Around the Curve | Curve in the Majors - Vol. 7
CURVE, PA. – Altoona has been a pipeline to the Major Leagues for nearly 26 years, with the current alumni count at 215 players achieving their dreams of becoming a big leaguer. This season, we want to look at some of the exciting accomplishments our alumni are achieving at the
CURVE, PA. – Altoona has been a pipeline to the Major Leagues for nearly 26 years, with the current alumni count at 215 players achieving their dreams of becoming a big leaguer. This season, we want to look at some of the exciting accomplishments our alumni are achieving at the Major League level. Every week, we will spotlight a handful of players who are succeeding at the next level and reflect on their time with the Curve, here on the Around the Curve Blog! Here is the seventh edition of: “Curve in the Majors.”
1. OF- Andrew McCutchen- Pittsburgh Pirates
Season Stats: .226, 81 games, 12 HRs, 25 RBIs
Deep within his 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, production has yet to be worn down with McCutchen's age, as his ability to hit the long ball all around the diamond has yet to dull. This season McCutchen is currently sitting third in the Pirates roster for the most home runs, only being six shy of the lead held by Bryan Reynolds with 18. Outside of that, he’s also leading the team in runs scored (47) and walks (41).
McCutchen played 138 games for the Curve from 2006-2007, and to this day he is still the youngest player to take the field for Altoona, making his Double-A debut on August 15, 2006, at just 19 years old. The 11th overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft played in the final 20 games of the 2006 season en route to being named the Pirates Minor League Player of the Year. When he returned in 2007, he was the Pirates No. 1 prospect per Baseball America, but his numbers cooled off. He finished his Curve tenure with a .265 batting average, 13 home runs, and 60 RBIs in 138 games.
2. RHP - Jameson Taillon- Chicago Cubs
Season Stats: 7-4 , 3.10 ERA, 16 Games (16 Starts) 93.0 IP, 18 BB, 75 K
This season, Taillon has been a regular contributor for the Cubs. Within his three starts in the month of July, he’s earned three wins and hasn’t allowed more than 3 runs with 17 total strikeouts. Overall, Taillon has struck out a combined 75 batters in 93.0 innings allowing 32 earned runs on 90 hits.
Taillon appeared 24 times in a Curve uniform, starting a total of 23 times. During his time in Altoona, Taillon pitched just over a total of 130 innings, averaging a strikeout per inning. Outside of those impressive stats, he was also named Eastern League Pitcher of The Week during the second week of August in 2012 and Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star in 2013.
3. INF- Nick Gonzales- Pittsburgh Pirates
Season Stats: .265, 57 games, 5 HRs, 35 RBIs
Nick Gonzales has shown himself to be one of the bright spots in the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup. Since being recalled in early May, he’s been a hot hitter, hitting .265 to match it. He’s been able to add 12 doubles, two triples, and five home runs to the Pirates lineup in that span as well.
With the Curve, Gonzales showed much of his potential early on. During the 2022 season, he hit a consistent .263 batting average, seven home runs, and 33 RBIs. This impressive performance helped him stand out in an already stacked lineup of future Pittsburgh Pirates, such as Endy Rodriguez, Jack Suwinski, and Jared Triolo.
4. RHP - Clay Holmes- New York Yankees
Season Stats: 1-4 2.77 ERA, 40 Games, 39.0 IP, 10 BB, 41 K
Clay Holmes was one of the American League’s best relief arms to begin the season. In his first 30 appearances, he allowed just four earned runs and 28 hits in 29.1 innings pitched. However, he was not at his sharpest as he went into the break, allowing 11 hits and eight runs in his last 6.2 innings since June 13. He was voted into his second career All-Star game in Arlington this week.
Holmes pitched for the Curve primarily in 2016 where he was used as a starter, making 26 starts and finishing the season 10-9 with a 4.22 ERA in 136.1 IP. He returned to Altoona on rehab in 2019, throwing in two games in relief.
Other Notes:
- Former Pirates farm hand and Curve Alum RHP Colin Selby has been acquired by the Orioles from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash considerations. Selby began the season in Triple-A Indianapolis before was claimed off waivers by the Royals. After making two Major League appearances and 18 Triple-A appearances for Kansas City, he now heads to the Orioles system, where he has been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.
