Kevin Gorman stories, Page 113
While juggling backup quarterbacks, Pitt drops the ball against Notre Dame defense
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi knew the Panthers would have trouble running the ball against Notre Dame’s stacked defensive front. What he hoped is they would pass it better against the nation’s No. 3 team. With starting quarterback Kenny Pickett sidelined for a second consecutive game, that proved to be a...
Pirates have Gold Glove finalists in catcher Jacob Stallings, second baseman Adam Frazier
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton spent September stumping for Jacob Stallings to win a Gold Glove at catcher. Turns out, the Pirates have a pair of finalists for the Rawlings award for best defensive player. Both Stallings and second baseman Adam Frazier made the cut, which was announced Thursday. Congratulations...
Despite no games, Pirates’ minor league player of year Mason Martin made most of his swings
Mason Martin was about to get his first true test against major-league pitching. It was only an exhibition game, but it was at PNC Park and Cleveland closer James Karinchak was pitching in the ninth inning. That Martin was left standing in the on-deck circle when the game ended was...
Pitcher Brennan Malone hopes to provide Pirates good return in Starling Marte trade
Brennan Malone was at a developmental camp with Arizona in January when he heard rumors swirling that the Diamondbacks had acquired Starling Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates for two minor leaguers. Then Malone saw on social media he was one of them. The No. 33 overall pick of the 2019...
Pirates move up start times for home games before Memorial Day, after Labor Day in 2021
The Pittsburgh Pirates will introduce earlier start times for home games before Memorial Day and after Labor Day for the 2021 season, moving them up 30 minutes after receiving feedback from fans. The schedule, which starts with the home opener against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, April 8, features 6:35...
Pirates make international splash by signing Taiwanese pitcher Po-Yu Chen
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a splash in the international market with the signing of Po-Yu Chen, a 19-year-old right-handed pitcher from Tawain’s world champion under-18 national team. The 6-foot-2, 187-pound Chen is a former two-way player who is now focusing on pitching and has a low-90s fastball, slider and curveball...
Historically bad Pirates season could be start of model that worked for winning MLB teams
In a shortened season played amid pandemic and, perhaps mercifully, before an empty PNC Park, the sinking ship that is the Pittsburgh Pirates hit rock bottom on the Allegheny River. The Pirates won only 19 of 60 games for the worst record in baseball and fifth-worst winning percentage (.317) in...
Pirates claim right-handed pitcher Sean Poppen off waivers, DFA infielder JT Riddle
The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed right-handed pitcher Sean Poppen off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, adding depth to a bullpen that has dealt with injury issues. Poppen, 26, had a 4.70 ERA in six appearances for the Twins this season, allowing nine hits, four runs (all earned) and four...
After strong finish to season, Pirates focus on building a ‘deep, talented’ starting rotation
Two weeks before the season ended, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitchers had an informal staff meeting to talk about how they have performed and how they wanted to finish the season. “Playoffs were out of reach,” said Pirates right-hander Joe Musgrove, the Opening Day starter. “A lot of our goals had...
Changes coming for Pirates, but GM Ben Cherington credits Derek Shelton for ‘progress’
Not that Derek Shelton needed a vote of confidence from his general manager after one of the worst seasons in Pittsburgh Pirates history, but Ben Cherington gave his manager one anyway. That Cherington and Shelton were seated next to each other Wednesday for a final Zoom conference call with reporters...
Pirates GM reiterates support for Oneil Cruz, expects him to be available for spring training
Despite being involved in an accident that killed three people in the Dominican Republic, the Pittsburgh Pirates are expecting top prospect Oneil Cruz to be able to play next season. “No reason to believe he wouldn’t be available for spring training, full participant,” Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington starts search for new farm director, says other changes coming
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday that changes are coming to the player development system, indicating that farm director Larry Broadway will be taking on a new role within the organization. Broadway, 39, oversaw the Pirates’ farm system, ranked No. 16 by MLB.com, for nine years, serving as...
Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes earns NL Rookie of the Month honors after strong September
Ke’Bryan Hayes didn’t just have a September to remember, the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman had one worthy of honor. Hayes was named NL Rookie of the Month on Monday, his first award as a major leaguer. The 23-year-old Hayes batted .376 (32 for 85) with seven doubles, two triples, five...
