Pirates/MLB category, Page 71
Pirates battle elements, bullpen meltdown to outlast Cubs in Paul Skenes’ MLB debut
Chances are what happened Saturday at PNC Park was vastly different from what Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes had in mind when he mentally prepared for his first MLB start. Skenes likely didn’t envision a lengthy 2-hour, 20-minute rain delay pausing play between the Pirates and visiting Chicago Cubs....
Rain delay pauses Pirates game in Paul Skenes’ MLB debut
Shortly after the Pittsburgh Pirates surrendered a five-run lead to the Chicago Cubs Saturday at PNC Park, the skies opened up, with thunder and heavy rains delaying the game, which featured top prospect Paul Skenes’ MLB debut. At the time of the delay, the Pirates and Cubs were tied 6-6....
Ben Cherington, Derek Shelton aim to keep pressure off Paul Skenes for MLB debutVideo
As the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospect — one of the most dynamic across MLB in recent memory — prepared to make his big-league debut, general manager Ben Cherington and skipper Derek Shelton did their best to make Saturday afternoon at PNC Park feel as normal as possible for pitcher Paul...
Pirates designate RHP Roansy Contreras, place 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes on IL, recall Alika Williams
The promotion of Paul Skenes to the Pittsburgh Pirates caused a chain reaction that turned one of Ben Cherington’s biggest trades into a bust as right-hander Roansy Contreras was designated for assignment. Contreras was the centerpiece of the four-player return in the trade that sent pitcher Jameson Taillon, the No....
In 1st at-bat post-recall, Pirates’ Nick Gonzales hits RBI singleVideo
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales is not wired to shield himself from hard truths, however unflattering. Last year, after making his MLB debut with the Pirates and playing in 35 games with the club, his .209/.268/.348 slash line offered no illusions that, offensively, considerable improvements were needed for him to...
Pirates farm report for May 10, 2024: Eddy Rodriguez delivers walk-off win for Bradenton
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 17-17) lost 3-0 to Louisville (Reds). Indy managed six singles. 2B Ji Hwan Bae (.361) and SS Liover Peguero (.293) each went 1 for 3 with a walk. DH Henry Davis (.154) went 1 for 4. RHP Wily Peralta (4.50) started and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two...
Cody Bellinger’s 4-hit game leads Cubs past Pirates as offense continues to struggle
The Pittsburgh Pirates have avoided some of the game’s biggest stars because of injuries, which sidelined the likes of Christian Yelich, Kris Bryant, Mike Trout and Dansby Swanson. Cody Bellinger, however, returned in time to torture the Pirates. After missing two weeks with a fractured rib cage, the Chicago Cubs...
Pirates acquire pitcher Daulton Jefferies from San Francisco for minor-league OF
Amid the buzz of introducing top overall prospect Paul Skenes at PNC Park on Friday, the Pittsburgh Pirates orchestrated a minor trade, acquiring right-hander Daulton Jefferies from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for minor-league outfielder Rodolfo Nolasco. Jefferies, 28, was designated for assignment by the Giants on Monday. Upon...
Pirates recall 2B Nick Gonzales, option INF Alika Williams to Triple-A Indianapolis
While the attention was on the arrival of 2023 No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes, it was another former first-round pick that was added to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ active roster. The Pirates recalled Nick Gonzales from Triple-A Indianapolis, and manager Derek Shelton said the hot-hitting second baseman would be in...
Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes has high expectations for his major-league debut
Paul Skenes had been waiting patiently for the Pittsburgh Pirates to promote him to the major leagues, so the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick was surprised to be sleeping when the call finally came. After Skenes threw a bullpen session Wednesday morning before Triple-A Indianapolis’ game, he went home...
Mark Madden: All aboard the Paul Skenes hype train
As we count down the minutes (seconds!) to Paul Skenes’ MLB/Pirates debut Saturday, I’m rooting for no middle ground. I don’t want six innings, five hits, two earned runs and six strikeouts. That’s pretty good, but you can’t hype that. I want six innings, one hit, no runs and 12...
Even beyond Paul Skenes’ debut, Pirates-Cubs series forecasts to be pitching paradise
Paul Skenes’ Pittsburgh Pirates debut is by far the biggest draw to PNC Park this weekend. But it’s not the only one, particularly if you like pitching. The Chicago Cubs are in town to open a three-game set. They begin the series at 22-16. That’s just percentage points behind the...
