Prospects from the Baltimore Orioles Minor League system faced off against prospects from the Pittsburgh Pirates system on Thursday evening in Bradenton, FL. The Pirates prospects came out on top 3-1 in a scheduled seven inning game that featured 7 of the Orioles top 10 prospects and 8 of the Pirates top 10.
The most anticipated matchup of the night came in the first inning when the 2022 number 1 overall draft pick Jackson Holliday faced the 2023 number 1 overall draft pick Paul Skenes. Skenes got Holliday out by swinging strikeout in a six pitch at bat that saw the radar gun hit 100+ mph.
Skenes threw 11 pitches (8 strikes) in 1.0 inning of work and struck out 2.
Jackson’s second at bat was a sharp line out to third that Pittsburgh converted to a double play by catching Enrique Bradfield (1 for 3) off first base.
No. 6 @Orioles prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. had a home-to-first time of 3.69 seconds on this bunt single.
That is faster than any time recorded by an Orioles player last season.
#SpringBreakout pic.twitter.com/9oogFBvuJR
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) March 15, 2024
The lone Orioles run came in the second inning. Samuel Basallo (0 foR 1, BB) walked and Luis Valdez (0 for 0, R, 2 SB) pinch ran for him. Valdez stole both second and third base and scored on a Jud Fabian (0 for 0, RBI, BB) sac fly.
Cade Povich started and went 3.0 innings, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, on 2 hits with 2 walks, 4 strikeouts and a run allowing balk. Povich was tagged with the loss.
Trace Bright pitched 3.0 innings as well and allowed 1 run on 3 hits with a walk, 4 strikeouts and a hit batter.
The game also saw a successful challenge of a ball call by Orioles catcher Silas Ardoin (0 for 1, BB); the pitch was ruled a strike after the challenge.
One thing worth watching will be the health of Baltimore’s Creed Willems (0 for 0, HBP). Willems was hit on the inside of the left elbow on a Bubba Chandler pitch in the seventh inning; Willems was in considerable pain and was removed from the game immediately (I lip read at least two f-bombs from Willems).