Pittsburgh Pirates prospects continue to pile up CV in AFL

A trio of promising Pittsburgh Pirates 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 showing 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, allowing one run on four hits and a walk, while striking out one batter. His teammate Valentin Linarez fared much better, pitching two shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk and striking out two batters.

The loss was the third in a row for the Scorpions.

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

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

Siani walked in his third at bat to lead from the top of the fifth inning, then promptly scored on a two-run home run by Szykowny. The Pirates outfield prospect grounded out in the seventh and then came in for the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning with a runner on first base. Siani got a single to right field to extend the game and put the tying run in scoring position.

Scottsdale was ultimately unable to capitalize, however, as Szykowny hit a slam to end the match.

Linarez entered the game in the second inning and worked around an error and a walk with a pair of strikeouts, including one of Kansas City Royals prospect and No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft Jac Caglianone to escape the jam . The Pirates’ right-handed pitcher got a pair of groundouts and a flyout in his second and final inning.

After Detroit Tigers left-handed pitcher Jake Miller gave up seven runs in 1.1 innings, Yean entered the game with Scottsdale leading 9-7 with two outs in the bottom of the fifth and gave up a two-run single to cap the to equalize. the game.

A walk followed by back-to-back singles gave Surprise a 10-9 lead before Yean escaped without allowing another run on a strikeout and New York Mets infield Jett Williams throwing out a runner at home on a Houston single Astros outfield prospect Quincy Hamilton.

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

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