Fantastic finish thrusts Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes into Rookie of the Year conversationVideo
For the fantastic finish Ke’Bryan Hayes had to his first month in the major leagues, getting eight consecutive hits over his final three games, he was more amazed by the way he started his Pittsburgh Pirates career. “I got my first hit off Jon Lester,” Hayes said of the 36-year-old...
Pirates blow 4-run lead to drop finale to Indians, finish 19-41 in shortened season
It was important to manager Derek Shelton that the Pittsburgh Pirates played to win the final game of the regular season, even though they long had been eliminated from playoff contention. Cleveland had clinched, so the Pirates wanted to play spoiler for the Indians’ seeding. Instead, Carlos Santana and Franmil...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington: ‘Not a single piece of evidence’ Oneil Cruz crash was alcohol-fueled
Speaking publicly for the first time about prospect Oneil Cruz being involved in a crash that killed three people last week in the Dominican Republic, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington warned “there’s not a single piece of evidence from what we’ve seen that this is anything but an accident.”...
Ke’Bryan Hayes goes 5 for 5, Joe Musgrove strikes out 10 as Pirates shut out Indians
Ke’Bryan Hayes already was having the best game of his young major league career, so the Pittsburgh Pirates were rooting for the rookie third baseman to make it even more memorable in his final at bat. Hayes lined a double to right-center field in the ninth inning to complete a...
Ke’Bryan Hayes embracing expectations of becoming Pirates’ next star
After dealing with a revolving door at third base the past five years, the Pittsburgh Pirates appear to have found a player who can put a lock on the position in rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes. Since his Sept. 1 call-up, Hayes has not only handled the hot corner with a great...
Pirates rookie outfielder Jared Oliva’s black book has new entries for his first MLB hits
Jared Oliva started jotting down notes in a black book in the fall of his freshman year at Arizona, a way for the wide-eyed walk-on to track his progress at tryouts for the defending national champions. “I was trying to make the team,” Oliva said. “There’s 55 dudes for a...
Pirates homer 4 times, Chad Kuhl shines in shutout of Cubs in home finale
The home finale for the Pittsburgh Pirates started the same way as their home opener almost two months earlier, with automated crowd noise cheering a Colin Moran home run at an otherwise empty PNC Park. What was drastically different is Moran’s was the first of a season-high four homers by...
Catcher Jacob Stallings voted Pirates’ MVP by sports writers
When the Pittsburgh Pirates started the season, catching was the position of primary concern. A year earlier, Jacob Stallings had been designated for assignment and cleared waivers. Now, he was being counted on as the starter. Not only did Stallings solidify that spot, but the 30-year-old became the Pirates’ most...
Adam Frazier, Ke’Bryan Hayes hit back-to-back homers to lead Pirates past Cubs
The Pittsburgh Pirates started Wednesday’s game the same way Jacob Stallings ended their walk-off win the night before, with Adam Frazier and Ke’Bryan Hayes hitting back-to-back home runs in the first inning. “We went back-to-back-to-back homers,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton cracked. “We just waited 24 hours to do it.” It...
Oneil Cruz’s accident in Dominican Republic latest legal issue involving Pirates playerVideo
As if owning the worst record in baseball wasn’t bad enough, the Pittsburgh Pirates received another brutal blow when one of their top prospects was involved in an accident that killed three people. When Dominican Republic investigators found Oneil Cruz was driving under the influence of alcohol and past a...
Pirates introduce reward-based benefits program for season-ticket holders in 2021
The Pittsburgh Pirates introduced Wednesday an enhanced, reward-based benefits program called Pirates Points for season-ticket holders for the 2021 season. Pirates season-ticket holders can earn points “based on longevity and commitment level” that can be redeemed for discounts at the clubhouse store, ticket discounts, free subscriptions to MLB.TV, a flexible...
Jacob Stallings hits walk-off home run to help Pirates beat Cubs, snap 5-game losing streak
Steven Brault finished the season on a high note, and Jacob Stallings provided the big finish. After Brault pitched seven scoreless innings, only to see the Pittsburgh Pirates blow a two-run lead, Stallings smacked an Andrew Chafin fastball into the left-field seats for a walk-off home run to lift the...
