Pittsburgh Pirates prospects continue to add to AFL resume

A trio of Pittsburgh Pirates prospects had strong performances in the Scottsdale Scorpions’ 10-9 loss to the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League.

Pirates No. 3 prospect Termarr Johnson had an RBI single and finished the day 1-5 with a run scored and three strikeouts. Outfield prospect Sammy Siani continued his strong performance in the AFL, going 3-4 with two runs scored and a walk.

On the mound, Eddy Yean took the loss. He pitched 1.1 innings and allowed one run, four hits and one walk while striking out one batter. Teammate Valentín Linárez fared much better, pitching two scoreless innings and allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out two batters.

The loss was the Scorpions’ third in a row.

Johnson, who is the No. 75 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, grounded out to lead off the game and then struck out in his second plate appearance. He had his third at-bat in the top of the fourth inning and drove in a run with a single to center field to extend Scottsdale’s lead to 4-2. The Pirates’ No. 3 prospect struck out swinging in his last two at-bats.

Siani doubled to center field in his first at-bat in the top of the second inning and then reached base again in his second plate appearance in the fourth with a single to right field. Siani’s single set the stage for the Scorpions to tie the game at 2-2 on an RBI single by San Francisco Giants infield prospect Charlie Szykowny and score six runs to take a 7-2 lead.

Siani walked in his third at-bat to lead off the top of the fifth inning and then quickly scored on Szykowny’s two-run homer. The Pirates outfield prospect grounded out in the seventh and then popped up as the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning with a runner on first base. Siani got a hit to right field to extend the game and put the tying run in scoring position.

However, Scottsdale ultimately failed to capitalize, as Szykowny struck out to end the game.

Linárez entered the game in the second inning and addressed an error and a walk with a pair of strikeouts, including one by Kansas City Royals prospect and No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Jac Caglianone, to escape from the problem. The Pirates’ prospective right-handed pitcher had a pair of ground balls and a fly ball in his second and final inning of work.

After Detroit Tigers left-handed pitching prospect Jake Miller allowed seven runs in 1.1 innings, Yean entered the game with Scottsdale up 9-7 and with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning and allowed a two-run single. races to tie. the game.

A walk followed by consecutive singles gave Surprise a 10-9 lead before Yean escaped without allowing another run after picking up a strikeout and New York Mets infielder Jett Williams threw out a runner in home on a single by Houston Astros outfield prospect Quincy. Hamilton.

Scottsdale will look to snap its three-game losing streak on Saturday when it faces the Saguaros (10-5) for the second straight matchup at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Be sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insights on the Pittsburgh Pirates.