Welcome to In The System, our new daily analysis of the latest throughout the Pirates' organization!
Each morning, we'll spotlight an individual player or performance from the previous day/night, in addition to offering convenient links to find all the information anyone could want on Class AAA Indianapolis, Class AA Altoona, high Class A Greensboro and low Class A Bradenton throughout the season.
Player: Tahnaj Thomas
Position: Starting pitcher
Bats/throws: Right/right
Age: 21
Size: 6-4, 190
MLB organizational rank: 8th
Affiliate: Greensboro
Nice three-pitch strikeout the other day from #Pirates RHP Tahnaj Thomas pic.twitter.com/c2AUNFL7GV
— Josh Norris (@jnorris427) May 7, 2021
The Pirates have played it safe with Thomas to open the season, and he's responded by striking out more than two per inning over his first two starts.
He lasted four frames and struck out eight batters in a 7-3 victory in the matinee of a doubleheader against Rome on Wednesday. Thomas walked three and allowed two hits but has totaled 15 punchouts in seven total innings to start the season.
The big-bodied Bahamian averages out at 96 mph with his plus fastball but can reach back and touch triple digits. There are questions about his ability to go deep into games and his future as a starter, but if he can develop his slider and changeup, he can be an effective major leaguer.
Thomas was acquired from the Indians along with Erik Gonzalez in the deal that sent Jordan Luplow and Max Moroff to Cleveland. He last pitched at the Rookie level for now-defunct Bristol in 2019, where he posted a 3.17 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings.
ELSEWHERE
• The top six hitters in the Altoona lineup accounted for 10 hits, including three knocks and three runs scored by Ji-hwan Bae. The 21-year-old second baseman has not gotten off to a hot start to this season. His three hits Wednesday matched his total output from his previous seven games, and he's batting .194 through his first 31 at-bats. Bligh Madris had three hits, Oneil Cruz and Rodolfo Castro had two and Mason Martin homered for the first time this season.
• Thomas' teammate Nick Gonzales had three hits, including a solo homer and a double, over seven at-bats in the doubleheader. The 2020 first-rounder has 11 hits through his first 30 at-bats (.367) with four RBIs and a 1.124 OPS in his first eight minor-league games.
Nick Gonzales homered in the @GSOHoppers nightcap Thursday. #Piratespic.twitter.com/X25ZvleesX
— Gerard Gilberto (@Gerard_Gilberto) May 14, 2021
• In a twist of fate, both players the Pirates acquired in the Josh Bell deal started for their respective clubs Tuesday. Wil Crowe pitched five innings at PNC Park while Eddy Yean delivered three scoreless frames for Bradenton, yielding two hits and a walk without recording a strikeout. It was the second consecutive scoreless outing for Yean. He last appeared out of the bullpen following a rough start in his organizational debut, in which he allowed five runs and recorded just one out.
OFFICIAL LINKS
YOUR TURN: We'd love to hear from you, too, especially if you make it out to see any of these prospects and affiliates play. Feel free to file your own original scouting reports and other observations in comments.