Pirates/MLB category, Page 284
Kevin Gorman: Pirates need more pop out of Josh Bell’s bat
Clint Hurdle talked about how home runs, more often than not, are thrown and not hit in the major leagues. Josh Bell reminisced about how he never tried to hit a home run in the minor leagues. The Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t expecting opposing pitchers to serve up home runs for...
Pirates add RHP Brandon Maurer, OF J.B. Shuck on minor league deals
The Pittsburgh Pirates added depth to their pool of players competing for opening-day roster spots Wednesday, signing pitcher Brandon Maurer and outfielder J.B. Shuck to minor league deals. Maurer, a 28-year-old right-hander, has a 5.36 ERA over 289 career appearances with three teams over the past six seasons. Shuck, 31,...
Now the Pirates’ longest-tenured player, Starling Marte evolving as a veteran
Hard to believe it for the one-time manchild who homered on the first major-league pitch he saw, but Starling Marte is now 30. Long playing in the shadows of veterans and stars such as Andrew McCutchen, Marte suddenly is one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ oldest players. Still arguably the team’s...
Pirates and Jung Ho Kang are hoping for a comebackVideo
For his first public appearance at PNC Park in almost 2½ years, Jung Ho Kang relied on a translator Saturday to communicate with fans and media. There was one question among those thrown at him during his 13 minutes with reporters that Kang did not need to wait for assistance...
Kevin Gorman: Pirates need to turn World Series talk into title
Just when the January weather had turned frigid, and fatigue was starting to set in on the Pittsburgh Steelers and the daily dose of Antonio Brown’s antics, the Pittsburgh Pirates provided a delicious diversion. They are going to win the World Series! Nothing compares to the optimism of the offseason,...
Pirates front office defends quest with two words: World and Series
In two separate, one-hour question-and-answer sessions Saturday during PiratesFest at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates invited people, literally off the street, to sit and chat with three of the four highest-ranking members of the organization. General manager Neal Huntington, manager Clint Hurdle and president Frank Coonelly spoke willingly and eloquently...
Pirates’ Jung Ho Kang has U.S. visa secured through 2019Video
After spending much of the past two years wondering whether their erstwhile third baseman could make his way into the United States legally, Pittsburgh Pirates fans can rest easy in 2019. Jung Ho Kang has a visa to remain in the country for the entirety of the 2019 season. “Yeah,...
Erik Gonzalez looking like Pirates opening-day shortstopVideo
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington compared Erik Gonzalez to an established and respected major league veteran shortstop. Manager Clint Hurdle said the team’s scouts tell him Gonzalez can be “dynamic, very good.” And even Gonzalez himself disclosed that the day he was traded to the Pirates was “one of...
Chad Kuhl’s fiancée becomes his ‘caretaker’ in Tommy John recoveryVideo
After Chad Kuhl had Tommy John surgery, he knew life would change, at least temporarily. The Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher couldn’t lift weights. He couldn’t throw, of course. He still could hang out with teammates, but it was as a spectator. But he didn’t count on this: He couldn’t even squeeze...
Allegheny Yinzers? Pirates’ Double-A affiliate to rebrand for 7 games
Entering its 21st season as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve has decided to pay homage to its parent Major League team and the city it resides in two hours west. For seven select weekend home games in 2019, the Curve will be known as the “Allegheny Yinzers.”...
Betting odds figure Pirates are destined for last place in NL Central
If the betting lines released Tuesday by BetOnline.ag are any indication, the Pittsburgh Pirates are poised to take a step back this season. Coming off their fourth winning season (82-79) since 1992, the Pirates are looking to improve. Don’t bet on it, BetOnline.ag says. The Pirates were listed with an...
Pirates announce 2019 minor-league managerial and coaching assignments
Staff listings for 2019 for each of the nine minor-league affiliates of the Pittsburgh Pirates, as announced by the organization Froday: INDIANAPOLIS (AAA) Manager: Brian Esposito Hitting Coach: Ryan Long Pitching Coach: Bryan Hickerson Athletic Trainer: Dru Scott Strength & Conditioning: Alan Burr ••• ALTOONA (AA) Manager: Michael Ryan Hitting...
Joel Hanrahan’s promotion to Altoona highlights Pirates ‘19 minor-league coaching assignments
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced their minor-league managerial and coaching assignments Friday, and the most familiar name to casual fans will be the pitching coach at Double-A Altoona. Popular former Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan was bumped from the Pirates’ Class Low-A affiliate to serve as the pitching coach for the Double-A...
More tales from Pirates announcer Steve Blass, a master story-teller
Steve Blass can captivate an audience like few announcers before him, and he was at his best Tuesday at PNC Park. A room full of family members and friends listened while he recounted his 60 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates and told them 2019 would his 34th and last in...
Pirates’ 2019 Spring Training schedule released
Spring — at least Spring Training — is nearly here. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2019 Spring Training schedule was announced Tuesday. The list includes four meetings with the World Series champion Boston Red Sox; the first of which happens Feb. 25 in Bradenton. The Pirates open their exhibition schedule Feb. 23...
Steve Blass to retire after his 60th season with PiratesVideo
On the day Steve Blass announced this season will be his 34th and last in the Pittsburgh Pirates broadcast booth, all 60 of his years with the team surfaced like little bits and pieces of his life put back together in a picture frame. He remembered old friends he met...
15 Pirates players scheduled to appear at PiratesFest
Pittsburgh Pirates season-ticket holders and other fans will be able to meet and secure autographs from as many as 15 players during PiratesFest on Jan. 26 at PNC Park. Five separate sessions, with three players in each, are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sessions, which will take...
Pirates avoid arbitration with Corey Dickerson, Keone Kela
The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided the sometimes-messy arbitration process, beating the deadline by agreeing to one-year contracts with Corey Dickerson and Keone Kela on Friday. Dickerson became the Pirates’ starting left fielder last season after a spring-training trade from the Tampa Bay Rays, and Kela became their top set-up man after...
Pirates claim tall righty Aaron Slegers off waivers from Twins
The Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday made a big addition to their pitching staff. Literally. The Pirates claimed 6-foot-10 right-hander Aaron Slegers off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. Slegers was the Twins’ minor league pitcher of the year in 2017 but struggled over four stints in the majors last season. A...
Former Rangers manager Jeff Banister returns to Pirates
Jeff Banister is returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates. General manager Neal Huntington announced Sunday that Banister, who had been a member of the Pirates organization for 29 years, has been hired as a special assistant, baseball operations. Banister, 54, spent the past four seasons as the manager of the Texas...
Top 3B prospect Ke’Bryan Hayes, former 1st-rounder Will Craig invited to Pirates spring training
The organization’s top hitting prospect and a former first-round pick are among those that the Pittsburgh Pirates announced Saturday will be invited to spring training. Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes is rated as the Pirates’ No. 2 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, and first baseman Will Craig was the No. 22...
Lefty reliever Tyler Lyons among 4 non-roster invitees to Pirates spring training
One of the National League’s best left-handed set-up men just two seasons ago is among four nonroster invitees to spring training, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced Friday. Former St. Louis Cardinals reliever Tyler Lyons was invited to the Pirates’ major-league camp, which begins the week prior to Lyons’ 31st birthday. Lyons...
