Pirates/MLB category, Page 120
Pirates farm report for April 11, 2023: Jacob Gonzalez, Matt Fraizer lead Altoona to 1st win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 5-5) had its five-game winning streak snapped by St. Paul (Twins), 10-6, in 12 innings. LF Tucupita Marcano (.455) was 1 for 5 with a walk and two strikeouts. RF Cal Mitchell (.200) was 3 for 5 with three RBIs. CF Travis Swaggerty (.275) was 1 for 5...
Pirates SS Oneil Cruz discharged from hospital; RHP JT Brubaker seeks 2nd opinion on elbow
Two days after undergoing surgery to repair his fractured left ankle, Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz was discharged from Allegheny General Hospital wearing a cast and will have to go months without bearing any weight on his left leg. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound shortstop is expected to go two months without...
Pirates claim righty reliever Eli Villalobos off waivers, transfer SS Oneil Cruz to 60-day IL
The Pittsburgh Pirates added bullpen depth Tuesday when they claimed right-handed reliever Eli Villalobos off waivers from the Miami Marlins. Villalobos was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. To make room on the 40-man roster, shortstop Oneil Cruz (fractured left ankle) was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL....
After 1st start with Pirates, utility player Mark Mathias hopes to make impact with his bat
Even though Mark Mathias didn’t make the final cut of spring training, he’s been following the Pittsburgh Pirates through their box scores while trying to avoid being distracted by their transactions. Until, of course, he was one of them. Mathias was preparing for a day off with Triple-A Indianapolis when...
Ji Hwan Bae hits 3-run home run in bottom of 9th to lift Pirates to walk-off win over AstrosVideo
A pair of Pittsburgh Pirates sluggers went from scuffling to swinging a sword after hitting home runs that cleared the right-field stands. Jack Suwinski snapped out of a funk with a two-run homer in the second inning, and Ji-Man Choi went deep for the second consecutive game with a solo...
Astros take advantage of Roansy Contreras’ control issues to pound Pirates
A day after losing Oneil Cruz to an injury expected to keep the shortstop out four months, the Pittsburgh Pirates knew their resolve would be tested by a visit from the World Series champions. The Houston Astros took advantage of Cruz’s absence and Roansy Contreras’ control issues to beat the...
Pirates OF Bryan Reynolds honored as MLB player of the week after hot start to the season
Bryan Reynolds wanted to get off to a good start this season, but the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder didn’t imagine it would be the best opening week of anybody in baseball. Reynolds was named MLB player of the week Monday after leading the National League with 12 hits, 28 total bases,...
After surgery on fractured left ankle, Pirates SS Oneil Cruz expected to miss 4 months
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz underwent surgery late Sunday night to repair his fractured left ankle and is expected to miss four months. Drs. Greg Altman and Darren Frank performed the operation at Allegheny General Hospital to stabilize the fractured fibula and addressed the injury to the syndesmosis, according to...
First Call: Antonio Brown’s long overdue admission about playing career; White Sox reaction to Oneil Cruz collision, injuryVideo
It’s a little late, but maybe former Pittsburgh Steeler Antonio Brown has learned an important life lesson. The Chicago White Sox have some varying reactions to the Oneil Cruz injury and collision at home plate with their catcher, Seby Zavala. A familiar Steelers rival won’t be back with the Cleveland...
Madden Monday: Oneil Cruz’s injury is ‘further proof that they should allow the runner to run over the catcher’
Oneil Cruz’s fractured ankle is a gut punch for the Pittsburgh Pirates on many levels. Not the least of which is that the injury dampens the early momentum within the fan base and the belief that the team was on a fast ascent after nine games. Now, though, the 6-3...
With Pirates SS Oneil Cruz out, Rodolfo Castro ‘ready for whatever position they need me to play’
Rodolfo Castro’s heart dropped when Oneil Cruz fractured his left ankle in an awkward slide and home-plate collision Sunday, feeling a sense of sorrow and frustration for his friend and fellow Dominican. “It hurts a lot because he’s like my brother, and it hurts the team, too,” Castro said through...
Pirates farm report for April 9, 2023: Tucupita Marcano knocks in 3 runs in Indy victory
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 5-4) beat Louisville (Reds), 8-1, for its fifth straight victory. LF Tucupita Marcano (.500) was 2 for 4 with three RBIs. 2B Nick Gonzales (.207) also knocked in two runs. CF Travis Swaggerty (.286) was 2 for 5 with an RBI, including a double and triple. C Endy...
