Pirates/MLB category, Page 55
Pirates to send Luis Ortiz, Mitch Keller, Paul Skenes to mound in key series vs. Arizona
Luis Ortiz has put together a solid campaignfor the Pittsburgh Pirates. The way he’s shifted between the bullpen and starting rotation, performing whatever duties the club has asked of him, has been commendable. But Ortiz was not at his best the last time he took the mound during a 4-3...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 1, 2024: Bethel Park’s Justin Meis throws 3 scoreless innings, earns win for Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 49-52) handled Toledo (Tigers), 7-3. 2B Nick Yorke (.309) went 1 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs. SS Liover Peguero (.256) went 2 for 2 with a double. 3B Malcom Nunez (.267) went 2 for 3 with two RBIs. RF Jack Suwinski (.265)...
Decision to reclassify for 2024 Draft paid dividends for Pirates’ 1st-round pick Konnor Griffin
From his vantage point at PNC Park Friday, soaking in the moment after being signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Konnor Griffin could say with certainty that one decision made a few years ago paid off, literally. Griffin, the Pirates’ first-round (No. 9 overall) pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, received...
U mad, bro?: I’m too hard on Mike Tomlin, too soft on Ben Cherington, too excited about Pirates
After a week off from “U mad, bro,” my emails and social media messages were overflowing. Here is what I learned after sifting through them. I’m too hard on Mike Tomlin. I’m not hard enough on Ben Cherington, but I’m too optimistic about the Pirates. I’m too nice to Kenny...
Jake Woodford, Bryan De La Cruz, Jalen Beeks make Pirates debuts, with varying resultsVideo
Before Wednesday night, Jake Woodford’s last taste of MLB action came with the Chicago White Sox in early June. After getting shellacked in back-to-back starts, he was jettisoned, electing free agency after being designated for assignment. Less than 48 hours ago, Bryan De La Cruz and reliever Jalen Beeks were...
Pirates farm report for July 31, 2024: Nick Yorke knocks in run in Indy debut
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 47-52) took down Toledo (Tigers), 7-5, for its eighth straight win. 2B Nick Yorke (.311), who was acquired from the Red Sox via a trade on Monday, was 1 for 3 with an RBI while batting cleanup in his debut. SS Liover Peguero (.251), LF Edward Olivares (.237)...
Errors sink Pirates in narrow loss to Houston, spoiling sweep opportunity
After two innings Wednesday night in Houston, the Pittsburgh Pirates led by four and were in prime position to sweep the Astros at Minute Maid Park for their fourth straight win. But three errors charged to Oneil Cruz allowed three runs to score and sank them in a 5-4 loss....
Pirates sign 2 more 2024 draft picks: LHP Jacob Bimbi, OF Andrew Patrick
Two more members of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2024 draft class were signed Wednesday: left-handed pitcher Jacob Bimbi and center fielder Andrew Patrick. Bimbi, chosen in the 11th round out of Western Kentucky, went 4-2 over 15 outings (14 starts), leading the Hilltoppers with 71 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings last...
Pirates activate newly acquired OF Bryan De La Cruz, place OF Joshua Palacios on IL
Bryan De La Cruz was arguably the crown jewel of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2024 trade deadline haul. A day after acquiring the 27-year-old outfielder from the Miami Marlins, he joined the Pirates in Houston ahead of their Wednesday night series finale against the Astros. De La Cruz, wearing No. 41,...
Mark Madden: Ben Cherington improved Pirates, but can Derek Shelton and players finish job?
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ flurry of positive activity at the 11th hour of Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline makes for an unexpected flurry of positive analysis. I figured them to do nothing by way of avoiding increased payroll. But the Pirates accomplished that, too. Unloading pitcher Martin Perez — to fellow National...
Pirates sign 1st-round pick Konnor Griffin, who says he’s ‘ready to take the challenges’
Before the Pittsburgh Pirates made the No. 9 overall pick in the MLB Draft, general manager Ben Cherington listened to everyone from the team’s analysts to coaches to scouts and strength and conditioning trainers speak with excitement about Konnor Griffin. When the Pirates signed Griffin on Wednesday to a $6,532,025...
Tim Benz: If we’re grading the Pirates at the trade deadline, give Ben Cherington a solid B-plus
Newly acquired Pittsburgh Pirate Isiah Kiner-Falefa explained his family ties to former Bucs legend Ralph Kiner back in 2022. “It’s from my mom’s side,” Kiner-Falefa told NJ.com when he was a member of the New York Yankees. “Fourth cousin. I have all the paperwork. I tell people, but I’m brown...
