Pirates/MLB category, Page 180

Josh Bell spent the offseason streamlining his throwing motion, switching to a sidearm release, in an effort to show the All-Star first baseman belongs on the field as an everyday position player. When MLB added a universal designated hitter for the shortened season this summer, Bell became an obvious candidate...

In the spring before the start of baseball season, everyone has a clean record. No one has made an error or struck out with the bases loaded — yet. This year, that hope is held over until July, with the start of the season delayed by four months because of...

Joe Musgrove started his second training camp the same way he ended the first in mid-March, with the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander taking the mound to throw a five-inning simulated game. That was where the similarities ended, as the Pirates opened their summer camp Friday at PNC Park instead of LECOM...

The mask hides his face, so you’ll just have to believe Kevin Newman when he says he was smiling Friday morning when he stepped onto the infield for summer camp at PNC Park. Major League Baseball returned to Pittsburgh when the Pirates began preparations for a 60-game season that will...

Derek Shelton has yet to manage his first major-league game, but that didn’t stop the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie skipper from making a joke about navigating an MLB season shortened by the coronavirus crisis. And he migh have tipped his hand about Opening Day, as well. In a guest appearance on...

On the eve of the first day of training camp, a coronavirus outbreak in Allegheny County has forced the Pittsburgh Pirates to make adjustments to their workout plans at PNC Park. The stadium will be closed to all outside entities, including the media, until further notice, the team announced Thursday....

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed their entire 2020 draft class, locking up right-handed pitchers Carmen Mlodzinski, Jared Jones and Nick Garcia, the team announced Thursday. Jim Callis of Baseball America reported Mlodzinski, a competitive-balance round pick, signed for a $2.05 million bonus, which was less than the slot value for...

Is this for real? A fantasy sports podcast where we can actually talk about sports!? Will wonders never cease? Major League Baseball teams are reporting for spring training 2.0. So, fantasy leagues that never ended up drafting are finally doing so. Jeff Erickson of RotoWire joins me to discuss strategy...

This will be a baseball season of so many firsts, especially with the Pittsburgh Pirates having a new team president, general manager and field manager preparing for a 60-game regular season with the universal designated hitter and an extra-innings rule. But their first focus is on a second edition of...

Derek Shelton waited two decades to become a major league manager, only to have his Pittsburgh Pirates managerial debut delayed by the coronavirus crisis. As the Pirates are about to embark on a second spring training — this one dubbed by MLB as Summer Camp — Shelton was asked to...

It’s not quite baseball in a bubble, but Derek Shelton on Wednesday got his first chance to watch players work out at PNC Park as Pittsburgh Pirates manager. As Pirates players are in the process of reporting for summer camp, the three-week preparation period for the 60-game regular season, Shelton...

Babe Ruth was baseball’s biggest gate attraction ever. The New York Yankees built a 58,000-seat stadium to accommodate that. Ruth’s slugging and larger-than-life charisma saved MLB after the Chicago White Sox threw the 1919 World Series. Ruth retired in 1935. Baseball kept playing. People kept watching. It’s a business worth...

In Wednesday’s “First Call,” we look at some rebooted rumors about Antonio Brown going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Former Steelers legend Rod Woodson has an interesting take on how the coaching world works. And Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is ready for the Cam Newton era in New England....

On the eve of the Pittsburgh Pirates reporting to PNC Park for Summer Camp to train for the 2020 season, Quinn Priester was driving to Wisconsin for a Fourth of July weekend getaway. When the Pirates didn’t include their 2019 first-round pick and top-five prospect on the 60-man roster Sunday...

Hopes for Minor League Baseball in 2020 officially ended Tuesday as Major League Baseball announced that it will not provide its affiliated teams with players amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The move affects more than 150 such clubs, including Pittsburgh Pirates affiliates in Indianapolis (Class AAA) and Altoona (Class AA)....

At least for the time being, it feels like we can talk about actual on-field baseball in Pittsburgh. The Pirates are supposed to start workouts at PNC Park this week, with Major League games resuming July 23. So — while we can before any more shutdowns — let’s talk about...

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still holding out hope that they will be able to play home games in front of their fans during the 2020 season. Last week, The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan wrote that the NFL is going to allow teams an opportunity to work out their own seating volume...

Pittsburgh Pirates players Steven Brault and Josh Bell will resume their baseball careers this week at PNC Park, but during the covid-19 break, they showed off another skill in a recording studio. Brault and Bell joined former players Ozzie Smith, Bernie Williams and Nick Swisher and Sharon Robinson, daughter of...

The Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday signed right-handed relief pitcher Jack Hartman, the team’s fourth-round selection (108th overall) in the 2020 draft. Hartman was 1-0 with four saves, a 3.00 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 10 appearances (12 innings) at Appalachian (N.C.) State. He is one of four right-handed pitchers the...

If you believe anything’s possible in a 60-game baseball season, you can bet on World Series matchups involving the Pittsburgh Pirates. With fresh enthusiasm generated by first-year manager Derek Shelton, the Pirates resume camp at PNC Park on Wednesday in preparation for the first game in about three weeks. BetOnline.ag...

When Ben Cherington submitted the 60-man training camp roster to MLB, the Pittsburgh Pirates general manager turned in only 59 names because of the late development of reliever Edgar Santana’s suspension. In truth, the Pirates actually have 38 players competing for a job on the 30-man Opening Day roster that...

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Edgar Santana has been suspended for 80 games, without pay, after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Santana, 28, missed the entire 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery at the end of 2018....

Logan Hofmann never wanted to be known as the short pitcher from the small town, but as a 5-foot-9 right-hander who was raised in Muenster, Saskatchewan (population: 430), he proudly owns it. Well, mostly. “I’m listed at 5-10,” Hofmann said, “because it looks a little better on the roster.” His...