Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Bubba Chandler's Best Start of the Season Thus Far & More

Double-A Altoona cruise past Reading

Despite falling in a 3-1 hole after the 1st inning, the Double-A Altoona Curve rallied to defeat the Reading Fightin' Phils. The Curve would score early and often on their way to a 9-4 victory, improving to 8-8 on the season.

Catcher Henry Davis continued his strong start to the season by hitting a 2-run home run. This was the 5th home run of the season for Davis, giving him an OPS of 1.071 through his first 64 plate appearances this season.

At the top of the lineup Liover Peguero went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, a stolen base, and three runs scored. However, he also committed his 4th and 5th errors of the season. One fielding and one throwing.

Mason Martin was 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, and two runs scored. Matt Fraizer was 2-for-3 with a walk, RBI, and a run scored. Matt Gorski went 1-for-3 with a walk, two RBI, and a great hustle play in the 9th inning with the game well in hand to gun down a base runner.

Justin Meis started for Altoona. Meis allowed 3 runs on four hits, three walks, a home run, and three strikeouts. Travis MacGregor allowed three runs, walked a pair, and struck out two in 2 scoreless innings pitched. Cam Junker struck out a pair while allowing a run on two hits in 1.1 innings pitched. Oliver Garcia allowed two hits in a scoreless 9th inning.

Bubba Chandler shoves in Greensboro victory

Wednesday afternoon the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers rolled past the Rome Braves 4-1. With the win, the Grasshoppers are now 12-5 on the season.

Bubba Chandler started for Greensboro and turned in his best start of the season thus far. After a bit of a rocky start to the season, Chandler looked like the potential budding top 100 overall prospect that many have pegged him as.

Chandler pitched 5 scoreless innings for the Grasshoppers. He allowed two hits, walked three batters, and struck out nine. He threw 52 of his 84 pitches for strikes, induced two ground ball outs, and two fly ball outs. On the season, Chandler now owns a 3.71 ERA and 12:17 BB:K ratio in 17 innings pitched.

Jack Carey followed Chandler. He allowed a hit and struck a batter out in a scoreless 6th inning. Michell Miliano pitched 2 innings, allowing a run on three hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Cy Nielson pitched the 9th and continued his dominant start to the season with a 1-2-3 inning. Nielson has now struck out 14 batters in 9.2 scoreless innings pitched this season.

Tsung-Che Cheng was 0-for-3 with a walk at the top of the Greensboro lineup. Catcher Abrahan Gutierrez was 1-for-4, Jase Bowen was 1-for-3 with a walk, run scored, and an RBI, and Jackson Glenn was 2-for-4 with a double an an RBI. Sammy Siani picked up his 3rd double of the season, and Will Matthiessen was 1-for-3 with a walk and a triple.

Low-A Bradenton suffers 1-run loss

Wednesday night the Low-A Bradenton Marauders pitched extremely well. However, it was not enough in a 2-1 loss against the Dunedin Blue Jays. With the loss, the Marauders have fallen to 11-6 on the season.

Owen Kellington started for the Marauders and allowed just 2 runs. Kellington allowed these 2 runs in 4 innings pitched on five hits, two walks, a home run, and seven strikeouts. In 12.2 innings pitched this season Kellington now owns a 3.55 ERA and a 6:18 BB:K ratio.

Joshua Loeschorn followed Kellington. The righty pitched 3 scoreless, hitless innings pitched. He retired all nine batters he faced and struck out four. Lefty Yoldin De La Paz allowed a hit, walked a batter, and struck a batter out in a scoreless 8th inning.

Offensively, as you would expect in a 2-1 loss, it was a long night for the Marauders. Jesus Castillo and Enmanuel Terrero were both 0-for-3 with a walk. Rodolfo Nolasco was 2-for-4 with his first two doubles of the season and a run scored. Designated hitter Jauri Custodio and catcher Geovanny Planchart each had a single as well.