Pittsburgh Pirates minor league news and notes

Indianapolis (22-10) - The Indians own the best record in the International League coming into today...Gerrit Cole ranks eighth in the league in ERA (2.45) and is 2-0 with a 1.16 ERA (23.1ip/3er) over his last four starts...Vic Black is tied for third in the league in saves (seven) and has posted a 1.72 ERA (15.2ip/3er) since allowing three runs in 1.1 innings in his season debut...Andy Oliver has a league-leading 44 strikeouts and has not allowed a run in four of his first seven starts...Ivan DeJesus Jr. is hitting .351 overall and .407 (11-for-27) in his last seven games...Tony Sanchez is hitting .364 (4-for-11) so far this month and .275 for the season... Darren Ford and Josh Harrison are tied for fourth in the league in stolen bases (10)...Duke Welker has the best batting average against (.063, 3-for-48) among International League relievers and is third in fewest baserunners per 9.0 innings pitched (6.19) among relievers...Welker has allowed one unearned run in his 16.0 innings of work...Ryan Reid has been charged with one earned run in his first 10 appearances (16.2ip/1er, 0.54 ERA).

Altoona (12-19) - The Curve have a league leading 3.63 ERA coming into today...Stolmy Pimentel has an Eastern League leading 0.74 ERA, which ranks eighth in all of minor league baseball and a .188 batting average against (fourth lowest in the Eastern League)...Jameson Taillon has allowed two earned runs or less in four of his first six starts...Tim Alderson's .091 batting average against (4-for-44) ranks second in the league among relievers...Adalberto Santos is hitting .356 (16-for-45) after his first 16 games this season.

Bradenton (11-20) - Nick Kingham leads all Florida State League pitchers in strikeouts (40), ranks 10th in ERA (2.76) and fourth in WHIP (0.95)...Gregory Polanco ranks second in the league in stolen bases (12) and is 8-for-19 (.421) with three doubles and two home runs in his last six games...Jhonathan Ramos is third in the league among relievers in batting average against (.143).

West Virginia (13-16) - The Power rank third in the South Atlantic League in batting average (.268), runs (159), total bases (409) and home runs (24)...Stetson Allie is tied for second in the league in home runs (eight), ranks second in slugging percentage (.645) and total bases (71), fourth in RBI (26) and fifth in hits (39) and batting average (.355)...Josh Bell leads the league in RBI (30) and is second in doubles (12)...Bell's 30 RBI also ranks fourth in all of minor league baseball...Raul Fortunato is tied for second in the league in triples (three)... Walker Gourley ranks sixth in the league in batting (.333)...Orlando Castro yesterday was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher-of-the-Week...Castro enters today ranked fifth in the league in ERA (1.36), third in WHIP (0.82) and first among starters in walks per 9.0 innings (1 walk in 33.0 innings of work)...Tyler Glasnow has a 1.80 ERA (20.0ip/4er) in his first five starts.