First Call: Some ex-Steelers may be checking out new teams; Pirates pitching prospect heating up

Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at some former Pittsburgh Steelers in new places. An AFC North division rival is dealing with a franchise-tag problem. A top-notch Pirates prospect is in a groove. And the Pirates have a tough challenge in Chicago.

Ex-Steelers on the move

Some former Steelers are trying to latch on with other teams.

One of them is tight end Eric Ebron. ESPN’s Field Yates said he is trying out with the New York Giants.

The Giants tried out a group of players today that included veteran TE Eric Ebron.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 25, 2022

Ebron landed on injured reserve thanks to a knee problem in November. He ended up with 12 receptions, 84 yards and two touchdowns before becoming a free agent.

Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Tegray Scales. He’s a linebacker who is a Cincinnati native. In fact, the Steelers signed Scales off the Cincy practice squad on New Year’s Day of 2022.

That was his third stint in Pittsburgh. He was waived by the Steelers on May 10.

Wait for Bates

It sounds like what was expected in Cincinnati is coming to fruition. Bengals star safety Jesse Bates will not report to training camp.

That’s according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Star Safety Jessie Bates III will not report to Cincinnati Bengals camp with the rest of the team’s veterans on Tuesday, per source. This was largely expected as Bates hasn’t signed his franchise tag tender. So, the wait continues.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 25, 2022

Bates didn’t reach an agreement on a long-term deal with the organization before the deadline for franchise-tagged players. So he has to play on the $12.91 million franchise tag, if he eventually signs it.

Bates had two interceptions and broke up six passes in the postseason for the Bengals, en route to a Super Bowl berth.

Cincinnati drafted safety Daxton Hill and defensive back Cam Taylor-Britt in the first two rounds. They also selected safety Tycen Anderson in the fifth round.

The mighty Quinn

Former Pirates first-round pick Quinn Priester is on a hot run in Double-AA Altoona. On Sunday, he spun a gem of a start during a 3-2 win over the Harrisburg Senators.

Priester got a no-decision. However, the 21-year-old right-hander struck out a season-high eight batters. He issued just one walk, yielding only three hits and one unearned run on 84 pitches, 50 for strikes.

Another great outing for @QuinnPriester! A season-high eight strikeouts and one unearned run allowed on three hits through a season-long six innings!

LISTEN: https://t.co/aioWvW3Svf
WATCH: https://t.co/6GP894jPtF pic.twitter.com/t3tvocNT3q

— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) July 24, 2022

In six starts with the Curve, Priester is 1-1 with a 1.65 ERA. He has totaled 29 strikeouts while yielding only seven walks.

Keying on Keegan

After Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs, the Pirates look to bounce back in the second game of the two-game mini-series Tuesday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

It won’t be easy. They are facing Keegan Thompson, who has been very good against the Pirates.

Thompson has thrown 15 innings over three appearances against Pittsburgh this season. He has allowed one earned run. In those outings, he has totaled 16 strikeouts and two walks.

The Pirates counter with Bryse Wilson. In his first game against Chicago back in April, Wilson allowed three earned runs in three innings, walking four and allowing three hits. The Pirates won that game 4-3. He also allowed three earned runs and 10 baserunners in 5⅓ innings of relief en route to a 9-0 defeat at Wrigley on May 16.