- Aaron Shortridge has shown great progress in his rehab assignment with Low-A Bradenton Marauders. Shortridge, who has been sidelined with an injury since Spring Training, has made five rehab appearances between Low-A and the FCL, accumulating 25 strikeouts in 15.1 innings with only three earned runs allowed.
Stay tuned all season long for more exciting content on the Around the Curve Blog!
Curve and Flying Squirrels Postponed Tuesday
CURVE, Pa. – Altoona and Richmond’s series opener at Peoples Natural Gas Field was postponed due to inclement weather on Tuesday night. The game will be made up with a doubleheader on Thursday with a pair of 7-inning games beginning at 5:00 p.m. Fans holding tickets to Tuesday’s game can
Bullpen Twirls a Gem in 7-1 Win
CURVE, Pa. – Altoona’s bullpen covered all nine innings in their 7-1 win over the Erie SeaWolves on Sunday night in front of 5,372 fans at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Making his second start of the week, lefty Blake Townsend tossed four scoreless innings in the start. He allowed just
Pichardo Stays Hot in 7-2 Loss
CURVE, Pa. – Kervin Pichardo homered and tripled in a run, but Altoona dropped a 7-2 decision to the Erie SeaWolves on Saturday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field in front of 4,536 patrons. Following an hour and 57 minute rain delay to begin the game, Erie plated two runs
Pichardo, Weatherford Boys Lead Friday Night Victory
CURVE, Pa. – Kervin Pichardo rocked a three-run homer and Weatherford, Texas natives, Brenden Dixon (two hits and a walk) and Beau Burrows (two scoreless innings, save) led a 4-1 win for Altoona over the Erie SeaWolves on Friday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. After Erie starter Carlos Pena
Bombs Away! Three Curve Homers Sink SeaWolves
CURVE, Pa. – Jack Brannigan, Imanol Vargas and Hudson Head each homered in Altoona’s 10-6 win over the Erie SeaWolves in front of 5,679 fans on Thursday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Altoona took their first lead with a three-run third inning. After Brannigan’s two-run shot tied the game
Sixth Inning Sinks Curve
CURVE, Pa. – Despite building an early 2-0 lead, Altoona dropped a 5-2 decision to the Erie SeaWolves on Wednesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The Curve have dropped seven of their last eight games and are now 25-34 on the season. Altoona scored the first two runs of
Erie Arms Silence Altoona Bats
Four Erie pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout of Altoona on Tuesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The SeaWolves earned a 3-0 win over the Curve in the series opener. After earning four hits in their first three innings at the plate, the Curve offense was unable to generate
Curve Blast Fisher Cats in Series Finale
MANCHESTER, NH – Altoona salvaged the final game of their six-game series at New Hampshire with a 11-5 win over the Fisher Cats on Sunday afternoon at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. The win broke a five-game losing streak for the Curve. Quiet all week, the Curve offense broke out
Curve Swept Away In Saturday Doubleheader
MANCHESTER, NH – Altoona’s losing streak stretched to five games as they were swept in a doubleheader by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 4-0 and 5-2, on Saturday night at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. Altoona was shut out for a franchise-record fourth consecutive game in the opener of the
Bats Quiet Again in 2-0 Defeat
MANCHESTER, NH – Altoona was shutout for their third consecutive game at New Hampshire, falling 2-0 on Thursday night at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. It is the first time since August 2-4, 2021 that the Curve have been held without a run in three straight nine inning games. Fisher
Curve Shutout by Fisher Cats on Wednesday Night
MANCHESTER, NH – Despite another strong night from the Altoona pitching staff, the Curve dropped a 3-0 decision to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Wednesday night at Delta Dental Stadium in New Hampshire. Jarod Bayless started the bullpen day for the Curve and was touched for three runs in
Jebb, Cimillo Combine for Four Hits in Series Opening Defeat
MANCHESTER, NH – Mitch Jebb and Nick Cimillo combined for four of Altoona’s five hits in a 4-0 loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Tuesday night at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. Alessandro Ercolani dueled away with Fisher Cats starter Ryan Watson for the first four innings on
