Glasnow fires 7 no-hit innings for Indianapolis

Top Pirates prospect takes no-hitter through 5 innings for 3rd time this month

June 23rd, 2016

PITTSBURGH -- Tyler Glasnow flirted with a no-hitter again, but high walk totals and rising pitch counts continue to get in the way.
The No. 8 overall prospect threw seven no-hit innings for Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, but he walked five and was lifted after 102 pitches (59 strikes). Glasnow's high number of walks is concerning to Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, but overall, he thinks Glasnow has made progress.
"He's continuing to grow in a lot of wonderful ways and strong ways," Hurdle said. "I think one of the last measures that we look for is the command. Triple-A command is hard to foresee the big league command. There are so many weak pockets in Triple-A lineups where guys can have command problems. But you get to a certain part of the lineup, and you get things taken care of."

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Glasnow, 22, struck out eight in Indianapolis' 4-3 loss to Gwinnett. The team had a combined no-hitter through eight but gave up three runs on two hits in the ninth and lost on Anthony Recker's walk-off solo blast in the 10th.
The no-hit bid was Glasnow's third of the month and second in as many starts. The right-hander twirled six no-hit innings in his last start, June 17, but he walked six. The Pirates' top prospect has yet to allow a hit over his past 13 frames, but 11 walks have resulted in 199 total pitches over the two outings. If the problem continues, the walks would continue to be a concern at the next level, according to Hurdle.
"When you're averaging 4.5 walks a game, that's a number you have to pay attention to," Hurdle said. "You can say, 'We need to shave that down,' because there's many pitchers that get up here and that's part of the challenge."
Glasnow's third no-hit bid of June came on the first day of the month, when he didn't give up a hit in five innings.
And, of course, if opponents are struggling to get hits, they're likely also struggling to score. Glasnow hasn't given up an earned run over his past 21 innings and has a minuscule 1.61 ERA through 15 starts. Glasnow also leads the International League with 47 walks in 84 innings, but he has been able to erase a lot of that trouble with a plethora of strikeouts, as he also leads the league with 100.