Around the Curve | Curve in the Majors - Vol. 4
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 succeeding at the next level and reflect on their time with the Curve, here on the Around the Curve Blog! Here is the fourth edition of: “Curve in the Majors.”
1. RHP - Tyler Glasnow - Los Angeles Dodgers
Season Stats: 6-5, 3.24 ERA, 14 Games (14 Starts) 86 IP, 24 BBs, 116 Ks
Where do we start on Tyler Glasnow? While he didn't make the biggest splashes career-wise with the Curve, he has become one of the more successful players to leave Altoona. Drafted straight out of high school, many scouts and prospect evaluators alike saw the great potential of the young right-hander. When he entered the Major Leagues with the Pirates, he was considered part of the potential young core for a playoff run in 2016 and beyond. However, a few years later, Glasnow became a key piece in the 2018 trade that ultimately led to the Pirates acquiring Chris Archer.
Six years later, Glasnow faced the Pirates for the first time in his career last Tuesday. While he did not receive a win in a 1-0 defeat, he did strike out nine batters while also giving up the one earned run on three hits and two walks.
While suiting up for the Pirates, he appeared in 56 total games with 17 starts. After being traded, Glasnow’s arm truly lit up. His time in Tampa was well spent; as a starting pitcher, he won a total of 27 games in 71 starts as a Ray. Glasnow pitched a total of 386.7 innings, striking out 526 batters and only allowing four total home runs during his entire regular season stint with the team for six years.
However, in late December of last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded RHP Ryan Pepiot and OF Jonny DeLuca to the Tampa Bay Rays for RHP Tyler Glasnow, CF Manuel Margot, and cash. Since starting in Los Angeles, he’s dazzled Dodgers fans. So far during his 2024 campaign, Glasnow has tossed 86 complete innings. In those 86 innings, he struck out 116 batters.
During his time with the Curve in 2015, Glasnow highlighted his unique arm in a short time frame. While starting for Altoona, he made 12 starts before being called up to Triple-A Indianapolis. In those starts, he tossed a total of 63 innings, struck out 82 batters, and had an ERA of 2.43.
2. INF - Kevin Newman - Arizona Diamondbacks
Season Stats: .278 AVG, 51 games, 2 HRs, 16 RBIs, .392 SLG
Kevin Newman is another former big-name prospect from the Pirates farm system that came up during the wild card runs from 2013 to 2015. Newman has been around the National League since leaving Pittsburgh in a trade with the Reds in the winter of 2022. After joining Cincinnati for a brief stint, he joined the Arizona Diamondbacks via free agency in the off-season of 2023. Since then, Newman has never looked back and kept producing at the plate. With the Diamondbacks this year, Newman has become a reliable hitter. He’s been hitting around his career batting average mark of .260 with a current average of .266. This season he also has 14 RBIs, two home runs, and seven drawn walks.
With the Curve, Newman had two stints with the team between 2016 and the year the Curve won the Eastern League Championship in 2017. During his time in Altoona, he had a career batting average of .271 and appeared in a total of 143 games. During those 143 games, he compiled 58 RBIs and 156 hits with an overall OPS of .697. It is worth noting Newman contributed greatly to the Curve during their playoff run in 2016, stringing together a .538 batting average with an equally impressive OBP of .571.
3. INF - Ke’Bryan Hayes - Pittsburgh Pirates
Season Stats: .240 Avg., 46 Games, 2 HRs, 15 RBIs, .312 OBP
If you had to make a list of notable Curve alumni, Ke’Bryan Hayes would at least be worthy of an honorable mention in stats and as an overall fan favorite. Son of former Major League and former Pirate slugger Charlie Hayes, it’s safe to say that “young Hayes” has made an impact anywhere he’s played baseball.
While Hayes is just now becoming fully healthy at the time of writing this, there shouldn't be a doubt in any Pirates fan's mind that he doesn't contribute daily to the Pirates offense and defense. This season Hayes has appeared in 46 games, with a .240 batting average, .626 OPS, and four stolen bases.
Where do we start with Hayes and his Curve career? Those who were able to watch him during his 2018 campaign will understand the impressiveness he carried to every at-bat in Altoona. In the summer of ‘18, Hayes hit.293 with an impressive .444 slugging percentage. While the Curve didn't bring home any trophies during his time in Altoona, Hayes successfully snatched up a Golden Glove for his heroic efforts at third base. It should also be noted that during the 2018 season, Hayes was not only voted an Eastern League mid-season all-star but was also selected for the Futures Game.
4. INF/OF - Connor Joe - Pittsburgh Pirates
Season Stats: .255 AVG, 60 games, 7 HRs, 28 RBIs, .426 SLG
Speaking of Curve Alumni who played on the 2017 championship team, Connor Joe had a productive cup of coffee while in Altoona for half of the season. Joe was only with the Curve for 73 games because he was part of a trade with the Atlanta Braves. In exchange for Joe, the Pirates received utility player Sean Rodriguez. However, he would ultimately find himself back in the organization after being traded from the Colorado Rockies in December of 2022.
Joe has been one of the more consistent batters this season in the Pittsburgh lineup. He was originally normally batting lead-off, until yielding to Andrew McCutchen and instead took the clean-up spot. Since then, Joe hasn't slowed down his production. Since early April, he’s been swinging a scorching bat, currently bringing him to a batting average of .255. While that batting average is impressive alone, Joe backs up his usefulness at the plate with his seven home runs, 28 RBIs, and 21 drawn walks.
