Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Multi-Hit Night for Braylon Bishop & More

A multi-hit night for Braylon Bishop, Tucupita Marcano stays hot, and more from Thursday's Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup

It's been a season of streaks thus far for the top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Triple-A Indianapolis Indians started the season 0-4, then they won five games in a row, now they have three in a row. The latest of these three losses was a 3-2 loss against the St. Paul Saints, dropping the Indians to 5-7 on the season.

Cam Alldred started for Indy, allowing 2 runs on three hits, a walk, and six strikeouts in 4 innings pitched. Hunter Stratton allowed two hits, issued a walk, and struck out three in 2 scoreless innings pitched. Daniel Zamora allowed two hits, but struck out a pair to post a zero in the 7th inning.

Carmen Mlodzinski took the ball for Indy in the 8th and promptly issued a walk to start the inning. After recording a strikeout, Mlodzinski allowed a go-ahead double. This double plated what proved to be the winning run. All told, Mlodzinski allowed that run on two hits, a walk, and two strikeouts in 2 innings pitched.

At the plate, Tucupita Marcano remains red hot for Indy. The super utility man started in left field but also played shortstop, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. Marcano now has a hit in nine of Indy's 10 games played this season.

Another hitter off to a strong start this season for Indy is outfielder Travis Swaggerty. After grounding out in his first at-bat of the night, Swaggerty exited the game due to not feeling well. Chavez Young replaced him in center field and went 0-for-3 with a walk. Endy Rodriguez and Nick Gonzales were each 1-for-4, while Miguel Andújar was 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI.

High-A Greensboro picks up Anthony Solometo following a poor start

Lefty Anthony Solometo is quickly becoming one of the best pitching prospects in the Pirate farm system. Thursday night, however, he turned in a rare poor start. Despite his poor start, the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers were able to to pick up a 10-6 victory over Jersey Shore BlueClaws to improve to 4-2 on the season.

Solometo lasted just 3.2 innings, allowing 4 runs on four hits, a career high four walks, and three strikeouts. This start was likely nothing more than a blip on the radar for Solometo who will be looking to bounce back in his next start.

Jaycob Deese relieved Solometo, allowing a run on four hits and two strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched. Cy Nielson pitched 2 perfect innings of relief, striking out three. Jack Carey allowed a base hit and walked a batter before exiting the game. Santiago Florez walked a batter and hit a batter while pitching a scoreless inning.

Through the first 5 innings the Grasshopper offense was struggling. However, they would explode for 9 runs in innings 6 through 8, powering the team to their come from behind victory over Jersey Shore.

At the top of the lineup Tsung-Che Cheng was 1-for-5 with two RBI. Jase Bowen went 1-for-5 with his 2nd home run of the season, a 3-run shot, and Luke Brown was 0-for-3 with a pair of walks and two runs scored. Third baseman Brenden Dixon was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, and Hudson Head was 3-for-3 with a walk.

Excellent bullpen work not enoguh for Low-A Bradenton

At the Low-A level the Bradenton Marauders are off to a slow start. Following a 6-3 loss against the Lakeland Flying Tigers, the Marauders are now 2-4 on the season. The loss came after Alessandro Ercolani allowed 6 runs on five hits, three walks, a home run, and a strikeout in 2.2 innings pitched, putting the Marauders in an early hole.

While Ercolani struggled, the Marauder bullpen was excellent. Carlos Lomeli was first up out of the Bradenton bullpen, stirking out two batters and allow just one hit in 2.1 scoreless innings pitched out of the bullpen.

2022 draft pick Julian Bosnic followed Lomeli. The lefty walked a pair and struck out three in 2 scoreless, hitless innings of relief. Yunior Thibo finished things up on the mound for the Marauders. Thibo walked a batter, but did not allow a hit in a scoreless 8th inning.

Wyatt Hendrie, who started at first base, and outfielder Braylon Bishop led the way for the Marauder offense. Both batters were 2-for-4, and Bishop drove in a run. The highly touted Bishop received a big signing bonus as part of the organization's 2021 draft class and will be an intriguing player to watch throughout this season.