Justin Guerriero stories, Page 9
Pirates prospect watch: Hunter Barco continues strong season at Triple-A
Prospect Watch Hunter Barco Position: LHP Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 235 pounds Level: Triple-A Notable: Ask any Pirates fan to name an up-and-coming prospect at Triple-A who’s getting ready for an anticipated MLB debut, and just about every answer would be Bubba Chandler. Although Chandler’s first MLB start seems a matter...
The week ahead: Pirates host Blue Jays, Rockies
Here’s a look at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ schedule for this upcoming week. vs. Blue Jays 6:40 p.m. Monday (SN PIT) 6:40 p.m. Tuesday (SN PIT) 12:35 p.m. Wednesday (SN PIT) • The Blue Jays arrive at PNC Park aiming to strengthen their first-place position atop the AL East Division. The...
Steel Valley’s Cruce Brookins eyes starring role in Pitt’s defense
At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Pitt tight end Malachi Thomas has the kind of frame that sets him up well one-on-one against opposing defensive backs. But so far through the Panthers’ fall camp, Thomas has had tough recurring battles with one of his teammates, a safety he has 2 inches...
Penguins name Ryan Papaioannou as new coach of Wheeling Nailers
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Ryan Papaioannou as coach of their ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers on Thursday morning. Papaioannou (pronunced pa-pah-wawh-noh) succeeds Derek Army, who departed this summer to take an assistant position with the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles. Papaioannou, 41, joins the Penguins from the Brooks Bandits of the...
Pitt punter Caleb Junko aims to conclude college career on a high note this season
Caleb Junko would not be offended to learn that at times over the last few years on fourth down, when he’d be sent on the field to punt, some Pitt fans were crossing their fingers and hoping for a good result. Junko, primed to serve as the Panthers’ full-time punter...
QB transfer Cole Gonzales has edge to back up Eli Holstein this fall at Pitt
Unless it’s garbage time and Pitt is leading by a considerable margin, Pat Narduzzi doesn’t want to think of a scenario in which he would have to replace Eli Holstein at quarterback. That situation arising at any point this fall would be an ominous development for the Panthers, who saw...
Leechburg grad Braylan Lovelace aiming to be more vocal, violent in switch to Mike linebacker
From the moment he arrived on Pitt’s campus in early 2023, Braylan Lovelace knew he was going to have to turn things up a notch if he was to succeed as a Division I football player. Not that Lovelace wasn’t proud of what he did in high school at Leechburg,...
With physical style, new Penguins D Parker Wotherspoon hopes to be right fit on left sideVideo
When the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2024-25 campaign ended without a postseason appearance, stretching their playoff drought to three years, Kyle Dubas was blunt in discussing one shortcoming of the club’s overall game. “I think the left side of our defense, it’s been a problem,” the Penguins’ president of hockey operations/general manager...
Offense bests defense in Pitt’s weekend scrimmage; Pat Narduzzi names standoutsVideo
As Pitt’s players filed out of UPMC Rooney Sports Complex to take the field for Monday’s fall camp practice, a trend in their attire quickly became apparent. The Panthers’ offensive players were sporting blue practice jerseys, compared to the whites worn by the defense. That meant only one thing: Pitt’s...
Pitt receives 3 votes in preseason AP Top 25 poll
The Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll was released Monday and Pitt garnered three votes to begin the 2025 campaign unofficially as the No. 46 team in the nation. Texas (25 votes) slightly edged Penn State (23) for the No. 1 ranking, with Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia rounding out...
Reds score winning run in 7th to top Pirates
Braxton Ashcraft, despite being utilized primarily out of the bullpen during his rookie campaign this year, still believes his long-term future in the big leagues is as a starter. Organizationally, the Pittsburgh Pirates concur with the 25-year-old, but for now, Ashcraft will continue to be a relief option for manager...
‘We’ve got explosive receivers’: Expectations high for Pitt’s wideouts this fall
In seven years as a coordinator, Kade Bell has never overseen an offense that has failed to throw at least 25 touchdown passes, a benchmark he takes much pride in reaching annually. Last year was no exception, as Pitt, behind Eli Holstein (17) and the since-departed Nate Yarnell (10) and...
Weekend scrimmage to serve as measuring stick for Pitt individually, as team
Though Pitt’s opening depth chart has yet to be released, it is actively in the making. Friday marked the Panthers’ eighth fall camp practice, with a live scrimmage looming Saturday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side. For coach Pat Narduzzi and his assistants, it will soon become...
