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Pirates/MLB category, Page 237

Kevin Gorman: Jung Ho Kang's smashing spring debut a strong sign for Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. The Pittsburgh Pirates are focused on their great unknowns, from finding a fifth starter in their rotation to an everyday shortstop to solidifying their middle infield and locating a potential power bat. Perhaps the greatest unknown is what the Pirates will get out of third baseman Jung Ho...
Lonnie Chisenhall, Erik Gonzalez in starting lineup for Pirates' spring home opener
BRADENTON, Fla. – New acquisitions Lonnie Chisenhall and Erik Gonzalez will be in the starting lineup when the Pirates play the Miami Marlins in their home opener Sunday at LECOM Park. Chisenhall will bat leadoff and play right field. He was signed as a free agent and slated to start...
Kevin Gorman: Andrew McCutchen and Phillies a reminder of Pirates' choices
CLEARWATER, Fla. Andrew McCutchen was sitting at his locker stall and twisting the locks atop his head when asked why he signed a free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. McCutchen broke into a broad smile. “See what they offered me?” McCutchen said, laughing in reference to his three-year, $50-million contract....
Jason Martin's 2-run homer in 9th leads Pirates past Phillies in spring opener
CLEARWATER, Fla. – When Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder Jason Martin misplayed a deep fly ball, the Philadelphia Phillies scored the game-tying run in the top of the eighth inning. But Martin made up for his mistake in a big way, hitting a two-run home run in the top of the ninth...
Energized Pirates ready for Saturday's Grapefruit League opener 
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates finished their final workout Friday at Pirate City on a positive note when right fielder Gregory Polanco perfectly executed a sliding drill on a padded mat. It was a symbolic ending for both Polanco, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on an awkward slide...
Garth Brooks on spring training with Pirates: 'This is heaven for me' 
BRADENTON, Fla. — As much as Garth Brooks enjoyed having a locker stall between Jameson Taillon and Chris Archer and sharing left field and a batting cage with Corey Dickerson, the country music legend will leave Pirate City cherishing another memory. Brooks was as thrilled about kneeling down to have...
Kevin Gorman: Hard to embrace Bob Nutting's spin on Pirates' payroll
BRADENTON, Fla. — Spend an hour asking Bob Nutting questions and the first thing baseball fans want to know is whether even the Pittsburgh Pirates chairman believes his own bull. The answer is an unapologetic yes. Nutting puts a politician’s spin on his ownership, with evasive answers that tend to...
Double-A Eastern League changes playoff format
The Double-A Eastern League, which includes the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Altoona Curve farm team, will change its playoff format, awarding postseason berths to the first-place team from each division during the first and second halves of the season. The change goes into effect this season. Postseason berths will be awarded to...
Rookie Davis ready to compete for job in Pirates rotation 
BRADENTON, Fla. — Rookie Davis was patient during the free-agent process, waiting for a chance to be a starting pitcher while working to get his body healthy for the first time in two seasons. After signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, Davis arrived at Pirate City on Thursday and...
Pirates reliever Kyle Crick pitches constantly trying to prove himself 
BRADENTON, Fla. — Kyle Crick returned to Pirate City this year with a chip on his shoulder, one that serves as motivation for the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher to never allow himself to be comfortable or complacent. The right-handed reliever admits to being ticked off he didn’t make the Pirates’ Opening...
9 innings with Bob Nutting: A Q&A session with the Pirates chairman
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates want to win a World Series, but their four-decade championship drought has become a constant source of frustration for the city’s baseball fans. They tend to take it out on Pirates chairman Bob Nutting, whose franchise increased its win total by seven games last...
Pirates owner Bob Nutting says club is 'positioned to take another meaningful step forward'
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pittsburgh Pirates chairman Bob Nutting defended the club’s payroll, called it “critical” for MLB owners to address the treatment of minor-league players and said he hopes to change the public perception of the club toward its fan base. Nutting met with reporters for a 48-minute interview Tuesday...
