Down on the Farm is a recurring notebook highlighting the past week of baseball throughout the Pirates minor league system. Below are the most notable takeaways from each of the club’s four minor-league teams:
Top story: David Bednar dominating
After being optioned to Triple-A just five games into the regular season, Bednar has responded well in the minor leagues, tossing four shutout innings in his first four appearances with Indianapolis. Bednar has yet to allow a hit or a walk and has struck out five batters. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington spoke briefly about Bednar’s production in Triple-A, saying the early showings are encouraging.
“He’s doing exactly what you’d expect him to do, which is to be really focused on what he wanted to accomplish while he’s in Triple-A,” Cherington said Sunday on his weekly radio show. “It’s all about clarity for him, having confidence in his mix of pitches and attacking hitters. Having the opportunity to pitch regularly, just to lock those things in, he’s been really effective, which isn’t surprising.”
Team of the week: Greensboro Grasshoppers
The Grasshoppers continued their hot start, winning five of their six games last week against Winston-Salem to take over first place in the South Atlantic League’s North division. Greensboro leads the South Atlantic League in runs scored (63) and is tied with the Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) for the best run differential in the league (plus-22).
Records
Triple-A Indianapolis: 5-7 (Eighth place in International League’s West division)
Double-A Altoona: 3-6 (Fifth place in Eastern League’s Southwest division)
High-A Greensboro: 7-2 (First place in South Atlantic League’s North division)
Low-A Bradenton: 3-6 (Last place in Florida State League’s West division)
Starting nine
1. Bubba Chandler, RHP (Triple-A): The No. 14 prospect in baseball and the Pirates’ top prospect per MLB Pipeline, Chandler has continued to look strong early into his 2025 campaign, boasting a 1.69 ERA over his first three starts. Chandler has struck out 18 batters over 10 ⅔ innings so far. On Sunday, the 22-year-old right-hander threw a pitch that registered at 101.5 mph.
2. Liover Peguero, SS (Triple-A): Peguero has been the top offensive producer so far for the Indians, slashing .317/.364/.415 in his first 11 games of the season. A 24-year-old with the ability to play both shortstop and second base, Peguero could be a call-up option for the Pirates in the near future.
3. Hunter Barco, LHP (Double-A): Rated the Pirates’ No. 7 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Barco has yet to allow a run throughout his first two starts of the season, tossing eight scoreless innings. The 24-year-old southpaw has shown strong command of the zone, striking out eight batters while only issuing one walk.
4. Termarr Johnson, 2B (Double-A): Rated the No. 4 prospect in the Pirates system and No. 79 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, Johnson has swung the best bat for the Curve so far, slashing .310/.412/.448 in seven games. Still only 20-years-old, Johnson has also been dangerous on the bases, leading the Curve with three steals entering this week of play.
5. Anthony Solometo, LHP (Double-A): Rated the No. 14 prospect in the Pirates’ system by MLB Pipeline, Solometo has continued to build off a dominant first outing, now boasting a 0.90 ERA over 10 innings of work. A 22-year-old southpaw, Solometo has surrendered only two hits this season but has issued four walks and hit a batter.
6. Omar Alfonzo, C (High-A): Rated the Pirates’ No. 19 prospect per MLB Pipeline, Alfonzo has led the charge for Greensboro’s hot start, smashing a team-best three home runs in his first nine games while also playing strong defense. Look for the 21-year-old backstop to potentially make a jump when the prospect rankings are updated later this season.
7. Antwone Kelly, RHP (High-A): A 21-year-old right-hander, Kelly has been a solid arm for the Grasshoppers early on, boasting a 1.29 ERA over his 7.0 innings pitched this season. Kelly has struck out a team-best 12 batters while only walking a pair.
8. Konnor Griffin, SS/OF (Low-A): Rated the No. 2 prospect in the Pirates’ organization and the No. 40 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, Griffin looks to be putting things together at the plate, boasting an .820 OPS in his first eight games with Bradenton. Griffin blasted a home run Saturday, his first as a pro.
9. Axiel Plaz, C (Low-A): Rated the Pirates’ No. 28 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Plaz has been the Marauders' top hitter, slashing .394/.459/.455 in his first eight games of the year. Only 19 years old, Plaz has tallied 13 hits, five more than any other player on his team entering Monday.
First Published: April 14, 2025, 7:14 p.m.
