Pirates/MLB category, Page 152
Cal Mitchell’s 1st major league homer boosts Pirates to shutout of Diamondbacks
Sundays are Kids Days at PNC Park, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Pittsburgh Pirates relied on their rookies. Cal Mitchell crushed his first major-league home run, Jack Suwinski hit a pair of doubles and Diego Castillo drove him in with a sacrifice fly as the Pirates...
Diamondbacks claim Cole Tucker off waivers, ending former 1st-rounder’s tenure with Pirates
Cole Tucker, the former Pittsburgh Pirates first-round pick who was designated for assignment Monday, was claimed off waivers Sunday by the Arizona Diamondbacks. It’s a homecoming for Tucker, 25, who was drafted No. 24 overall as a shortstop out of Mountain Pointe High School in 2014 and makes his offseason...
After latest gaffes, Pirates option Rodolfo Castro to make room for OF Travis Swaggerty
The arrival of one Pittsburgh Pirates rookie came at the expense of another, as infielder Rodolfo Castro was optioned Sunday to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room on the roster for outfielder Travis Swaggerty one day after making a pair of costly gaffes against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Castro, 23, batted .197...
Pirates farm report for June 4, 2022: Oneil Cruz hits 8th homer in Indy loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 26-26) gave up three runs in the bottom of the seventh and lost to Omaha (Royals), 7-6. SS Oneil Cruz (.223) went 2 for 4 with a lead-off home run, his eighth. DH Bligh Madris (.265) was 2 for 4 with a homer, his fifth. 2B Hoy Park...
Pirates promoting 2018 1st-round pick OF Travis Swaggerty for MLB debut
The Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting outfielder Travis Swaggerty in time for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team source confirmed. Swaggerty, 24, signed for a $4.4 million after being drafted with the No. 10 overall selection in 2018 out of South Alabama, where he was regarded as one of...
Jack Suwinski’s walk-off home run lifts Pirates to comeback win over Diamondbacks
After hitting the first walk-off home run of his career and receiving a celebratory ice bath, Jack Suwinski couldn’t suppress his smile. On Faith Night at PNC Park, he turned Pirates fans into believers. Just when the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder was satisfied with extending his ninth-inning at-bat against Arizona...
How Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes used ‘squishy’ balls to eliminate errors
Ke’Bryan Hayes quickly has earned a reputation as one of the best defensive players in baseball, so the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman shakes his head when he looks at one important statistic. Hayes had seven errors through the first 50 games this season — including three in a five-game span...
Pirates farm report for June 3, 2022: Travis Swaggerty stays hot for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 26-25) rallied past Omaha (Royals), 5-2. CF Travis Swaggerty (.280) went 2 for 4 and hit a go-ahead three-run homer, his fourth, in the seventh inning. He also doubled. In his last seven games, Swaggerty is 12 for 29 with two home runs and eight RBIs. 1B Mason...
Diamondbacks homer 5 times, hold off 9th-inning rally to top Pirates
JT Brubaker’s worst enemy returned, as the right-hander set an ominous tone for the Pittsburgh Pirates by serving up long balls. Brubaker surrendered three home runs, including a two-run shot to Ketel Marte for the go-ahead runs, as the Arizona Diamondbacks went deep five times. Then it almost came back...
Pirates GM on sweeping Dodgers: ‘You’ve got to celebrate and turn the page really quickly’
Watching the Pittsburgh Pirates sweep a three-game series at the Los Angeles Dodgers had a profound impact on Ben Cherington, but not necessarily the way one would expect. “I thought it threw off my sleep schedule,” Cherington joked Friday at PNC Park. The Pirates general manager was measured in his...
Pirates’ David Bednar named NL reliever of the month
David Bednar punctuated a marvelous month with a “gritty” two-inning, 50-pitch outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers and an expletive to express his excitement. After notching seven saves in May, the Pittsburgh Pirates closer was named NL reliever of the month. “It’s cool. It’s definitely an honor but, ultimately, it...
First Call: Ex-Pirate flirts with perfect game; David Bednar named a top trade candidate; Steelers linked to free agent tackleVideo
Friday’s “First Call” has a free agent connection to the Steelers. The NFL is shelving covid-19 testing. An ex-Pirate pitcher turned in a fantastic effort Thursday. And is David Bednar destined to be traded off the Pirates roster? Going “Fishing”? ESPN.com published a list of the top 10 remaining free...