Johnson, Ross Lead Comeback Win, 7-5
CURVE, Pa. – For a second straight game, Altoona rallied from a late-inning deficit and earned a victory against the Portland Sea Dogs. The 7-5 win for the Curve ensured a series split with the Boston Red Sox affiliate. Termarr Johnson highlighted the comeback with a massive two-run shot in
Dixon’s Walk-off Bomb Highlights 9-7 Win
CURVE, Pa. – After dropping the resumed suspended game, 9-3, Altoona rallied from a 5-0 deficit after the top of the first inning in the nightcap and earned a 9-7 walk-off win over the Portland Sea Dogs. The Curve are 2-3 this week against Portland and can earn a series
Sea Dogs and Curve Suspended in Fifth Inning
CURVE, Pa. – Altoona and Portland were suspended in the fifth inning of their game on Friday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The teams will pick up the suspended game on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and play it to its completion before playing a 7-inning game. Altoona trails the
‘Dogs Sweep Curve In Thursday Doubleheader
CURVE, Pa. – Portland completed a doubleheader sweep of the Curve on Thursday night, 3-0 and 9-6, at Peoples Natural Gas Field. After Thursday’s game, Altoona’s record stands at 22-26. GAME ONE Portland’s David Sandlin tossed a three-hit shutout to lead the Sea Dogs to a 3-0 win over the
Curve Buried At Sea By The Dogs
CURVE, Pa. – Wednesday night’s game between Altoona and Portland was postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up on Thursday, May 29, at Peoples Natural Gas Field with a doubleheader consisting of a pair of 7-inning games beginning at 5:00 p.m. Fans holding tickets to Wednesday’s
Cimillo’s Homer Leads Series Opening Win
CURVE, Pa. – Nick Cimillo knocked his second home run of the season as Altoona defeated the Portland Sea Dogs, 4-2, on Tuesday night to begin the week at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Cimillo knocked the solo shot in the seventh inning odd Sea Dogs reliever Jonathan Brand. The Curve
Curve Split Sunday Doubleheader in Akron
AKRON, Ohio – After dropping the first four games of the week in Akron, the Curve split a doubleheader on Sunday night to the RubberDucks at Canal Park, taking game one 1-0 before falling in game two 5-4. GAME ONE Altoona was held scoreless over the first five innings of
Peterson Powers RubberDucks to Second-Consecutive Shutout Win Over Altoona
AKRON, Ohio – For the second game in a row, Altoona was shutout by the Akron RubberDucks on Saturday night at Canal Park, falling by a final of 10-0. Austin Peterson was dominant for Akron, spinning seven scoreless innings and allowing just three hits with four strikeouts. He retired the
Curve Swept in Doubleheader by 'Ducks
AKRON, Ohio – After two nights of rainouts, the Curve managed just five hits over two games of a doubleheader on Friday night as the Akron RubberDucks took both games by finals of 6-3 and 5-0 at Canal Park. GAME ONE Alessandro Ercolani gave up a season-high six runs on
RubberDucks Sneak Past Curve in Tuesday Morning Defeat
AKRON, Ohio – Kervin Pichardo knocked an RBI-double for the Curve in the eighth inning, but Altoona stranded 10 runners on base in a 3-1 loss to the Akron RubberDucks at Canal Park on Tuesday morning. Altoona’s offense was held to just two hits and no walks against Akron starter
Curve and RubberDucks Postponed for Second-Consecutive Night
AKRON, Ohio – The Altoona Curve and Akron RubberDucks were rained out for the second day in-a-row on Thursday night at Canal Park. The game will be made up as a doubleheader on Sunday, May 25 with game one beginning at 4:05 p.m. The night will consist of two seven
Curve and RubberDucks Rained Out on Wednesday Night
AKRON, Ohio – The Altoona Curve and Akron RubberDucks were rained out on Wednesday night at Canal Park. The game will be made up as a doubleheader on Friday, May 23 with game one beginning at 5:05 p.m. The night will consist of two seven inning games. Altoona is 20-20
Senators Snag Series Finale in Altoona
CURVE, Pa. – Jack Brannigan stretched his on-base streak to 23 games on Sunday night with a two-hit performance for the Curve, but Altoona could not hold off the Harrisburg Senators in a 6-4 loss at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Harrisburg capitalized early with a first inning grand slam from