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: Jase Bowen
Position: Second base
Bats/throws: Right/right
Age: 20
Size: 6-1, 190 pounds
MLB organizational rank: NA
Affiliate: Bradenton
It's been quite the week for Bowen, the Pirates' 11th-round selection in the 2019 draft. Bowen now ranks second in the low Class A Southeast division after bashing his fifth homer of the season on a 2-for-3 night for the Marauders. In the past five days, Bowen has nine hits in 19 at-bats, including four homers and 11 RBIs.
The Pirates drafted Bowen out of a Toledo, Ohio, prep school and signed him away from his commitment to play wide receiver at Michigan State. He was drafted as an outfielder but was since converted to an infielder and has mostly played second base for Bradenton this season. His monstrous week boosted his average to .268 and his OPS to .854 this season.
Wow, Jase Bowen is having a monster week. pic.twitter.com/x35yxdhMRc
— Gerard Gilberto (@Gerard_Gilberto) May 30, 2021
ELSEWHERE
• It hasn't been the best start for Hudson Head in his first month in the Pirates' organization. He took an 0-for-3 to fall below the Mendoza line but drew a walk and scored a run Saturday night. The outfielder that was acquired in the Joe Musgrove deal this offseason is batting .197 but he's still sporting a .376 on-base percentage for Bradenton.
• The window of opportunity for big-league outfielders will probably be open at least a crack all year. And Bligh Madris is still putting up numbers in Class AAA. Madris doubled twice Saturday night to improve to .355 with Indianapolis.
Back-to-back home runs fueled our offense late. Check out our highlights from game two of our doubleheader!https://t.co/ialbIlDXeo
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) May 30, 2021
• Oneil Cruz and Mason Martin each bashed their fourth homers of the season Saturday night for Altoona.
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.