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: Ke'Bryan Hayes
Position: Third Base
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 24
Size: 5-10, 205 pounds
MLB organizational rank: No. 1
Affiliate: On rehab assignment in Indianapolis
It's weird to still refer to Hayes as a prospect, but he is still has his rookie status, so it counts. After getting a base hit in his return to game action Saturday, Hayes went deep Sunday, signaling that he is close to being ready to return to the Pirates:
.@KeBryanHayes casually repeating his MLB debut performance today at St. Paul: 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI.
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) May 23, 2021
Have a day, Young Hayes. 👏 pic.twitter.com/SCn2rdIk0W
Hayes also doubled in the Indians' 5-4 loss to St. Paul Sunday. He was the designated hitter for the day.
Of course, the Pirates are going to have to be a little patient still with him. It is a rehab assignment, and Hayes isn't eligible to come off the 60-day injured list until June 3. If he keeps swinging the bat like that, he'll probably be back that first day available.
ELSEWHERE
• The Marauders had a pretty legendary collapse Sunday. Despite being up 7-1 after six innings, they would end up being crushed by the Flying Tigers, 20-7. Endy Rodriguez hit his third homer of the year, and the backstop ended up being called on to get the final two outs of a 12-run ninth inning. He was actually the second position player to pitch that inning after shortstop Norkis Marcos failed to get an out.
So the Pirates weren't the only ones who had a position player get lit up on the mound.
• Ben Cherington said on his 93.7 The Fan radio show that Nick Gonzales fractured his pinky in a rundown. He will miss four to six weeks. The Grasshoopers certainly missed his bat Sunday, as they were two-hit in a 2-1 loss to the Hickory Crawdads.
In a bit of good news, Liover Peguero (knee) should return to the Grasshoppers soon.
• There's just a lot of good pitching in Altoona right now. Jeffrey Passantino, a minor-league Rule 5 pick from this winter, gave five no-hit innings against the Harrisburg Senators Sunday, walking one and striking out three. Oneil Cruz delivered what would end up being the game-winning base hit in the 11th, and Yerry De Los Santos navigated the extra-inning runner on second rule twice to get the victory.
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.