Pirates Prospect Struggles in First AFL Appearance
In their first game in the Arizona Fall League, the Scottsdale Scorpions had a few Pittsburgh Pirates step up in a one-run victory.
One day later, it was quite the opposite.
Pirates pitching prospect Brandan Bidois struggled mightily in his AFL debut in the Scorpions' 19-3 loss to the Mesa Solar Sox. Fellow Pirates pitching prospect Derek Diamond also made an appearance and catcher Geovanny Planchart was 1-3 with an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning and a walk. Planchart struggled defensively, though, allowing a passed ball and he was credited with a throwing error.
Pirates infield prospect Termarr Johnson and outfield prospect Sammy Siani were out of the lineup after they each tallied two hits and a solo home run in Scottsdale's 9-8 win over the Salt River Rafters.
Bidois allowed six runs and only managed to get one out in the loss. He entered the game with one out in the top of the third inning and the Solar Sox immediately strung together a pair of hits from Henry Bolte and Daniel Susac to take a 3-2 lead. The Pirates' right-hander got Max Ferguson to strike out on the ensuing at-bat, but a wild pitch and a throwing error from Bidois allowed Mesa to plate another run.
Mesa got a two-run single from David Mershon and he promptly stole second base and advanced to third after Planchart's throwing error. Following a pair of walks to load the bases, Tre' Morgan ground right back to Bidois and he got the force out at home for the second out of the inning and lone out of his outing. After a two-run double from Jonathon Long, Bidois exited the game.
Diamond pitched two innings and allowed two hits and four runs, two of which were earned.
He entered the game in the top of the eighth inning and set the Solar Sox down in order. In the ninth inning, the Pirates right-hander got the first out before a hit-by-pitch followed by a double from Morgan plated a run. With two outs Morgan scored on a double from Moises Ballesteros to extend the lead to 14.
Mesa tacked on two more after a fielding error from center fielder Adrian Pinto before Diamond got Ferguson to ground out to end the inning.
Bidois, 23, spent last season in High-A Greenboro and Triple-A with the Indianapolis Indians. He went 0-5 with a 4.11 ERA across 27 appearances and 30.2 innings pitched, though, he struck out 44 batters. In 2023, the 6-foot-2 righty was 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA in 22 appearances for Single-A Bradenton and struck out 42 batters in 22.2 innings pitched.
Diamond, 23, spent all of last season in High-A, going 5-6 with a 4.80 ERA across 23 appearances, including 19 starts and pitched 95.2 innings.
Planchart spent last season in High-A and Double-A Altoona, batting .223 with three home runs and 25 RBIs.
The Scorpions (1-1) return to the field on Thursday to face the Surprise Saguaros (0-2) at 4:30 p.m. ET.