Oneil Cruz’s broken ankle overshadows Pirates’ series-clinching win over White Sox
The Pittsburgh Pirates got a big win from starting pitcher Johan Oviedo but suffered an even bigger loss when manager Derek Shelton revealed shortstop Oneil Cruz fractured his left ankle during a home plate collision. The sight of Cruz writhing in pain on the dirt as benches cleared in the...
Armed with a sinking slider, reliever Dauri Moreta brings electric energy to Pirates’ bullpen
As much as the Pittsburgh Pirates have embraced the swagger and electric energy that Dauri Moreta has brought to their bullpen, they are marveling at one of the right-handed reliever’s pitches. While playing catch with Moreta, Duane Underwood Jr. couldn’t help but notice that Moreta’s slider moves two ways, first...
Pirates dealt a ‘big blow’ as shortstop Oneil Cruz fractures ankle in home plate collision
After an awkward slide and collision with Chicago White Sox catcher Seby Zavala, Oneil Cruz was in obvious pain, and his left leg bent at an odd angle underneath him. Cruz slid backward to inch away from home plate before turning onto his right side. As benches cleared in the...
Pirates farm report for April 8, 2023: Mike Burrows leaves with injury as Indy wins 4th straight
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 4-4) opened the season with four straight losses followed by four straight wins, beating Louisville (Reds), 5-4. RHP Mike Burrows (2.70) started but left the game with an injury in the second inning. LHP Cam Alldred (1-0, 0.00) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out...
Vince Velasquez exits early, Andrew McCutchen homers late as White Sox snap Pirates’ win streak
Vince Velasquez got goosebumps in anticipation of making his first start for the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, and the right-hander had extra motivation in facing his former Chicago White Sox teammates. What Velasquez didn’t have was control. Velasquez was pulled in the third inning after allowing five runs on...
MLB rule changes quickly catching on with Pirates fans
In an alternate universe, Friday’s game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox might have eclipsed four hours in length. The teams combined for 22 runs and 30 hits in 80 at-bats, with seven pitchers taking the mound. But with MLB’s rule changes, highlighted by the pitch clock, Friday’s...
Pirates farm report for April 7, 2023: Tucupita Marcano swinging hot bat for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 3-4) ran its winning streak to three with a 5-3 win over Louisville (Reds). SS Tucupita Marcano (.500) went 3 for 5 with three doubles and three runs scored. C Endy Rodriguez (.211) was 2 for 4 with an RBI. CF Travis Swaggerty (.276) went 1 for 5...
Gov. Josh Shapiro sets tone for Pirates victory with 1st strike of the day
The first pitch of the day was right down the middle. The catcher never moved his glove. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was so proud of it that he was eager to offer proof when approached for comment. “Did you throw a strike, Governor?” a reporter asked. “You bet I did,”...
Pirates triumphant in Andrew McCutchen’s return behind Bryan Reynolds’ 6 RBIs
The black-clad crowd chanted M-V-P during the introduction of Andrew McCutchen in his return for the Pittsburgh Pirates, bringing back that Buctober feeling to PNC Park. The trade that sent McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants five years ago came full circle when fans later serenaded the player the Pirates...
A.J. Burnett, Russell Martin reunite at PNC Park to throw 1st pitch for Pirates’ home opener
In front of an expected sellout crowd at PNC Park for the home opener, the Pittsburgh Pirates paid homage to their 2013 team that advanced to the National League Divisional Series and ended a streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons. Former battery mates A.J. Burnett and Russell Martin reunited for...
‘He’s home’: Fans greet Andrew McCutchen with raucous reception during home opener
Pirates fans waited five years for this moment. No. 22 is back. Andrew McCutchen returned as a Pirate to PNC Park on Friday for the team’s home opener and was embraced by about 40,000 people in attendance. “To wear No. 22 again,” he said, “there is nothing else like it.”...
Pirates notebook: Biggest crowd in years fills PNC Park for opener
Plenty of indicators prior to first pitch Friday afternoon pointed to a pretty full house at PNC Park for the Pirates’ 2023 home opener. For starters, there were the full parking lots full of tailgating fans and backed-up masses of people eager to get in the ballpark well before the...
Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen finds right mix of nostalgia and having a job to do
Andrew McCutchen understands he has a job to do as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ designated hitter and No. 3 hitter in the batting order. But he’s also embracing the nostalgia of his first game back at PNC Park in six years. “You don’t separate it. You embrace it,” he said before...
