Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Termarr Johnson Goes 4-For-4 With a Home Run, More

Termarr Johnson had another huge game for Bradenton, Henry Davis continues to prove he belongs in the majors, and more in today's Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup

Even the Iowa Cubs are dumb and annoying. Wednesday afternoon, the Iowa Cubs took down the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians by a score of 8-1. With the loss, the top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates is now 29-34 on the season.

Chase De Jong served as an opener for Indy, walking a batter and striking out a pair in 2 hitless, scoreless innings pitched. Lefty J.C. Flowers followed and struggled mightily, allowing 6 runs on five hits and two walks while recording just two outs in the 3rd inning.

John O'Reilly allowed a hit and walked a batter, but got the final out of the 3rd inning. Duane Underwood Jr. followed O'Reilly by striking out three in 2 scoreless innings pitched. Cody Bolton allowed 2 runs on five hits and a strikeout in 2 innings pitched. Eli Villalobos finsihed things off by walking a batter, allowing a hit, and striking out a pair in 1 inning pitched.

While there was not much offense for Indy, Henry Davis still managed to have another good game. The former no. 1 overall pick was 2-for-3 with a double, he was hit by a pitch, and scored a run. Davis now owns a .974 OPS in 219 minor league plate appearancs this season, it's time for him to join the MLB club.

As for the rest of the Indy lineup, Aaron Shackelford hit a double and Miguel Andújar was 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, and a RBI. Nick Gonzales, Endy Rodriguez, Cal Mitchell, and Jared Triolo, four key cogs in Indy's lineup, all went 0-for-4. As a team, the Indians were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Offense struggles in Greensboro loss

After being held hitless for the first 6 innings of the game the Low-A Greensboro Grasshoppers suffered a 5-2 loss against the Greenville Drive. With the loss, the Grasshoppers have fallen to 32-25 on the season.

So far this season Thomas Harrington has been one of the best pitchers in the Pirate farm system. Wednesday night, however, he turned in a rare poor start allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, on seven hits, a walk, two home runs, and five strikeouts. This came in just 4.2 innings of work by Harrington.

Righty Michell Miliano followed Harrington. Pitching 1.1 scoreless innings Miliano allowed two hits, walked a batter, and struck out two. Jake Stevenson and Jack Carey each pitched a scoreless inning to finish the night off for the Grasshoppers.

Through the first 6 innings the Grasshoppers were held hitless. Mike Jarvis finally got them into the hit column with a single in the 7th inning. Then in the 8th inning, Ernny Ordonez singled home Brenden Dixon who doubled to start the inning. A sacrifice fly by Dixon in the 9th inning set the final at 5-2.

Bradenton wins by a football score

Wednesday afternoon saw a wild offensive affair played LECOM Park. In a game that finished with the score of a football game, the Low-A Bradenton Marauders improved to 31-28 on the season with an 18-9 victory over the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.

Righty J.P. Massey started for the Marauders. After rolling in recent weeks, Massey turned in his poorest start since late April. Massey pitched just 5 innings, allowing 4 runs on four hits, four walks, five strikeouts, and he hit two batters. His overall season stats remain strong with a 3.28 ERA in 49.1 innings pitched.

For the Bradenton offense, it was a team effort.

Enmanuel Terrero went 1-for-4 with two walks, two runs scored, and a RBI. Jack Brannigan was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored, Tanner Tedaway went 0-for-2 with three walks, a RBI, and two runs scored.

The top offensive performers were the two highest ceiling prospects on Bradenton's roster - Termarr Johnson and Shalin Polanco.

Johnson was 4-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, and his 4th home run of the season. He drove in four runs, scored four times, and rose his OPS on the season to .824. Polanco was 3-for-6 with two doubles, giving him 10 on the season, three RBI and two runs scored.

The no. 4 overall pick in last year's draft, Johnson is arguably the top prospect in the Pirate farm system. After a slow start to the season he has been showing why by swinging a hot bat for the Marauders. Polanco may have the biggest power potential in the farm system. The two of them having the success they are at Low-A while both being just 19-years-old is a testament to their natural hitting ability.