Pirates farm report for June 2, 2022: Andres Alvarez homer lifts Altoona to win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-25) was held in check by Omaha (Royals), 4-1. CF Travis Swaggerty (.273) went 2 for 4. DH Bligh Madris (.257) went 2 for 3 with a home run, his fourth. 1B Mason Martin (.233) went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. SS Oneil Cruz (.216) returned after...
Against the odds, Pirates overcome injuries, inexperience, low payroll to sweep Dodgers
Against all odds, the Pirates this week swept a three-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles for the first time since 2000. How the heck did that happen? Consider: • The Dodgers’ payroll of $280,839,078 at the start of the season led the majors and was nearly six times...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans pounce on Doug Whaley’s Jack Ham comments; Pirates fans rip roster; reader backs Jacob Trouba hits
Despite a good week out west, fans are still piling on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Criticism of Jacob Trouba’s hits have hockey fans in a snit. And someone was critical of a Super Stiller from the 1970s. Perhaps the ultimate Pittsburgh sin. All that and more in this week’s “U mad,...
Pirates farm report for June 1, 2022: Travis Swaggerty homers in Indy rout
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-24) clobbered Omaha (Royals), 13-3. CF Travis Swaggerty (.266) went 2 for 4 with a two-run homer, his third. C Carter Bins (.229) went 2 for 4 with a double, a solo homer, his second, and three RBIs. LF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.263) went 2 for 6 with a...
Pirates defeat Dodgers, 8-4, to complete stunning 3-game sweep in Los Angeles
The Pittsburgh Pirates venturing into Dodger Stadium and winning all three games would have been surprising even if Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker and A.J. Burnett were still pulling the strings. But Wednesday, it was Rodolfo Castro, Mike Chavis, Chase De Jong and several others who led the Pirates to an...
Pirates find ways to survive while 7 players heal injuries
Shortstop Kevin Newman went on the injured list April 27, the first of seven Pittsburgh Pirates regulars or semi-regulars who remained inactive through Wednesday’s game in Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium. The list touches almost every area of the Pirates’ roster: infield, outfield, catcher and the bullpen. It includes: • Newman...
Mitch Keller, 4 relief pitchers lead Pirates to 2nd consecutive victory against Dodgers
For the Pittsburgh Pirates to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in four of five games — such as they have done this season — everything must be just right. In the Pirates’ second consecutive victory against the National League’s best team – a 5-3 victory Tuesday night in front of...
Pirates farm report for May 31, 2022: Travis Swaggerty on base 4 times in Indy loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 24-24) lost 2-1 to Omaha (Royals) on a walk-off solo home run by RF Nate Eaton. RHP Austin Brice (1-2, 3.20) gave up the two-out shot. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (4.58) started and pitched five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk and fanning three. CF Travis Swaggerty...
After 2 relief appearances, Mitch Keller scheduled to start Tuesday night against Dodgers
Mitch Keller will be the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting pitcher Tuesday night in Dodger Stadium, but he won’t necessarily take a regular spot in the rotation. Speaking on his radio show on KDKA-FM, Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Keller’s role on the pitching staff “will continue to stay in flux to...
Mark Madden: Why can’t the Pirates develop talent?
Ben Cherington is in his third season as Pittsburgh Pirates GM. Things aren’t improving. The Pirates just DFA’d Cole Tucker, their first-round pick in 2014. He’s all teeth and hair, no bat. Lots of charisma, zero pop. He hit .175 with the Pirates this season, .135 in Triple-A. Cherington inherited...
In his latest victory, Pirates closer David Bednar tests his limits
After striking out Will Smith to clinch a comeback win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, David Bednar couldn’t contain his excitement on AT&T SportsNet’s postgame interview. When Robby Incmikoski asked him about the excitement of beating the best team in baseball, the Pittsburgh Pirates closer dropped an...
Tim Benz: Ex-Pirates pitchers shining across MLB
Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, baseball fans can start gauging who will be in the mix for the Major League Baseball All-Star game (July 19 in Los Angeles). One Pittsburgh Pirate who is making an early push is closer David Bednar. His nine saves are eighth in...
After blowing 4-run lead, Pirates rally with 2 runs in the ninth to stun Dodgers
Trailing the best team in baseball by a run in the top of the ninth inning, the Pittsburgh Pirates decided to go for broke by taking a chance on a pair of plays at the plate. Diego Castillo scored from second on a Michael Perez single to right for the...
