Pirates Prospect Watch: Flowers Settles in After Shaky First Inning

For the first time in his professional career, Pittsburgh Pirates prospect J.C. Flowers made his Arizona Fall League debut. Although Flowers had been coming out of the bullpen for Triple-A Indianapolis, he started for Salt River Thursday night.

In the first inning Flowers struggled mightily. Flowers struggled with command and walked the first two batters he faced. In totality, Flowers faced eight batters in the first inning and gave up three runs on two hits and three walks.

After the first inning, though, Flowers settled down and posted two consecutive scoreless innings. In addition, Flowers faced one batter over the minimum for those two innings with his fourth walk in the third.

In three innings of work, Flowers threw 50 pitches. The right-hander threw 46% four-seams, 38% sliders, 14% changeups and 2% sinkers.

Despite only getting two whiffs, Flowers was effective when he was in the zone and forcing contact. The Florida State product allowed just 86 mph in average exit velocity with nine balls put into play.

Flower’s final line read 3.0 innings pitched, two hits, three runs, four walks, and two strikeouts.

In terms of offense for Pittsburgh Pirates prospects, there was very little to write home about. Jase Bowen went 0-4 on the night with two strikeouts.

Although, Bowen put a charge into both balls he put into play with exit velocities of 95.2 mph on a lineout in the third inning, and 102.8 mph in the first inning on a flyout.

In addition, Bowen’s flyout in the first inning was hindered by his 44 degree launch angle. If Bowen gets his launch angle down to the 30’s, we’re probably talking about his first AFL homer.

Jack Brannigan has yet to pick up a hit in the Fall League, but Brannigan registered an RBI in the first inning with a hit by pitch. In addition, Brannigan went 0-3 with a run scored, a strikeout, and an RBI.

Salt River snapped their two-game losing streak Thursday night and beat Surprise 8-5.