Pirates Prospect Watch: Henry Davis Shows Improvements at the Plate

Henry Davis Sunday’s game with Indianapolis entered as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. He had an eight-game hit streak coming into the game, and it didn’t take long for him to keep that streak alive. Davis hit a home run in the at-bat, part of a nine-run inning for Indianapolis.

The home run was a two-out solo shot that gave the Indians a 2-1 lead. That wasn’t Davis’s only hit in the inning. The Pirates’ Triple-A team was batting around, with Davis coming up with runners on first and second. A line drive single drove in another run, giving Indianapolis a 9-1 lead.

Davis is 15-for-40 during his streak, with three home runs and three doubles. Even more encouraging is that he has reduced his strikeout problems that were a problem immediately after he was ejected from the majors. Davis has been struck out just six times during this streak, including three in the last seven games.

This is a good trend for Davis, especially with the strikeouts. He was sent down the order earlier this season and hit .296/.436/.642 with a 24.8% strikeout rate in 101 plate appearances. He hit, got on base and hit for power, but there was the swing and miss aspect. When he returned to the majors, he had a 57.9% strikeout rate in six games. He has a 9.1% strikeout rate during this nine-game streak.

TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

INDIANAPOLIS won 9-8, thanks in part to Henry Davis’ offense.

• RHP Domingo German: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
• 3B Malcolm Nunez: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
• SS Love Peguero: 2-for-4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
• C Jason Delay: 2-for-5
• 2B Andrés Alvarez: 1-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI

Malcolm Nunez began the nine-run sixth inning with his tenth home run of the year. He also drove in a run with a single later in the inning. Domingo German had one of his best starts of the season, allowing one run in 5.2 innings with no walks. This was the first time this season that he has not allowed a walk. He has a 3.98 ERA in 20.1 innings in the month of July.

STATCAST HEROES

German had six whiffs on his curveball and three on his changeup, throwing those two pitches a total of 49 of his 72 pitches. His fastball velocity was down today, averaging 89.7 MPH, down from his season average of 92.3 MPH. Davis’ home run traveled 401 feet at 105.5 MPH. His single was a 102.8 MPH line drive that was deflected by the second baseman. Nunez’s home run went 101.4 MPH. He also had a forceout at 107 MPH.

DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE

ALTOONA lost 5-2

• Left handed Hunter Barco: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP Eddy Yean: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
• SS Kervin Pichardo: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
• CF Three Gonzalez: 1-for-4
• RHP Jack Carey: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Hunter Barco pitched a scoreless first inning in his second outing at Double-A. He allowed a leadoff single in the second, then called for a coach and left the game. Barco is one of the best pitching development stories this year. Hopefully, nothing serious. Kervin Pichardo hit his seventh home run of the year, a two-run homer in the eighth to give Altoona their only runs. All five runs scored against the Curve came in the second inning of Emmanuel Chapmanwho then threw two scoreless points. Eddy Yean has a 2.94 ERA this year after three shutout innings.

HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS

GREENSBORO lost 7-0

• RHP Patrick Reilly: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
• 2B Mitch Jebb: 1-for-3, 2B, BB
• SS Termarr Johnson: 0-for-1, 3 BB, SB
• LF Lucas Brown: 1-for-3, SB
• CF Hudson Head: 1-for-4

Patrick Reilly leads the Pirates’ minor league system in strikeouts with 108 in 88 innings after today’s game. The right-handed pitcher is in the mid-90s with his fastball, pairing it with two sliders. Control is his biggest issue, but he has shown improvement, with zero walks today. He has walked 17 batters in 46.2 innings over the past two months, after walking 18 in 24.2 innings in May. Termarr Johnson walked three times and stole his 15th base. Mitch Jebb hit his seventh double of the year and extended his hitting streak to eight games.

SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS

BRADENTON won 7-5

• RHP Garrett McMillan: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
• RF Esmerlyn Valdez: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
• C Omar Alfonzo: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI
• 3B Garret Forrester: 2-for-3, 2B, BB
• CF Enmanuel Terrero: 1-for-4, HR, RBI

Bradenton won thanks to a feat by their young hitters. Esmerlyn Valdez hit two homers, giving him 14 on the season and the team lead in home runs. The first came as a solo shot in a three-run sixth inning. Omar Alfonzo also hit a home run in that inning, and hit a two-run home run for his eighth of the year. Valdez hit a two-run shutout in the eighth as part of a four-run inning. Enmanuel Terrero hit a solo shot for his fourth of the year. Garrett McMillan got the start today, throwing four shutout innings with one hit allowed and six strikeouts. The 23-year-old was drafted in the 14th round last year and has pitched most of this season in Bradenton as a reliever. He has a 2.18 ERA in 45.1 innings, with a K/BB of 47:15.

STATCAST HEROES

Inmer Lobo came on to throw three scoreless innings, allowing no hits, one walk, and two strikeouts. He had three whiffs on his fastball, which is just 87.5 MPH off the left side. His changeup led to six whiffs on ten swings, fueling his outing. The hardest hit was Valdez’s second home run, which traveled 110.1 MPH off the bat. His other home run was 102.3 MPH.

ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES

FCL PIRATES lost 4-3 in the first game of the best-of-three FCL Finals.

• RHP Carlos Castillo: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
• SS Yerry De Los Santos: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
• 2B Carlos Caro: 1-for-3, BB, SB
• 3B Johnny Severino: 1-for-5
• RF Carlos Tirado: 1-for-3, BB, RBI

Carlos Castillo is one of the top young pitchers for the FCL Pirates this year. Castillo was signed by the Pirates out of Venezuela in January 2023 and was a starter in the FCL during his 18th season. He had a 2.86 ERA in 34.2 innings, with a K/BB ratio of 27:18 this year. Castillo had a great start on Sunday, but the bullpen couldn’t support him. Yerry De Los Santos picked up two hits, including an RBI double to put the Pirates up 3-1 in the fifth inning. The Pirates lost the game in the eighth inning after RHP’s control problems Jonawel Valdez allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score on wild pitches. The Pirates play the Tigers on Monday and need to win to extend the series to the deciding third game.

MONDAY PROGRAM

• The teams that play the entire season are free.
• Rookie: FCL Pirates, TBD – TBD (FCL Finals, Game 2)
• Rookie: DSL Pirates Black, 11:00 AM – TBD
• Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, 10:00 AM – TBD
• Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, Game Two – TBD