Pirates/MLB category, Page 144
On-the-job training helps Pirates’ Oneil Cruz learn what it takes to play in the majors
The throws from shortstop don’t always land cleanly in the first baseman’s glove. And he still has a lot to learn about hitting against left-handed pitchers. But what better place for Oneil Cruz to discover what it takes to play big-league ball than the big leagues? Cruz showed why he’s...
First Call: New jobs for a Steelers great on the sideline and booth; slight health setback for Joe Burrow
Wednesday’s “First Call” features two new jobs for a Pittsburgh Steelers legend. A Cincinnati Bengals star has hit a health snag. A big-name college football coach with Pittsburgh ties is less than happy with his sport. And Jack Suwinski had a highlight in Indianapolis. Broadcasting the Birds In Pittsburgh, we...
Pirates farm report for July 26, 2022: Jack Suwinski belts grand slam in Indy win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 44-47) got past Toledo (Tigers), 5-4. CF Jack Suwinski (.190) went 1 for 4 with a first-inning grand slam, his third Triple-A homer of the year. RHP Roansy Contreras (2.82) started and went two innings, allowing one hit, a solo home run, and striking out two. LHP Cam...
Pirates sign 4 more draft choices; 14 under contract
The Pirates signed four more 2022 draft choices Tuesday, bringing the total to 14 players under contract from general manager Ben Cherington’s 21-man class. They are outfielder Tanner Tredaway (10th round), catcher Nick Cimillo (16th round) and pitchers Jaycob Deese and Elijah Birdsong (17th and 18th rounds). • Tredaway hit...
Oneil Cruz’s 416-foot home run not enough in Pirates’ 4-2 loss to Cubs
The ERAs are falling. Oneil Cruz is hitting home runs. Bryan Reynolds is back. And Ke’Bryan Hayes has reached base safely in 13 consecutive games Why, then, have the Pirates (40-58) lost four of five games since the All-Star break and eight of their past 10, including a 4-2 defeat...
JT Brubaker turns in solid performance, but Pirates fall to Cubs
JT Brubaker did his part Monday night at Wrigley Field when the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bats failed again and one ill-timed error led to the Chicago Cubs’ 3-2 victory. The Pirates’ starting pitcher worked through some early problems with his slider, didn’t allow hard contact by Cubs batters to deter him...
Bryan Reynolds returns from injured list, bats second against Cubs on Monday night
Two hours before the start of a two-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates received a significant boost to their lineup when Bryan Reynolds was activated from the injured list and inserted into center field. He will bat second in the order against the Cubs...
Pirates catcher Jason Delay takes advantage of opportunity with offensive production
When Jason Delay connected on Braxton Garrett’s 2-2 slider, he didn’t know if would have the distance to clear the fence in the left-field corner at PNC Park, so the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher gave the ball some encouragement. “I was hustling out of the box, and I was kind of...
Pirates farm report for July 24, 2022: Tucupita Marcano’s blast helps Indy top St. Paul
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 43-47) won 5-3 over St. Paul (Twins). 3B Tucupita Marcano (.313) was 3 for 4, including a two-run home run. LF Travis Swaggerty (.256) hit his sixth triple of the season and tallied his 38th RBI. DH Mason Martin (.192) knocked in his 51st run of the season....
‘It’s been long enough’: Pirates CF Bryan Reynolds ready to return from injured list
After missing 10 games with a right oblique strain, center fielder Bryan Reynolds expects to return to the Pittsburgh Pirates for their two-game series at the Chicago Cubs. “Nobody wants to not play, so I’m ready to get out there,” Reynolds said Sunday at PNC Park following a 6-5 loss...
Marlins hold off Pirates rally in 10th inning to escape with a win
After committing a costly error that allowed the Miami Marlins to take the lead in the top of the 10th inning, Cal Mitchell came to bat with an opportunity to make amends. The Pittsburgh Pirates had runners on first and third with two outs when the rookie right fielder singled...
Pirates farm report for July 23, 2022: Mason Martin’s walk-off single lifts Indy to victory
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 42-47) defeated St. Paul (Twins), 7-6, on a walk-off. DH Mason Martin (.193) singled home 1B Bligh Madris from second base in the bottom of the ninth inning for the winning run. Madris was 2 for 5, including a two-run homer. 3B Rodolfo Castro (.231) was 2 for...
