MINNEAPOLIS — The Pirates’ top prospect moved one step closer to the major leagues Wednesday.
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow earned a promotion to Class AAA Indianapolis after a stellar partial season with Class AA Altoona. He is scheduled to start for the Indians Saturday.
In 63 innings with Altoona, Glasnow had a 2.43 ERA and struck out 82 batters. After walking at least four batters per nine innings in each of his previous three pro seasons, Glasnow has lowered his walk rate to 2.7 per nine this year.
Manager Clint Hurdle speaks to his minor league managers, including Altoona’s Tom Prince, once a week.
“The command, the strikeout-to-walk, also really has jumped out at Tom,” Hurdle said. “The velocity has been firm, the stuff plays. It’s a cliche we use in this game, it comes out of his hand good; it comes out of his hand better than good.”
Glasnow sprained his right ankle sliding into a base and missed about a month. After two rehab starts with short-season West Virginia, Glasnow returned to Altoona’s rotation. In his past four starts, he had a 1.80 ERA, 38 strikeouts and six walks, and a .149 batting-average-against in 25 innings.
“Continues to develop, continues to be able to use secondary pitches in offensive counts,” Hurdle said. “Fastball command improving, top, bottom, in and out.”
The Pirates drafted Glasnow in the fifth round in 2011 from William S. Hart High School in Santa Clarita, Calif. The 6-foot-8 Glasnow throws hard, touching the high 90s with his fastball, and has been improving his fielding.
“Ability to control the running game, holds, step-offs, throw-overs, slide-steps,” Hurdle said. “Reading swings, game-planning with the catcher, it’s all part of his overall development. He’s been able to take to another step.”
Early exit for Polanco
Gregory Polanco left the game Wednesday in the fourth inning because of pain in his left knee.
“I actually think he might have aggravated it a little bit [Tuesday] night with the play he made to the wall, not hitting the wall but I think the route he had to take to get to the wall,” Hurdle said. “He had trouble getting it loose [Wednesday].”
Minor league transaction
The Cleveland Indians purchased minor league left-hander Jayson Aquino from the Pirates.
The Pirates had designated Aquino for assignment July 22 to make room for shortstop Pedro Florimon on the 40-man roster. They acquired Aquino from Toronto for cash in May, and he made 13 starts with Class A Bradenton.
Aquino, 22, had a 3.78 ERA in 78⅔ innings.
Bill Brink: bbrink@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrinkPG.
First Published: July 30, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