Pickoffs a pick-me-up for Pirates’ Aroldis Chapman, as lefty reliever closes in on record
Even as Aroldis Chapman closes in on becoming the all-time leader in strikeouts by a left-handed reliever, the Pittsburgh Pirates were worried about opponents taking free bases against him. Chapman’s 40.7% strikeout rate was countered by his 25.9% walk rate and compounded by runners taking liberties by stealing five bases...
Pirates farm report for May 9, 2024: Ji Hwan Bae knocks in 5 runs in Indianapolis win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 17-16) outscored Louisville (Reds), 9-6. 2B Ji Hwan Bae (.362) went 2 for 5 with a three-run homer, his third, and five RBIs. DH Malcom Nunez (.262) went 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. 3B Andres Alvarez (.174) went 2 for 4...
Pirates call up 2020 1st round pick Nick Gonzales from Triple-A
As Paul Skenes prepares to make his MLB debut this weekend, another top performer at Triple-A Indianapolis (and fellow former first-round draft pick) is also getting the call up to Pittsburgh. The Pirates are promoting infielder Nick Gonzales, selected seventh overall by the Pirates in the 2020 MLB Draft, a...
Before Paul Skenes, the Pirates had 5 No. 1 overall draft picks: A look at their MLB debutsVideo
The excitement surrounding a No. 1 overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates arguably has never been higher, with pitcher Paul Skenes earning his much-anticipated call-up to the big leagues to start Saturday at PNC Park against the Chicago Cubs. However, the situation is far from foreign for the Pirates, who...
U mad, bro?: Pirates fans tired of empty at-bats; impatience for Paul Skenes; Steelers fans sound off about Najee Harris
The Pittsburgh Pirates can’t hit. Some feel like it took too long to promote Paul Skenes. The Penguins fired an assistant coach. And the Steelers essentially admitted they shouldn’t have drafted a running back in the first round three years ago. There is plenty of room for grumbling in Pittsburgh...
Tim Benz: When Paul Skenes shows up, it’ll be nice if other Pirates also start showing up
Pittsburgh Pirates fans are just going to have to twiddle their thumbs and wait for first-round pick Paul Skenes to show up for his Major League debut Saturday. That wouldn’t be quite so bad if all of Pittsburgh wasn’t also waiting for the rest of the team to show up...
Pirates’ promotion of Paul Skenes evokes memories of Stephen Strasburg’s debut
When searching for comparisons to Paul Skenes and his 10-month path from being selected with the No. 1 overall pick to making his first start in the major leagues, one name rings most prominent. Where the Pittsburgh Pirates are pumped for the first MLB start by Skenes against the Chicago...
Pirates farm report for May 8, 2024: Braxton Ashcraft throws 5 scoreless in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 16-16) dropped a 4-3 decision to Louisville (Reds). LHP Cam Alldred (6.92) started and went five innings, allowed two runs (one unearned) on four hits, including a home run, didn’t walk a batter and struck out five. RHP Ryder Ryan (4.50) gave up one unearned run on two...
Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes scheduled to make MLB debut Saturday against Cubs
In what is expected to be the most anticipated debut by a starting pitcher since Stephen Strasburg in 2010, the Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting Paul Skenes to the major leagues, a source confirmed to TribLive. The 21-year-old right-hander, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft and regarded...
Pirates shut down by Angels bullpen, drop series finale
After five innings Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates looked to be sitting pretty, having taken a two-run lead over the Los Angeles Angels and chasing starter Jose Soriano. But that advantage evaporated almost instantly, with starter Martin Perez and reliever Luis Ortiz imploding in the sixth to...
Oneil Cruz’s left ankle ‘strong and stable,’ as Pirates shortstop returns to starting lineup
Oneil Cruz has given the Pittsburgh Pirates several scares by tweaking the left ankle that required surgery last season, yet director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk considers it more of an issue of treatment. After his latest sign of discomfort on a single to right in the sixth inning Monday...
Pirates, Audacy extend radio broadcast agreement
Pittsburgh Pirates games will remain on Audacy Pittsburgh radio stations through the 2027 season, the team and Audacy announced Wednesday. The parties agreed to a broadcast contract extension that will keep Pirates games on 93.7 The Fan (KDKA-FM), which has been the team’s flagship station since 2012. “Our relationship with...
Cole Tucker can relate to Paul Skenes’ life as a Pirates No. 1 pick in ways beyond baseball
For a moment, former Pittsburgh Pirates first-round draft choice Cole Tucker may have gotten lost in a memory. Sitting on the visitor’s bench at PNC Park on Monday afternoon, now as a Los Angeles Angel, Tucker looked out at what used to be his home field and talked about what...
