LEADING OFF: Pirates No. 2 prospect RHP Jameson Taillon pitched Tuesday, and today the Curve turn to RHP Gerrit Cole, the Bucs' top prospect. The Curve have had many highly touted prospects in franchise history, but never before have there been two pitchers in the same rotation with this kind of potential, and they are pitching on back-to-back days.
SAFE AT FIRST: Taillon is still slated to make his PNG Field debut Sunday night. Cole then will pitch at home Monday.
STEALING SECOND: 3B Stefan Welch had about as bad of a day as a hitter can have Tuesday. He's been a sold contributor for the offense since coming up from high-A Bradenton, but he struck out in all five at-bats and left eight runners on base against Trenton. He's just the second player in Curve history to strike out five times in one game, joining Miles Durham (April 22, 2011 at Richmond).
ROUNDING THIRD: INF Brock Holt has been red hot since going up to Triple-A Indianapolis. He's hitting .411 (23-for-56) in 14 games and extended his hitting streak to 10 games Tuesday. Holt still leads the Eastern League in hitting at .322 and has a strong shot at winning the battle title.
HEADING HOME: Holt has played 2B and SS at Indy, and he's committed only one error in his 14 games. That's huge because there's little doubt he can hit but will have to show the Pirates he can be a capable defensive player to get a shot in the big leagues.
- Cory Giger