New Penguins D Caleb Jones eyes earning everyday NHL role
When Caleb Jones reports to preseason training camp in September, he’ll be getting underway with the Pittsburgh Penguins at a time of considerable organizational change. With Dan Muse — a first-time head coach in the NHL — and a new staff replacing Mike Sullivan and his assistants for 2025-26 and...
Pitt AD Allen Greene discusses revenue-sharing strategy, Panthers’ positioning in new college sports landscape
In the aftermath of the House vs. NCAA settlement in June, which greenlit direct revenue-sharing between universities and student-athletes, Pitt athletic director Allen Greene painted an optimistic picture as to how the Panthers are ready to meet the moment. Two months later, Greene again projected confidence in Pitt’s positioning within...
These 3 Pitt players aim to secure larger roles this fall
As Pitt hits a week of fall camp practices, the Panthers are just getting settled into wearing full pads, having done so for the first time Tuesday. Pitt’s camp atmosphere is rife with competition, but already clues — some more subtle than others — are emerging as to the makeup...
Pitt notebook: Panthers put on full pads for 1st time; Pat Narduzzi unveils new slogan for 2025Video
Outside of UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side, a few feet from the practice fields where Pitt is conducting its fall camp, a mystery acronym “EGK” has been painted on the sidewalk. On Tuesday, coach Pat Narduzzi educated local media as to its meaning. “Everybody’s gonna know,” Narduzzi...
Defensive tackle, end look like positions of quality depth for Pitt
Anchored by returning contributors and bolstered by transfer portal reinforcements, as well as younger players ready to assume larger roles, Pitt’s defensive line has the look of a deep position as fall camp continues. At tackle, Sean FitzSimmons (Central Valley) returns for his fourth season, having made nine starts last...
‘A quarterback’s best friend’: Desmond Reid enhances Pitt’s offense in multiple waysVideo
Desmond Reid already has proved he can hurt opposing defenses in a multitude of ways. His 962 rushing yards last year offered clear evidence of his abilities as a ball carrier. Reid also caught 52 passes for 579 yards, making him the Panthers’ top receiver from 2024, as well. And...
Pitt notebook: Panthers don pads for 1st time; new era begins at tight end
The cracking of helmets and lowering of shoulders in practice gets Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi fired up. That should come as no surprise for a football lifer such as Narduzzi, now in Year 11 with the Panthers and his 36th as a collegiate coach. While Narduzzi was delighted enough to...
Pitt’s Eli Holstein, Desmond Reid, Kyle Louis earn preseason All-ACC selections, Player of the Year votes
The Preseason All-ACC Team was announced Thursday, and Pitt placed second league-wide with three selections: tailback/punt returner Desmond Reid, who was chosen to the offensive and specialist teams, plus linebacker Kyle Louis, who made the defensive squad. Clemson led the ACC with 11 selections. Additionally, Reid, Louis and quarterback Eli...
For 1st time since Kenny Pickett, Pitt starts season with continuity at quarterbackVideo
Continuity at quarterback has been elusive of late for Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi. In 2024, when Alabama transfer Eli Holstein earned the starting job heading into Week 1, he became the third quarterback in as many years to begin a season for the Panthers since Kenny Pickett’s final campaign in...
Pitt’s players, coaches believe special things are attainable in 2025Video
Any college football coach, bitter (somewhat understandably) at the freedom athletes enjoy with the transfer portal, could easily assert that his program is better off minus those who departed after a given season. It wouldn’t be fair to label coach Pat Narduzzi as bitter, but Pitt’s 11th-year head coach undoubtedly...
Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen joins elite company with 10th home run of the seasonVideo
Andrew McCutchen isn’t one to spend much, if any, time basking in his own glory when approached about achieving various career accolades. McCutchen has dealt with his fair share of those borderline unwelcome conversations during his three-year reunion with the Pittsburgh Pirates, as he’s eclipsed 2,000 hits, 300 home runs...
Pirates plate a pair in 8th to beat Giants, earn series win
The Pittsburgh Pirates rode a bit of momentum into the second of three games at Oracle Park on Tuesday, having won six of their last seven. Conversely, the San Francisco Giants had dropped 11 of their past 14 games when they sent Justin Verlander to the hill looking to even...
