Pirates/MLB category, Page 127
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Watch for these prospects as Pirates spring training starts
When Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers and catchers report to spring training Wednesday at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla., the 67-man camp will include five prospects who aren’t likely to make the Opening Day roster but could finish the season at PNC Park. Here’s a look at those prospects: Endy Rodriguez The...
Pirates by Position: Around the horn as the Bucs get ready for spring training
The Pittsburgh Pirates head to Bradenton, Florida, this week as pitchers and catchers report on Wednesday. The whole team reports on Monday. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the players the Pirates have and what we can expect. Starting pitchers Mitch Keller expected to anchor starting rotation that added 2 veterans...
Pirates by Position: David Bednar expected to lead bullpen bolstered by offseason additions
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen, Derek Shelton won’t divulge defined roles. The Pirates manager has refused to call David Bednar the team’s closer, despite leading their relievers in saves (19) and strikeouts (69) and being selected an All-Star last season. “No, not really,” Shelton said of the...
Pirates by Position: Mitch Keller expected to anchor starting rotation that added 2 veterans
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been touting Mitch Keller as having top-of-the-rotation stuff since he was their top pitching prospect, but the right-hander struggled to show it in his first three major-league seasons. Keller finally gave a glimpse last season, when he led the Pirates in starts (29) and innings pitched...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Most pressing questions for Pirates entering spring training
Coming off back-to-back 100-loss seasons for the first time since the 1950s, the Pittsburgh Pirates underwent a roster overhaul and spent $30 million on veterans in free agency. The turnover is dramatic, with only seven players remaining from the 26-man Opening Day roster from last season: closer David Bednar, right-handed...
Pirates by Position: Adding Andrew McCutchen creates competition in crowded outfieldVideo
In an offseason when the Pittsburgh Pirates weighed their outfield options, starting with whether to grant Bryan Reynolds’ trade request, one comment captured how much has changed. “I know we don’t talk lineups here,” manager Derek Shelton said of Andrew McCutchen, “but Opening Day he’s going to be in there.”...
Pirates by Position: Ke’Bryan Hayes dazzles at 3B but has yet to show power for the position
If the dazzling plays made by Ke’Bryan Hayes didn’t prove he was baseball’s best glove at third base, the measures of metrics made it clear he was the best defender in the game. “I’ve got a lot of confidence anytime a ball is hit over his way,” Pirates outfielder Bryan...
Florida school district pulls children’s book about Roberto Clemente off shelves
A large Florida school district has pulled an illustrated children’s biography of Pittsburgh Pirates legend Roberto Clemente off its shelves to determine whether it is “developmentally appropriate for student use.” Duval County Public Schools, which includes the city of Jacksonville, said in a news release it is “taking further steps...
Pirates by Position: Oneil Cruz, Rodolfo Castro can make a case as starting middle infielders
Over the final five weeks of the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates played Oneil Cruz and Rodolfo Castro together for 14 games and gave a glimpse of what could become their double-play pairing of the future. A defense featuring the young Dominicans — Cruz turned 24 in October, and Castro turns...
Pirates pitcher Roansy Contreras reportedly added to Dominican Republic roster for WBC
A day after Ji-Man Choi was dropped from Korea’s roster in the World Baseball Classic after the Pittsburgh Pirates made a medical objection, the club appears to have given right-hander Roansy Contreras the OK to play in the WBC. Contreras was added to the roster of the Dominican Republic, per...
Pirates by Position: 1B, DH addressed with additions of Ji-Man Choi, Carlos Santana
Ben Cherington entered the offseason with the objective of improving the Pittsburgh Pirates at first base and designated hitter, and the general manager addressed both positions before the Winter Meetings. By trading for Ji-Man Choi and signing Carlos Santana in free agency, the Pirates added a pair of veteran sluggers...
Ji-Man Choi ‘devastated’ to be dropped from Korea’s WBC roster after Pirates’ objection
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/designated hitter Ji-Man Choi said he was “devastated” by the club making a medical objection that will keep him from playing for Korea in the World Baseball Classic. As reported by Yonhap News, Choi said he was “deeply hurt” by the Pirates’ decision, made out of health...
Pirates by Position: Counting on Austin Hedges at catcher until prospects are promoted
For the Pittsburgh Pirates, the conundrum at catcher last season couldn’t be captured by one name, as they used eight players at the position. One game, however, told the tale. When backup Andrew Knapp was ejected from the dugout for arguing a call and starter Roberto Perez suffered a torn...
