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: Canaan Smith-Njigba
Position: Left field
Bats/throws: Left/right
Age: 22
Size: 6-0, 240 pounds
MLB organizational rank: 26th
Affiliate: Altoona
It was a big day for Pirates' prospects that were acquired in the Jameson Taillon trade with the Yankees. Miguel Yajure posted five one-hit innings for the big-league club, and Smith-Njigba filled the box score for Altoona.
He launched his second homer of the season and doubled while recording four RBIs and scoring a pair of runs. Smith-Njigba is batting .364 with a 1.273 OPS and eight RBIs through 22 at-bats so far. The 2017 fourth-rounder developed a reputation as a patient hitter in the Rookie levels and has already drawn seven walks for the Curve.
Smith-Njigba can pack a lot of power potential into his stocky frame but he hasn't been able to tap into that strength in game situations just yet.
ELSEWHERE
• For the second consecutive start, Michael Burrows posted four scoreless innings for Greensboro. The 21-year-old right-hander struck out seven and yielded one hit over four innings. Burrows retired seven in a row to end his outing and has struck out 15 in eight total innings.
• It's been an incredible start for Nick Gonzales in Greensboro. He kept it going Friday with two doubles, a stolen base and a run scored. He improved to .382 with a 1.168 OPS so far on this young season. Gonzales can be a regular feature on these lists.
• Sammy Siani hasn't had a great jump out of the gate for Bradenton, but he produced a monster game Friday night. The outfielder bashed his second homer of the year and doubled while recording three RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Siani, the No. 37 overall pick in the 2019 draft, has plus speed and swiped his first bag Friday.
OFFICIAL LINKS
• Affiliate scores
• Indianapolis
• Altoona
• Greensboro
• Bradenton
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.
