba Chandler started for Greensboro and continued to struggle. Chandler pitched just 3.2 innings, allowing 3 runs on six hits, walk, a home run, and three strikeouts. He threw 42 of 63 pitches for strikes and his ERA on the season now sits at 6.44.

Michell Miliano pitched 1.1 scoreless innings and Grant Ford allowed a solo home run while walking/striking out two in 1 inning pitched. In the 9th inning Cy Nielson, who has pitched extremely well this season, was charged with a pair of runs leading to the walk off loss. Part of that was Dante Mendoza taking over for Nielson and failing to strand the runners he inherited.

Bradenton hangs on for 1-run victory

Sunday afternoon the Low-A Bradenton Marauders defeated the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels by a score of 4-3. With the close victory, the Maruaders are now 34-29 on the season.

Termarr Johnson remains red hot for the Marauders. Johnson went 1-for-3 with a walk and his 5th home run of the season. Johnson now owns an .829 OPS on the season, which is incredibly impressive for an 18-year-old at Low-A. Already on of the top prospects in baseball, Johnson will likely only continue to climb prospect rankings.

Center fielder Enmanuel Terrero went 1-for-4 with his 4th home run of the season and a walk. While Terrero did not enter the season with the same prospect pedigree as Johnson, like Johnson he has positioned himself to shoot up prospect rankings.

Jack Brannigan was 1-for-4 with a walk and Rodolfo Nolasco was also 1-for-4. Shalin Polanco continues to swing a hot bat going 1-for-3 with a run scored and he was hit by a pitch. Jesus Castillo was 0-for-3 with a walk.

Dominic Perachi started for Bradenton and lasted just 4.1 innings. Perachi alowed 3 runs on three hits, four walks, a home run, and two strikeouts in his 4.1 innings pitched. Joshua Loeschorn followed Perachi, walking a batter and striking a batter out while getting the final out of the 5th inning.

Carlos Lomeli pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out three batters. Julian Bosnic pitched the final 2 innings of the game. Bosnic posted a zero while allowing a hit, walking a batter, and striking out three.