Other Notes:
- Joshua Palacios has been lighting up the scoreboard on his rehab assignment with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. In the four games he’s appeared in, He’s batted a solid batting average of .231 with three hits for four RBIs including his two home runs.
- Former Curve Pitcher LHP Trey McGough is now with the Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, after opening the season with the Bowie Baysox. Since being called up, he’s appeared in five games and pitched 12.2 innings. Along with that, he’s recorded one win with a 3.55 ERA with 15 strikeouts.
- Former Curve INF Josh Bissonette is currently with the Kansas City Monarchs affiliate of the American Association Baseball League. Since joining the team in early May, he’s hit a solid .276 Avg with seven drawn walks, nine RBIs, and seven doubles.
Stay tuned all season long for more exciting content on the Around the Curve Blog!
Sammy Slams Baysox In Sunday Win
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Dotel Dazzles in Saturday Defeat
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Baysox Swipe Opening Day Win From Curve
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SportsNet Pittsburgh To Air 20 Curve Games at PNG Field During 2025 Campaign
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Pirates Spring Breakout Game to be Broadcasted on Curve Radio Network
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Altoona Curve is excited to announce that the Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Breakout Game will be broadcasted live on the Fly Altoona Curve Radio Network on Friday, March 14 at 1:05 p.m. from Clearwater, Florida. Fans can listen to the game on 96.1 Hank-FM, Pirates.com, the MLB
Around the Curve | Eight Former Curve Named to Pirates Spring Breakout Roster
CURVE, PA. – MLB's annual prospect Showcase, the Spring Breakout game, will pit top Pirates minor league prospects against top Phillies prospects on Friday, March 14 at 1:05 p.m. at Clearwater's Baycare Ballpark, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. (Info). The Pirates vs. Phillies game will be broadcast nationally on MLB
Andy Fox Named Altoona Curve Manager for 2025 Season
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Curve Accepting Nominations for 1st Summit Bank Teachers of the Year to be Honored on Teacher Appreciation Night
CURVE, PA – The Altoona Curve are excited to announce the opening of the 2025 1st Summit Bank Teachers of the Year Competition. Three nominated teachers will be named Teachers of the Year with a special on-field ceremony on Teacher Appreciation Night, presented by 1st Summit Bank, on Saturday, May
Third Year of Curve Charities Generates Over $84,000 in Donations to Area Non-Profits
CURVE, PA – Altoona Curve Charities, a 501c3 organization dedicated to supporting local youth programs and organizations that promote exercise, health, activity and education for the betterment of youth and community, is pleased to announce recipients of grant money and in-kind services for the 2024 grant cycle. The 2024 grant
CurveFest Returns to Peoples Natural Gas Field on March 1
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Curve Charities Gala Set to Return on Saturday, February 8
CURVE, PA –Altoona Curve Charities, a 501c3 organization, are pleased to announce the return of the Curve Charities Gala on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Altoona Grand Hotel. The fundraiser features a special appearance from Curve alumnus and former Pittsburgh Pirate Ian Snell as well as a silent auction
Around the Curve | Paul Skenes Wins Rookie of the Year Award
CURVE, Pa. – Paul Skenes has gone from college phenom to rookie sensation in a year’s time, and the accolades are just beginning to pile up. After a dominant campaign that stacks up as one of the best rookie seasons by a pitcher in Major League history, Skenes has been
Around the Curve | Jared Triolo Wins First Gold Glove Award
CURVE, Pa. – In 2022, Jared Triolo took the field in his Altoona Curve uniform to accept his Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award for his fantastic infield play at Greensboro in 2021. Next season, he will repeat the action in his Pittsburgh Pirates uniform. Triolo was named the winner
Curve Announce 2025 Game Times and Fireworks Dates at Peoples Natural Gas Field
CURVE, PA – The Altoona Curve, Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, are pleased to announce home game times and fireworks dates for the 2025 season. Game times are subject to change. The 2025 season will once again feature 6:00 p.m. start times for many of the team’s home games
Curve Charities Grant Program Accepting Grant Applications for 2024
CURVE, PA – Altoona Curve Charities, a 501c3 organization devoted to supporting local youth programs and organizations, is pleased to announce that Grant Applications for the 2024 Grant Program are available now to area non-profits that promote healthy living for the betterment of youth and community. The 2024 Grant Program
Curve Announce 2024 Team Awards
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Bowen and Wilson Go Back-to-Back In Finale Win
CURVE, Pa. – Jase Bowen and Eli Wilson banged back-to-back home runs to lead Altoona to a 5-1 win over Richmond in front of 4,330 fans on Sunday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Jaycob Deese started a bullpen day for the Curve and went three innings allowing only one
Curve Fall in Penultimate Game of the Season
CURVE, Pa. – Jase Bowen hit his ninth home run of the season for the Curve on Saturday night, but the Richmond Flying Squirrels snapped Altoona’s three-game winning streak with a 7-2 defeat of the Curve at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The Curve welcomed 7,027 fans to PNG Field on
Third Straight Win Highlighted by Ten Late Runs
CURVE, Pa. – The Curve scored ten unanswered runs to complete a comeback win, 10-3, over the Richmond Flying Squirrels in front of 4,947 fans at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Friday night. Trailing 3-0 in the sixth, the Curve scored their first two runs of the night on a
Curve Offense Capitalizes Off Squirrels Miscues
CURVE, Pa. – The Curve picked up a second straight win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Thursday night in front of 3,814 fans at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez went 1-for-4 in his third game on major league rehab assignment, catching seven innings in the field.