Notes: So-So Week; Draft Lands SS Johnson, Two Pitchers; More Roster Churn; MiLB & MLB Sidebars

Draft and then the break...

Notes:

• Pittsburgh started the week off well with a 5-1 win over the Fish; Mitch Keller went seven innings for the first time in his career. The Bucs went bullpenning to take game two by a 3-2 count, but the streak ended as they lost the final two games, both in extra innings and both winnable. Then on to Colorado, where they dropped the first two of three games, but on the bright side, the club is at least going into the break with a win.
• The big news was the draft; the Pirates selected SS Termarr Johnson,18, from Mays HS in Atlanta as the fourth overall pick of the draft. Termarr was projected as perhaps the best hitter in the draft (he throws right, bats left), but on the smallish side at 5-8 and projects as a second baseman. He made his college commitment to Arizona State. With comp pick #36, they chose soph RHP Thomas Harrington, 21, from Campbell University. In the second round with pick #44, they claimed LHP Hunter Barco, 21, who had TJ surgery in May; before that, he was considered a Top 15 draftee. Here are their bios.

Image via MLB.com

• Yah, more moves: RHP Bryse Wilson was recalled from Indy as RHP Chase DeJong went on the 15-day IL with tendinitis in his knee on Sunday. OF Cal Mitchell was called up on Friday and slumping OF Jack Suwinski (0-for-29) was optioned to Indy. C Tyler Heineman returned from paternity leave; C Michael Perez was also optioned to Indy. The Pirates activated LHP Dillon Peters off the IL and optioned LHP Eric Stout to Indy on Tuesday. The day before, OF Jake Marisnick was recalled from the IL and LHP Cam Vieaux was DFA'ed. Also, OF Bryan Reynolds was placed on the 10-day IL on Monday with a strained right oblique, always a tricky injury. He's not taking part in any baseball activities and will be reevaluated after the All Star break.
• 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes is on an eight-game hitting streak.
• RHP Austin Brice cleared waivers and was assigned to Indy. 
• LHP Aaron Fletcher was claimed by the San Fran Giants after being DFA'ed by the Pirates last week.
• BTW, Altoona C Henry Davis is being shut down for a couple of weeks; apparently he returned too soon from his wrist fracture. The Pirates are hopeful he'll be back before the season ends.
• Indy RHP Mike Burrows worked an inning in the Futures game, giving up no runs on a hit, walk and whiff.

Henry Davis - 2021 photo Tom DiPlace/Baseball America

• Four Pirates farmhands made Baseball America's latest Top 100 Prospects: SS Oneil Cruz (#12), C Henry Davis (#44), SS Liover Peguero (#68)  and RHP Quinn Priester (#74).
• FanGraphs rates the Pirates farm system second in prospects.
• C Jake Stallings was awarded his 2021 Gold Glove at Loan Depot Park on Tuesday. The ceremony date was set at Shelty's request so that the Bucs could be there to help Stalls celebrate the honor he won as a Pirate.
• North Allegheny SS Cole Young was selected #21 overall by the Seattle Mariners.
• Dodger LHP Tyler Anderson (remember him? He's 10-1/2.96 with LA) was added to the All Star team.
• Ever hear of the "pie slice" rule? It's the newest experimental anti-shift concept that MLB has come up with, and is getting a minor league trail run, as explained by Dave Adler of MLB.com.
• MLB has to pay $185M to the minors to make up for years of underpaying the players, including paying them for the off-season, travel and spring training, per the Trib/Associated Press.