Pirates/MLB category, Page 104
Pirates GM Ben Cherington: No. 1 overall draft pick pool ‘much deeper than 2 players’
With the scouting consensus that the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft is between a pair of stars from LSU’s College World Series champions — outfielder Dylan Crews or right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes — Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington was careful not to tip his hand on...
Mark Madden Hot Take: On 2nd thought, Pirates should keep Andrew McCutchen
It’s been just a few days since this space suggested trading Andrew McCutchen if it would be best for the Pittsburgh Pirates. If it would provide decent return. I’ve already changed my mind. Whatever prospect the Pirates might get from Texas (or whoever) for McCutchen likely would not pan out....
Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen channels ‘the power of the furries’ againVideo
Andrew McCutchen tweeting the word “Furries” is like his own version of the bat signal. Whenever Anthrocon is in Pittsburgh, McCutchen’s bat seems to be magnetized to the baseball. So when the Pittsburgh Pirates showed someone in an elaborate “fursuit” before McCutchen came to bat in the fourth inning Friday...
Pirates farm report for June 30, 2023: Ji Man Choi’s 3-run homer lifts Indy past Louisville
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 35-42) scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to earn a 10-8 victory over Louisville (Reds). 1B Ji Man Choi (.500) smacked a three-run homer in the ninth inning to secure the win. He was 3 for 5 with a triple and four RBIs as...
Carlos Santana’s walk-off homer in 9th caps Pirates’ comeback win over Brewers
After rallying from a four-run deficit to sweep the San Diego Padres, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ attempt at another comeback against the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers looked bleak. Then the Pirates trimmed their deficit to one run in the bottom of the ninth inning, when Andrew McCutchen doubled off the bullpen...
Pirates reinstate reliever Colin Holderman from injured list
The Pittsburgh Pirates regained the services of one of their key bullpen pitchers, as Friday afternoon, right-hander Colin Holderman was reinstated from the 15-day injured list. In a corresponding move, the Pirates optioned right-handed reliever Cody Bolton to Triple-A Indianapolis. “I’m really excited to be back, especially after a nice...
Mark Madden: MLB’s greed was on display Thursday — Pirates’ players should have refused to play
Feel my heat, takin’ you higher, burn with me, these refreshing sports notes are on fire! So is Canada. That’s why we can’t breathe. • The Pittsburgh Pirates should be canceling games because of unsafe air quality. The players stated their concerns but were forced to play Thursday. It’s MLB’s...
MLB Draft expert sticking with Dylan Crews as Pirates’ No. 1 pick despite concerns about cost
Suggesting that the Pittsburgh Pirates will draft LSU pitcher Paul Skenes with Major League Baseball’s top draft pick next month has become an increasingly popular opinion. That’s largely because there’s a growing belief that longtime perceived No. 1 pick — LSU outfielder Dylan Crews — will ask for more money...
First Call: Steelers still linked to ILB; ex-Steelers CB has a new team; outlet unimpressed by Penguins’ draft
Friday’s “First Call” takes yet another look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ inside linebacker position. One blossoming Steeler makes a list of young NFL superstars. And an ex-Steelers defensive back has a new team. Plus the Penguins draft got at least one mediocre review, and we check in on the next...
‘He’s an All-Star’: Pirates push for pitcher Mitch Keller to make NL team for Midsummer Classic
After Mitch Keller outdueled former Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell on Wednesday night, there was a buzz around the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse that Keller had proved a point to the baseball world. If there were any questions of whether he was deserving of being selected to his first All-Star...
Pirates farm report for June 29, 2023: Vinny Capra’s 4 RBIs helps Indy top Louisville
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 34-42) edged Louisville (Reds), 9-8. 3B Vinny Capra (.237) was 3 for 4 with four RBIs, including a three-run home run. LF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.242) hit a two-run homer, his ninth of the season. SS Alika Williams (.250) was 2 for 4 with a solo homer and two...
After smoke delay, Pirates rally from 4-run deficit to beat Padres, sweep series
A game that started in a smoke delay ended with the Pittsburgh Pirates bringing out their brooms — after choking on some curse words. The start of the game was delayed 45 minutes after Pirates players complained about concerns over an unhealthy air quality index, as a haze of smoke...
Pirates’ Derek Shelton named to National League All-Star coaching staff
Derek Shelton was at home when the phone rang. But it was upstairs, and he missed the call from old friend and mentor Rob Thomson. “Wonder why Thomson is calling me at 9 o’clock in the morning? They’re in Arizona,” he said of the Philadelphia Phillies manager. When Shelton called...