First Call: Updates on Roman Wilson’s injury; an ex-Steelers linebacker signs with the Ravens
We have an injury update on Pittsburgh Steelers rookie receiver Roman Wilson. A former Steeler has joined the Baltimore Ravens. Another NFL receiver is getting paid. A Staal brother is retiring from the NHL. And an ex-Pirate is coming back to PNC Park this weekend in the other team’s uniform....
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates traded with an eye on the future, protecting pitching prospects
With the Pittsburgh Pirates hovering just above .500 going into the trade deadline, there were questions about whether they would be buyers or sellers and what they were willing to give up to get what they wanted. Somehow, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington managed to address three of their primary...
Michael A. Taylor hammers another homer, as Pirates beat Astros to clinch series win
Ben Cherington wouldn’t say whether the Pittsburgh Pirates deciding not to acquire a center fielder at the trade deadline was a vote of confidence for Michael A. Taylor. But a day after Taylor delivered a three-run home run in the ninth inning of a comeback win against the Houston Astros,...
Pirates farm report for July 30, 2024: Liover Peguero has 2 hits, 2 RBIs in Indianapolis win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 46-52) beat Toledo (Tigers), 7-5. Indianapolis had eight singles and no extra-base hits, but Toledo walked eight and made four errors. SS Liover Peguero (.251) went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBIs. RF Edward Olivares (.229) went 2 for 5 with two runs scored...
Pirates place RHP Carmen Mlodzinski on IL, select contract of RHP Jake Woodford
In addition to their acquisitions at Tuesday’s trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Pirates made a series of roster moves involving their pitching staff. Right-handed reliever Carmen Mlodzinski was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain. The Pirates selected the contract of righty Jake Woodford from Triple-A Indianapolis...
Pirates acquire LF Bryan De La Cruz, INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, trade LHP Martin Perez to Padres
With the Pittsburgh Pirates two games back in wild-card standings, general manager Ben Cherington wanted to give them a chance to contend by adding players who can impact the team this season and beyond. After dealing for left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks on Monday night, Cherington swung a trio of 11th-hour...
Pirates acquire lefty reliever Josh Walker from Mets in trade deadline deal
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington made his third deal before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline, adding to the bullpen depth Tuesday by acquiring left-handed reliever Josh Walker from the New York Mets. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Walker, who was designated for assignment July 26, has elite extension and a three-pitch...
First Call: Steelers reportedly cut a DB; Falcons sign James Washington; a take on new Pirate Nick Yorke
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some Pittsburgh Steelers roster news. The team’s first opponent just signed a former Steelers pass catcher. One of Brandon Aiyuk’s teammates is holding out hope for a contract resolution with the 49ers in San Francisco. We also have an interesting scouting report on a specific attribute...
Tim Benz: Pirates’ comeback in Paul Skenes’ latest outing should slap Ben Cherington right in the face
Through his first 11 starts as a Pittsburgh Pirate, a lot went right for rookie right-hander Paul Skenes. He was 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA and was named as the National League starter for the All-Star Game. For a while on Monday night, though, Skenes looked like he was about...
Ke’Bryan Hayes bounces back from costly error to draw pivotal walk in Pirates’ comeback win
Ke’Bryan Hayes is such an elite defender that the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman has made spectacular plays look routine, so his error on a routine grounder was something of a spectacle. When Houston Astros star Jose Altuve hit a bases-loaded grounder to Hayes with one out in the fifth inning...
Michael A. Taylor’s 3-run homer in 9th lifts Pirates to comeback win over Astros
When a late scratch forced the Houston Astros to replace their scheduled starter, it appeared the Pittsburgh Pirates had a major advantage with rookie phenom Paul Skenes on the mound. It proved just the opposite, as a pair of Astros relievers were perfect through five innings and the Pirates were...
Pirates acquire lefty reliever Jalen Beeks from Rockies
The Pittsburgh Pirates added a lefty arm to their bullpen Monday evening, acquiring 31-year-old Jalen Beeks from the Colorado Rockies. In exchange, the Pirates sent 23-year-old left-hander Luis Peralta to Colorado. Beeks has made a career-high 45 appearances this year with the Rockies, going 6-4 with a 4.74 ERA in...
Pirates sign 2nd-round pick Wyatt Sanford, as prep shortstop receives $2.5 million bonus
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed their second-round selection in the MLB Draft, Texas prep shortstop Wyatt Sanford. Sanford, who was signed by scout John Lombardo, received a $2.5 million bonus, per Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline, which was over the slot value of $1,984,800 for the No. 47 pick. The 6-foot-1,...