Pirates add 4 top-5 prospects to spring training as non-roster invitees
The Pittsburgh Pirates added 17 players as non-roster invitees to spring training in Bradenton, Fla., including top-five prospects Henry Davis, Termarr Johnson, Quinn Priester and Nick Gonzales. It marks the first spring training for Johnson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. Davis (2021), Priester (2019) and...
Pirates pitcher David Bednar visits Bell Acres family for season ticket holders appreciationVideo
A Bell Acres family recently had a special guest stop by their home to thank them for being Pittsburgh Pirates season ticket holders. Pitcher David Bednar and the Pirate Parrot were welcomed by the Semonik family on Jan. 29. The team shared the experience on its official Twitter page with...
Tim Benz: Derek Shelton not worried about Bryan Reynolds’ trade request — nor should he be
As much hand-wringing as there is over the trade request of Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds, it could prove to be somewhat of a benefit. For everybody involved. Well, for the short term, anyway. If Reynolds truly wants out of Pittsburgh, the most effective way to do that is to...
‘It’s like he never left’: Pirates fans thrilled to see Andrew McCutchen back at PNC Park
Ezera Lenk and his sister Annie had no idea Andrew McCutchen was even at PNC Park when they got in a line that snaked through the Gunner’s Lounge on the club level. So after an almost hour-long wait, they were thrilled to be among the final Pittsburgh Pirates fans to...
Pirates manager Derek Shelton calls signing Andrew McCutchen ‘a move we needed to make’
When Derek Shelton learned of the possibility that Andrew McCutchen could return to the Pittsburgh Pirates, his first thought was about how the 36-year-old veteran outfielder would fit with the young ballclub. As he considered it, Shelton saw only positives. “I thought it was a move we needed to make,”...
Termarr Johnson ranks highest among Pirates prospects in MLB Pipeline’s updated top 100
Termarr Johnson hasn’t played a full season in the minor leagues, but MLB Pipeline already ranks the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2022 first-round pick as the No. 1 second-base prospect and among its top 30 players overall. Ranked 26th, Johnson is the only Pirates player to crack the front half of MLB...
For Pirates, signing South Korean pitcher Jun-Seok Shim signifies global approach to scouting
After the Pittsburgh Pirates convinced Jun-Seok Shim to withdraw from the KBO draft, where he was projected to be a top-five pick, and sign for a $750,000 bonus, they gave their top-ranked international signing the grand tour of PNC Park on Thursday befitting a first-round pick of the MLB Draft....
First Call: Another interview for Brian Flores; Steelers ‘unsung’ hero; Clint Hurdle on Bryan Reynolds
Thursday’s “First Call” has another job interview for Pittsburgh Steelers assistant Brian Flores. One Steeler is highlighted as an “unsung hero” in the NFL. We recap another busy night in the Metropolitan Division while the Penguins were idle. And former Pirates manager Clint Hurdle shares his thoughts on Bryan Reynolds....
Pirates sign South Korean pitching prospect Jun-Seok Shim
The Pittsburgh Pirates have officially signed Jun-Seok Shim and will introduce the 18-year-old South Korean pitching prospect Thursday at PNC Park. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound right-hander is ranked the No. 10 international prospect by MLB Pipeline and second among pitchers. “We are excited to add Jun-Seok to our organization and start...
Kevin Gorman: Explaining a ballot that gave a vote to Scott Rolen but not Carlos Beltran
When I became eligible to vote for the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time two years ago, I made the decision to select the best players on the ballot. It came with a caveat: Cheaters won’t get a check mark in their first year of eligibility. That...
Tim Benz: Where Andrew McCutchen’s presence may best benefit the Pirates — if he’s willing to go there
When Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen made the comment, I figured it was simply the right thing to say. “I want to win,” McCutchen said during a press conference to announce his return to Pittsburgh after a five-year absence. “Specifically, I want to win here. I know what it feels...
‘That’s Andrew McCutchen’s number’: The Pirate who protected No. 22 until his return
When the Pittsburgh Pirates wanted to hype the return of Andrew McCutchen, their creative team asked clubhouse and equipment manager Scott Bonnett if he had any leftover jerseys. There would be no Catch-22 with Cutch’s 22. Bonnett only had to open his own locker. Hanging alongside an autographed Francisco Cervelli...
