Call to the pen
Fansided

Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers lead minor league notes

By Brody Hilgenkamp

Mar 5, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow (51) throws a pitch in the second inning of the spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow (51) throws a pitch in the second inning of the spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker may not have the sexiest stat line ever, but he’s cut from the same mold as Reds first baseman Joey Votto. Winker is seventh in the International League in walk rate (15.3 percent entering Friday) and strikes out almost as often as most other hitters walk.

Entering Friday’s game he was hitting .303 with a .405 on-base percentage but was slugging just .394. Winker has the potential to be a doubles machine, and as a left-handed hitter his home run pop would play up in Great American Ballpark.

Winker should make his major league debut at some point this season, because it seems as though everyone else in the International League has made theirs. But while players get promoted left and right, Pirates first baseman Josh Bell quietly plugs along without much hype. He had a .375 weight on-base average (wOBA) entering Friday, which was just below Nationals shortstop Trea Turner. Turner has been getting a lot of promotion buzz, and Bell should too.

Rockies pitcher Jeff Hoffman has a 2.16 ERA in the Pacific Coast League. That is third in the league, as is his opponent’s average (.205) while his opponents’ batting average on balls in play (.241) is fourth.

Next: Double-A

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