April 24 Minor League Report: Polanco Bronco
By Jay Blue
Feb 27, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco (62) runs against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Gregory Polanco is insane. He’s just insane and we’ll leave it at that. Yesterday, he was a triple short of a cycle, going 3/4 with a double, a home run, a walk and a stolen base, driving in two and scoring three. Too much more of this and he’s not going to be in our minor league reports anymore. He’ll be taking his .420 average to Pittsburgh.
Dodgers’ Double-A left fielder Scott Schebler was 3/4 with two solo home runs yesterday as well while another Double-A prospect, Donald Lutz (CIN) was 3/5 with a home run and two doubles. For Erie (Double-A, DET), Eugenio Suarez hit a pair of home runs and drove in six while the Birmingham Barons’ Micah Johnson hit his third home run and his fourth double in a 3/5 game.
The great hitting performances from yesterday go on and on. Mac Williamson (SF, High-A) went 5/5 with two doubles. SS Jake Hager (TB, Double-A) was 4/4 with his first home run of the year and Dan Vogelback (CHC, High-A) was also 4/4 with a home run. Tyler Goeddel (TB, High-A) was 4/5 with a double and stolen base while Francisco Lindor was 3/4 for Akron (CLE, Double-A).
Despite the loud bats, there were some great pitching performances too. Braden Shipley (ARI, Class-A) had a no-hitter through six but lost it after that (6 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). The Dodgers’ Chris Anderson (High-A) struck out eight in five innings (5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K) while the Angels’ Mike Clevinger (Class-A) fanned seven in five innings (5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K). Anthony DeSclafani had another good Double-A performance for Jacksonville (MIA) but actually took the loss (6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K). Steven Matz (NYM, High-A) fanned six in 5 2/3 shutout innings (4 H, 1 BB).
Finally, Caleb Smith, a lefty pitching for the Yankees’ Class-A affiliate in Charleston, struck out 13 batters in six innings against the Delmarva Shorebirds (BAL). He only allowed three hits and one walk in the outing and has only surrendered three runs (two earned) in 20 1/3 innings all year (with 26 strikeouts).