Tuesday’s “First Call” some high praise for the Pirates’ first-round draft pick, an injury to Andrew McCutchen and a lucky break for the Steelers.
Mighty Quinn?
The Pirates are getting high praise for their first-round pick.
It’s right-handed high school pitcher Quinn Priester from Illinois.
On MLB network, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline says the Pirates got the pitcher with the highest ceiling in the draft.
Who are the highest upside arms in the #MLBDraft?
•@jimcallisMLB: @quinnpriester (#18-PIT)
•@CarlosACollazo: Daniel Espino (#24-CLE)
•@jonathanmayo: @BrennanRMalone (#33-AZ) pic.twitter.com/NGWMBRSYVR— Stephen Nelson (@StephenNelson) June 4, 2019
If things don’t work out on the mound, maybe Priester can bounce over to the South Side and try out for the Steelers. He was renowned as a skilled high school wide receiver, as well.
At 6-foot-3, he’s been called a slightly smaller version of Notre Dame wideout-turned-MLB pitcher Jeff Samardzija.
Before Priester committed to TCU, Northwestern was talking to him about playing both sports in college, he said.
‘Cutch injured
Former Pirates MVP Andrew McCutchen hurt his knee on a strange play in San Diego Monday.
The Phillies center fielder appeared to twist his knee during this odd rundown.
Andrew McCutchen has exited today's game with an injury and had to be helped off the field. pic.twitter.com/bAy1yQ85uH
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) June 4, 2019
McCutchen left the game and was replaced by Jay Bruce. He went to left field and another former Pirate, Sean Rodriguez, went to center. The Phillies lost 8-2.
McCutchen entered the game hitting .256 with 10 home runs, 29 RBIs and an .832 OPS.
Sensing the injury may be severe, McCutchen asked for some support from his fans on Twitter.
Pray for me. Please
— andrew mccutchen (@TheCUTCH22) June 4, 2019
According to ESPN.com, McCutchen is guessing that this was not an ACL injury.
“I didn’t feel it pop or anything,” McCutchen said. “Something felt uncomfortable, something that made me grab my knee and go down. I’ve had an ACL injury before, and I know what that feels like. This didn’t feel like that.”
He is scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday
Carolina on his mind
Free agent Gerald McCoy is heading to the Carolina Panthers.
And that’s a good thing for the Steelers. The defensive tackle could’ve been a stout foe in the AFC North. He was reportedly considering a move to either Cleveland or Baltimore.
Instead, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer will stay in the NFC South and play his old team twice a year.
ProFootballTalk.com reports that the contract in Charlotte is worth $8.5 million for one year.
Just Jack!
Presumptive No. 1 NHL draft pick Jack Hughes has some affinity for the Penguins.
The USA Hockey National Team Development Program star was asked to rank his favorite Stanley Cup moments. And he put the Pens’ back-to-back Cup finals moments at the top of the list.
As Hughes explained to NHL.com, “I think Nashville-Pittsburgh (in 2017), San Jose-Pittsburgh (2016) and seeing Sid get back to the top of the mountain after a lot of years there where they were kind of struggling. So to see them go back to back, that was unbelievable.”
For perspective, when Crosby and company made their first Stanley Cup Final before losing to Detroit back in 2008, Hughes was 7.
That’s a new one
We’ve all seen throwing errors. But this is going to a new level.
Watch Seattle shortstop Dylan Moore throw home after this ground ball. Then keep an eye on catcher Omar Narvaez, uh, going elsewhere.
Welp, we’ve never seen anything like this before. pic.twitter.com/F3Kfd8wc8R
— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 4, 2019
Someone ran the wrong route.
The Mariners lost to the Astros, 4-2.