With 7 shutout innings in win over Marlins, Jose Quintana perhaps aids trade value for Pirates
It’s possible the Pittsburgh Pirates’ future organizational prospect depth improved Saturday night. And not because of what any of their current minor leaguers did. In what almost certainly was one of his final two starts for the organization, veteran Jose Quintana threw seven shutout innings in lifting the Pirates to...
Injured at an inopportune time, OF Greg Allen perseveres to make Pirates debut
It was not surprising Greg Allen was in a good mood while he stood at his locker Saturday afternoon. After all, he was just hours from his season debut and being in the starting lineup for the Pittsburgh Pirates. What might be a little surprising was Allen’s upbeat disposition didn’t...
Pirates trade catcher Michael Perez to Mets in 2nd deal between teams in 2 days
NEW YORK — The New York Mets acquired catcher Michael Perez from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash on Saturday, the second day in a row the NL East leaders made a trade with the Pirates. The 29-year-old Perez was designated for assignment on Friday. A lefty hitter, he batted .150...
After trading DH Daniel Vogelbach, Pirates look to fill void created in lineup, clubhouse
Ben Gamel has been teammates with Daniel Vogelbach on three teams, so he called the news that the Pittsburgh Pirates had traded the designated hitter just minutes before Friday’s first pitch a “gut punch.” When the Pirates dealt the left-handed designated hitter to the NL East-leading New York Mets for...
Pirates farm report for July 22, 2022: Jack Suwinski belts 2 homers in Indy’s loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 41-47) lost to St. Paul (Twins), 9-8, in 10 innings. St. Paul scored on a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th. LF Jack Suwinski (.250) was 2 for 4 with two home runs and three RBIs. He also walked once and struck out twice. CF Ji-hwan...
Pirates draft picks ‘ready to get rolling’ after signing, saving club money on bonuses
Thomas Harrington knew that Campbell University had never produced a first-round pick in the MLB Draft, so he was thrilled to be involved in changing its history. After the Los Angeles Angels selected Campbell shortstop Zach Neto at No. 13 overall Sunday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates picked Harrington at No....
Marlins end 37-inning scoreless drought, pound Pirates for 8 runs on 13 hits
In a game the Pittsburgh Pirates promoted as Christmas in July, they delivered an outcome that was as ugly as their green T-shirt giveaways. The Pirates were in a giving mood after trading designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach to the New York Mets for right-handed reliever Colin Holderman just minutes before...
Pirates trade Daniel Vogelbach to Mets for righty reliever Colin Holderman
Ben Cherington wanted to make it clear that the Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t sign Daniel Vogelbach just to trade the slugger but rather because at-bats were available once the designated hitter became universal. That didn’t stop the Pirates general manager from dealing Vogelbach to a contender Friday when the NL East-leading...
Pirates closer David Bednar: Push for him to pitch made All-Star Game ‘even more special’
David Bednar couldn’t stop smiling about the Hollywood treatment he got at the All-Star Game, from walking the red carpet to watching the Home Run Derby on the field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. But the Pittsburgh Pirates closer was most impressed by a move made out of the...
One more throw for Big Ben: Pirates to have Steelers great throw out ceremonial 1st pitch
Ben Roethlisberger might have retired from the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the two-time Super Bowl champion has at least one more throw in him. The Pirates are having Big Ben throw out a ceremonial first pitch before their game against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 29 at PNC Park, as part...
Never mind the numbers, Pirates find developing draft picks into pitchers ‘exciting’
When it comes to some of the pitchers the Pittsburgh Pirates picked in the MLB Draft, never mind the numbers. That was the warning from Pirates senior director of amateur scouting Joe DelliCarri, who shared his excitement about draft picks whose resumes might give some pause as to why they...
Pirates’ David Bednar pitches scoreless 9th, but AL claims 9th straight All-Star Game win
LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton homered in his Dodger Stadium homecoming, Byron Buxton followed with another drive, and the American League won its ninth straight All-Star Game, beating the National League, 3-2, on Tuesday night. Fans rooting for a tie score after nine innings so they could see a first-time...
Pirates continue to load up on pitching, taking 8 on final day of MLB Draft
Ben Cherington was adamant the Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t set out to stockpile pitchers in the MLB Draft but it certainly worked out that way when their three-day total amounted to 16 arms out of 21 picks. The Pirates used eight of their final 10 picks Tuesday on pitchers. In total,...
