Pittsburgh Pirates / MLB category, Page 5
Pirates announce coaching staff assignments for minor league affiliates
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates announced the staff assignments for their minor league affiliates, including multiple managerial changes. At Triple-A Indianapolis, Eric Patterson has been promoted from bench coach to manager. He replaces Chris Truby, who was elevated to infield coach on the major league staff. The Indians also...
On Sports: Penguins prepare to run gauntlet; where will Pitt’s Kyle Louis fit on an NFL roster?Video
Thursday’s “On Sports” takes a look at the challenge currently in front of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who begin a difficult final month-and-a-half of the regular season minus captain Sidney Crosby. At the NFL Combine, former Pitt standout linebacker Kyle Louis looks to further showcase his next-level potential, while Paul Skenes...
Pirates’ Paul Skenes slogs through 1st spring start, ready to ‘go win gold’ for Team USA
NORTH PORT, Fla. — Paul Skenes found his first start of spring training — and only one for the Pittsburgh Pirates before joining Team USA in the World Baseball Classic — to be rather challenging. The National League Cy Young Award winner allowed one earned run on one hit and...
First Call: Konnor Griffin should ‘bat third’ for Pirates; Omar Khan on the idea of signing Tyreek HillVideo
Our Wednesday “First Call” has NESN’s reaction to Konnor Griffin’s two homers against the Boston Red Sox. Omar Khan dodges a question about Tyreek Hill. Dallas’ Brandon Aubrey may adjust the kicker market before Chris Boswell becomes a free agent. And it’s a busy night for Pittsburgh college basketball. Making...
To crack rotation, Pirates righty Carmen Mlodzinski concentrates on starting strong
BRADENTON, Fla. — As one of the more cerebral pitchers on the Pittsburgh Pirates, Carmen Mlodzinski is aware of the irony involved in his desire to be a starting pitcher versus his success as a reliever. The 27-year-old right-hander has the seven-pitch arsenal of a starter — with more offerings...
Monster Mash: Konnor Griffin breaks out with 2 home runs as Pirates roll over Red Sox
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Konnor Griffin was still searching for his first hit of spring training when he faced left-hander Ranger Suarez, a 2024 All-Star and the marquee free-agent addition of the Boston Red Sox. When Suarez hung a curveball over the middle of the plate, Griffin showed why he’s...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Would a salary cap enable the Pirates to keep Paul Skenes?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooooo …. Chris Abt, @Chris_Abt: Why aren’t we considering that the imminent MLB lockout and...
Dennis Santana, Gregory Soto hope to provide Pirates right-left punch in high-leverage relief
BRADENTON, Fla. – When the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Gregory Soto, one of the players who welcomed him was the very man who had the most to lose by the arrival of the two-time All-Star left-handed reliever. Dennis Santana remembers Aroldis Chapman doing the same for him in June 2024, when...
Pirates’ Bubba Chandler comes out firing, but fastball command leads to 4 walks in loss to Yankees
BRADENTON, Fla. — Bubba Chandler was feeling his four-seam fastball, so he turned to steal a glance at the scoreboard behind him after his third pitch of his first start of spring training. The radar gun clocked it at 100.6 mph. Short on sleep and over-caffeinated on coffee, the 23-year-old...
‘He got in deservedly’: MLB historian John Thorn discusses Bill Mazeroski’s place in baseball history
Whether it was fate, divine intervention by the baseball gods or just a player seizing the moment, Bill Mazeroski was a peculiar source for having propelled the Pittsburgh Pirates to victory in the 1960 World Series. On Oct. 13, 1960, when Mazeroski clubbed Ralph Terry’s second pitch over the left-field...
Former Pittsburgh Steelers player Bill Priatko remembers longtime friend Bill Mazeroski
Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bill Priatko feels honored to have called the late Pirates legend Bill Mazeroski his friend. Mazeroski, the Hall of Fame second baseman who hit the home run to win the 1960 World Series, died Friday at 89. Priatko, 94, of North Huntingdon, became friends with Mazeroski,...
Pirates infielder Jack Brannigan breaks nose on bad hop, 2 relievers shut down by arm injuries
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jack Brannigan sustained multiple injuries to the nasal complex when a bad hop hit him in the face in Sunday’s split-squad game at the Philadelphia Phillies. Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Brannigan was re-examined Monday morning by team physicians and...
