Kevin Gorman stories, Page 2

Jared Jones being outdueled by a fellow rookie right-hander was the least of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ concerns. They were more worried that the flamethrower had a noticeable drop in velocity on his fastball. Pirates manager Derek Shelton and assistant trainer Tony Leo made a mound visit to check on Jones...

Oneil Cruz already had eclipsed one mark and knew he was a home run away from reaching another, so he took a swing at the first pitch he saw from Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brent Suter. When Cruz sent Suter’s slider 411 feet screaming to center field for his 20th home...

Mitch Keller couldn’t find the strike zone, and when he did the Cincinnati Reds pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander. Where Keller tied a career high by giving up eight earned runs and a season-high five walks, the Pirates couldn’t touch Reds righty Nick Martinez’s changeup. Martinez recorded a career-best nine...

Nick Gonzales was facing an 0-2 count with two outs and runners on first and third in the eighth inning, so the Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman was looking for a pitch to hit. Even though he wasn’t expecting one. “I thought he was going to throw something in the dirt,...

The Pittsburgh Pirates are counting on Oneil Cruz’s speed for spectacular plays, and the converted center fielder provided a pair of them against the St. Louis Cardinals. Cruz made a fantastic diving catch to rob Masyn Winn of a hit in the first inning, but it was what he did...

When the Pittsburgh Pirates called up Billy Cook, it caused his family to scramble for flights in to make it to PNC Park in time to see his major league debut. Where that required a wing, his first home run came after a prayer. Cook said one with teammate Henry...

For the Pittsburgh Pirates, it’s a familiar refrain: The bullpen blew it. The Pirates couldn’t protect the one-run lead provided by Billy Cook’s three-run home run – the first of his major league career – in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. Masyn Winn’s game-tying homer was the...

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford from Triple-A Indianapolis so he can start Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. To make room for Woodford on the active roster, right-handed reliever Kyle Nicolas was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 17) with a...

Nick Yorke didn’t know when he was going to get his first major league hit, but the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie second baseman knew exactly who was getting the souvenir ball once he did. When Yorke singled to right-center off Lance Lynn in the fifth inning of a 3-1 loss to...

The Pittsburgh Pirates got eight hits, including three by rookie second baseman Nick Yorke, but continued to struggle to score against the St. Louis Cardinals. It cost them the season series against their NL Central rival. Rookie Jordan Walker hit the go-ahead home run with a solo shot in the...

There was something different about the pregame drills Bryan Reynolds was doing along the left-field line Sunday, as the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star outfielder was on his knees fielding grounders in foul territory. That Pirates bench coach Don Kelly used a fungo bat to hit balls to Reynolds while wearing an...

Derek Shelton rarely wears a game jersey in the dugout, but the Pittsburgh Pirates manager proudly wore his home white with the No. 21 on the back as MLB celebrated Roberto Clemente Day. What made it even better for Shelton is he wore it for a win that involved a...

All of the Pittsburgh Pirates wore No. 21 in celebration of MLB’s Roberto Clemente Day, but rookie Billy Cook paid tribute in ways that captured the essence of the late Hall of Fame right fielder’s style of play. Cook prevented the Kansas City Royals from scoring a run, turning a...

When the Pittsburgh Pirates moved Oneil Cruz from shortstop to center field, the greatest concern for talent evaluators was not whether he could play the position but rather if he would be willing. Blessed with size, speed and an elite arm, the 6-foot-7 Cruz has shown in flashes how the...

Bobby Witt Jr. is one of baseball’s burgeoning stars, and the Kansas City Royals shortstop showed the Pittsburgh Pirates why he’s an American League MVP candidate. The 24-year-old Witt recorded his 100th RBI of the season on a solo home run in the first inning, then added two more on...

The Pittsburgh Pirates got some more clarity on the back issues bothering Ke’Bryan Hayes but don’t appear too optimistic that the Gold Glove third baseman will be ready to return for games this season. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Hayes was recommended rehabilitation after being examined by...

The Pittsburgh Pirates were clinging to a two-run lead with runners on first and second base with no outs in the fifth inning when Paul Skenes threw a 2-2 sinker low and away to Connor Norby, having no idea that the resulting bouncer would produce a rare double play. How...

For all of the reactions to Ben Cherington’s public vote of confidence in Derek Shelton returning as Pittsburgh Pirates manager next season, one of the most interesting is the assumption that it really isn’t his to say. The suggestion is that Cherington is only the general manager and answers to...

Derek Shelton made no secret of the need for left-hander Bailey Falter to follow a bullpen game against the Miami Marlins by providing a strong start for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series finale. Falter went above and beyond, delivering the finest performance of his career by throwing six no-hit...

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington gave a vote of confidence to Derek Shelton, saying he expects him to return next season despite the likelihood of missing the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season as the field manager. “I fully expect Shelty to be the manager in 2025,” Cherington told...

There was no flair for the dramatic from Andrew McCutchen, except that he didn’t drop his bat until he saw the long fly ball that sailed 403 feet clear the left-center fence for a three-run home run. It was another milestone moment for McCutchen with the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking the...

Missing an entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow was challenging enough for Endy Rodriguez, but it made the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher appreciate how much baseball means to him. “I think being out all year makes me love the game a little bit more,” Rodriguez said,...

Paul Skenes took care of business right away, breaking the franchise mark for most strikeouts by a rookie pitcher that stood for nine decades by fanning the second batter he faced. The Pittsburgh Pirates phenom then tried to put the record out of reach. Skenes had nine strikeouts and allowed...

David Bednar doesn’t need a reminder how much of an impact he can make on the community as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, as the two-time All-Star closer remembers what it meant to him as kid who played youth baseball in Mt. Lebanon and for Mars High School. “I...

When Billy Cook wasn’t making phone calls to share his big news during his drive from Toledo to Pittsburgh, he listened to music in hopes that it would calm his nerves in the hours before his major league debut. “As I got closer, I could feel it in my stomach...