Kevin Gorman: Pirates put faith in Trevor Williams to throw first punch 
BRADENTON, Fla. — Trevor Williams could wear his second half of last season as a badge of honor, when the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander ranked among the best pitchers in baseball. But Williams doesn’t find his identity in the game, even though he is thankful to count his blessings that he...
Pirates' Clint Hurdle: Rookie Davis will be 'in mix as a starting pitcher' 
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said right-hander Rookie Davis, who signed a minor league contract Monday, “will be in the mix as a starting pitcher.” The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Davis, who was 1-3 with an 8.63 ERA in 2017 with the Cincinnati Reds, will create a four-way competition...
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle calls pitch clock a ‘fair allotment of time’ 
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pirates manager Clint Hurdle expressed no objection to MLB unilaterally employing a pitch clock in spring training games, a move made to get players accustomed to a possible rule change for this season. “I don’t feel it’s pushing any type of urgency on anybody to get anything...
Lonnie Chisenhall embraces opportunity to play right away for Pirates 
BRADENTON, Fla. — Lonnie Chisenhall was attracted to the Pittsburgh Pirates in free agency because they could offer a chance to start the season as an everyday player in right field. Chisenhall was willing to listen when the Pirates made the pitch that they needed to replace Gregory Polanco as...
Pablo Reyes sets sights on super-utility role for Pirates 
BRADENTON, Fla. – Pablo Reyes reveled in his role as a September sensation. Now, he wants to prove to the Pittsburgh Pirates than he’s more than a one-month wonder. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle will be the first to say that, sometimes, Septembers are hard to read when a team is...
Clint Hurdle's message to Pirates: 'Team-first mentality is real' 
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pittsburgh Pirates conducted their first full-squad workout of spring training on Monday at Pirate City, a day that manager Clint Hurdle calls his “favorite day of the spring, by far.” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting was present for practice, and spent time chatting with outfielders Starling Marte...
Pirates sign right-hander Rookie Davis to minor-league deal
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pittsburgh Pirates signed right-handed pitcher Rookie Davis on Monday to a minor-league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder Davis was selected in the 14th round of the 2011 MLB draft by the New York Yankees and traded to the Cincinnati Reds...
Kevin Gorman: Adam Frazier looks forward to starting at second for Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. Adam Frazier has played a handful of positions for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the infield and outfield but was in danger of becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. Frazier showed he could play second base, shortstop and third base, as well as all three outfield positions but...
With struggles behind him, Kevin Newman ready to compete for Pirates' starting shortstop job 
BRADENTON, Fla. — Kevin Newman knew there would be a transition to the major leagues and his status as a former first-round draft pick would only add to the expectations. Newman struggled after being called up last season, but believes that experience has prepared him for the starting shortstop competition...
Chris Archer excited to feed off energy of Pirates home opener 
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Chris Archer is no stranger to starting Opening Day — he threw four consecutive openers for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2015-18 — but is pumped for a first in his major league career. Archer will pitch in the home opener against the St....
Outfielder Melky Cabrera ready to do 'whatever it takes' for Pirates 
BRADENTON, Fla. – Melky Cabrera might be the elder statesman on the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the 14-year veteran outfielder feels like he can still contribute to a winning baseball team. The Pirates signed the 34-year-old Cabrera to a minor-league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training, hoping that he...
Kevin Gorman: New hitting coach Rick Eckstein pushes Pirates to tap into power 
BRADENTON, Fla. When the Pittsburgh Pirates prioritized tapping into their potential for power, they turned to a man who is small in stature but has a reputation for being big with the bat. New hitting coach Rick Eckstein, charged with changing the club’s philosophy in its preparation at the plate...
Pirates tab Jameson Taillon as Opening Day starter, Chris Archer for home opener 
BRADENTON, Fla. — Jameson Taillon was the kid who searched the spring-training box scores in the newspaper, following the progress of pitchers to see who would earn the Opening Day start. For his hometown Houston Astros, Taillon remembers Scott Elarton getting the nod in 2001 and then eight consecutive seasons...


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