Brandon Lowe proving to Pirates that he’s small in stature, big on providing power
BRADENTON, Fla. — Brandon Lowe smiled as soon as it was noted his statistics belie his stature, knowing he appears smaller in person than his generous listing of 5-foot-10, 181 pounds. The left handed-hitting Lowe knows the 39-home run, 99-RBI season on his resume is the type of power production...
Mitch Keller unveils ‘absurd’ new-look changeup as Pirates top Rays in home opener
BRADENTON, Fla. — Mitch Keller has a reputation for his ever-expanding repertoire, but the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander’s newest pitch is simply an old offering with a twist. Keller unveiled a changeup with a new grip in his first Grapefruit League start, tossing two scoreless innings in a 7-4 win over...
After rising to top 10 Pirates prospect, right-hander Wilber Dotel shows stronger command
SARASOTA — When Wilber Dotel got word that he would be the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting pitcher for the Grapefruit League opener, his mind drifted to his days of watching spring training games as a fan. Now, the 23-year-old right-hander is a prospect on the doorstep of the major leagues. After...
Ryan O’Hearn homers in debut as Pirates pound Baltimore in Grapefruit League opener
SARASOTA — Ryan O’Hearn wasn’t sure what to do when he received a rousing ovation before his first at-bat at Ed Smith Stadium wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform. It was the spring training opener, so O’Hearn didn’t want to tip his batting helmet. But he appreciated the support from Baltimore...
From Forbes Field to PNC Park, fans remember Pirates legend Bill MazeroskiVideo
Dave Sedor felt chills Saturday as he paced along a patch of grass at the remains of the Forbes Field outfield wall, thinking of the late Pittsburgh Pirates legend Bill Mazeroski. Sedor, of Madison, Wis., was in Charleroi celebrating his aunt’s 101st birthday when he heard Mazeroski had died. “I...
Former Pirate Neil Walker shares the depth of his bond with Bill Mazeroski
Former Pittsburgh Pirate Neil Walker was about 8 or 9 years old. He remembers the words of advice from his father. “Make sure you ask him for an autograph. You tuck that away. You are going to want it when you are older,” Tom Walker told his son. Walker was...
Reliving Bill Mazeroski’s iconic home run in the 1960 World Series
You can’t call yourself a true Pittsburgher if you don’t know who Bill Mazeroski was. Or what he did on Oct. 13, 1960, to become legendary. It was on that day that the Pirates second baseman, who was known for his incredible defense, hit the most iconic home run in...
Remembering Maz: Pirates legend, Pittsburgh hero — a photo gallery
With one swing of his bat in October 1960, Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski became a legend. It will forever remain one of the most iconic moments in Pittsburgh sports history. Yet his humility never let that moment overwhelm him: “I just thought it was another home run to win...
Bill Mazeroski, former Pirates World Series legend, dies at 89
Bill Mazeroski, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Hall of Fame second baseman whose heroic home run to win the 1960 World Series overshadowed his gifted glove and unmatched ability to turn double plays, died Friday at 89. A 10-time All-Star, Mazeroski had 2,016 hits in 17 major-league seasons, all with the Pirates,...
Confidence key as Bubba Chandler tries to win spot in Pirates starting rotation
BRADENTON, Fla. — Bubba Chandler cruised through his first three major-league games, earning a four-inning save in his debut and wins in his next two appearances before the Milwaukee Brewers dealt the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher his first blowout. The Brewers scored nine runs on nine hits and three walks in...
Preparing for World Baseball Classic, Pirates ace Paul Skenes shines in simulated gameVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — It was a simulated game but one that Paul Skenes treated like a warm-up for the World Baseball Classic, considering the lineup of hitters he was facing. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace tossed three impressive innings against Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Marcell Ozuna and Nick Gonzales before a...
Mark Madden: The Pirates’ fate rests with 2 familiar bats
Optimism abounds with the Pirates, mostly because of a few shiny new toys and not least because 19-year-old phenom Konnor Griffin is hitting bombs at spring training. Griffin will be in Pittsburgh sooner, not later, and the sooner the better. But it feels like the fate of the Pirates in...
Gold Glove winner Jared Triolo comes out swinging for Pirates’ starting job at third base
BRADENTON, Fla. — On the eve of the first full-squad workout at Pirate City, Jared Triolo didn’t know which position he would be playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates in spring training. “I’m not sure,” Triolo said Sunday. “I’m just going to go where I’m instructed.” The Pirates value Triolo’s versatility,...