Pirates OF Bryan Reynolds ‘making progress,’ expected to return from IL soon
The Pittsburgh Pirates are not expecting extended absences from outfielder Bryan Reynolds or third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, who are both on the 10-day injured list with low back inflammation. “We’re not going to give them extra days,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “If they need extra days for their health,...
‘Putting our lives on the line’: Pirates players react to playing amid smoke, haze
The Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t do anything about the smoke and haze over PNC Park for their game against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, but there was a clear-the-air meeting in the clubhouse when some players expressed concern about playing the game in those conditions. Sensing a serious situation, veteran...
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans lathered up over Mike Tomlin contract talk, Pirates trade rumors, City Connect uniforms
Since last week’s “U mad, bro?” posted, we saw the Pittsburgh Pirates’ losing streak peak at 10 games. There’s talk of Mike Tomlin getting a contract extension from the Steelers even though he hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016. And two of the Pirates’ top players were mentioned in...
First Call: T.J. Watt slips on list of top NFL edge rushers; NHL’s top pick to start career vs. Pens; Carey Price’s live draft gaffe
Steelers star T.J. Watt loses ground in one offseason ranking. Connor Bedard will make his debut in Pittsburgh against Sidney Crosby. The Pirates will square off against an old friend Wednesday afternoon. We know Duquesne’s Atlantic 10 opponents. And an all-time goaltending great has an all-time televised mishap. All that...
Jared Triolo joins his fellow rookie buddies in quest to change Pirates’ fortunes
The moment could deliver Nick Gonzales’ 442-foot home run over PNC Park’s center-field wall one night, or merely a single by Jared Triolo to lead off a scoreless eighth inning the next. It’s all the same to Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Henry Davis because all three young guys are buddies, checking...
Pirates farm report for June 28, 2023: Ji Man Choi homers in Indians loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 33-42) allowed four home runs and fell to Louisville (Reds), 7-6. 1B Ji Man Choi (.333), making a rehab start, hit a two-run home run and had three RBIs. C Endy Rodriguez (.252) was 2 for 4 with an RBI, his 32nd of the season. 2B Aaron Shackelford...
Pirates rally for 5 runs in 7th inning to beat Padres
A thick haze of smoke hung over PNC Park, but one thing was perfectly clear to the Pittsburgh Pirates: Their odds of beating the San Diego Padres greatly improved once Blake Snell left the game. Thanks to a two-run homer by Carlos Santana, the Pirates were clinging to a one-run...
Pirates place Ke’Bryan Hayes on injured list, insert third baseman Jared Triolo into starting lineuip
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, who missed the past two games with lower back stiffness, was placed on the 10-day injured list. The transaction is retroactive to Sunday, the first game Hayes missed. Hayes appeared in 74 of the Pirates’ first 78 games, recording a slash line of .254/.290/.397,...
Pirates plan to play game Wednesday night, but will monitor air quality while offering ticket exchange
With the air quality index possibly approaching unhealthy levels by 7:05 p.m. game time, the Pittsburgh Pirates said people holding tickets for the game Wednesday at PNC Park can exchange them for a future game. Anyone wishing to do so should phone 800-289-2827 before the start of the game. National...
Altoona Curve, Pirates’ Double-A affiliate, sold to minor-league conglomerate Diamond Baseball Holdings
The sale of the Altoona Curve from the Lozinak family to Diamond Baseball Holdings was announced Wednesday, with the team remaining a Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. After gaining necessary approvals and satisfying closing conditions, the transaction is expected to be completed promptly, Curve officials said in a news...
Tim Benz: Come for the Andrew McCutchen trade rumors, stay for the speculation about Mitch Keller
So, Pirates fans, if you liked the trade rumor surrounding Andrew McCutchen on Monday, then you are going to love the one floated about Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller on Tuesday. Started by the same person. It was MLB Network insider Jon Morosi who reported earlier this week that the Texas...
Pirates rookie Nick Gonzales flashes extra-base power, good glove in smashing PNC Park debutVideo
Nick Gonzales had a list of major league firsts he wanted to check off on his baseball bucket list, and the Pittsburgh Pirates took care of several of them Tuesday night in his PNC Park debut. Gonzales hit an RBI triple off the Clemente Wall in his first at-bat and...
