Kevin Gorman stories, Page 12
Pirates activate 1B Spencer Horwitz, option 1B/OF Matt Gorski to Indianapolis
The biggest offseason acquisition for the Pittsburgh Pirates has finally joined the active roster, as first baseman Spencer Horwitz was reinstated from the injured list after ending his rehabilitation assignment. To make room on the roster, the Pirates optioned first baseman/outfielder Matt Gorski to Indianapolis. Gorski batted .195 (8 for...
Full Count: Reinforcements on the way but Pirates need bold move to salvage the season
After a self-described “long-winded explanation” for his vision in building a Pittsburgh Pirates team that played poorly enough to get its manager fired May 8, general manager Ben Cherington offered some optimism about salvaging the season. “I don’t believe you have to squint too hard to see a better team...
Bucs Beat Q&A: Pirates utility player Jared Triolo adds another Gold Glove to trophy case
Pirates utility player Jared Triolo received his 2024 Gold Glove Award on May 11, at PNC Park. He talked with TribLive reporter Kevin Gorman for this week’s Bucs Beat Q&A: What’s it like to be playing a new position (shortstop) when you were presented the Gold Glove trophy as the...
Phillies take advantage of free passes in 4-run 7th inning to beat Pirates in series opener
It looked promising for the Pittsburgh Pirates when they robbed the Philadelphia Phillies of a home run, took a commanding lead with a three-run blast and escaped a bases-loaded situation. Only to give it away. The Phillies took advantage of five free passes — four walks and a hit batter...
Pirates add Triple-A’s hottest bat in IF/OF Nick Solak, option Ji Hwan Bae to Indianapolis
The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted one of their hottest hitters in the minor leagues Friday, selecting the contract of infielder/outfielder Nick Solak from Triple-A Indianapolis. Solak led all Triple-A hitters in batting (.393), ranked fourth in on-base percentage (.452) and OPS (1.077) and fifth in slugging (.625). The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder batted...
Pirates 2B Nick Gonzales ready to get back to playing baseball on rehabilitation assignment
After being sidelined since Opening Day with a non-displaced fracture of his left ankle, Nick Gonzales was readying himself to round the bases one more time at PNC Park. Proving he could make cuts and handle turns was the final step for the Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman to be cleared...
Carmen Mlodzinski’s strong start, Joey Bart’s single lift Pirates to walk-off win over Braves
Carmen Mlodzinski pounded his fist into his glove as he walked off the mound with two outs in the sixth inning, an auto-response to his best performance as a starting pitcher in the major leagues. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander was one out shy of the first career quality start. That...
Pirates GM still searching for replacement for Don Kelly as bench coach, gives injury updates
Finding Derek Shelton’s replacement was an easy call for Ben Cherington, as Don Kelly made such a strong impression that the general manager expressed his confidence in Kelly and called him “absolutely the right person to manage this team right now.” “This is personal for him,” Cherington said of Kelly,...
Full Count: Jim Leyland’s Hall-of-Fame advice to new Pirates manager: ‘Just be Donnie Kelly’
To Jim Leyland, Don Kelly was a manager’s dream. So, of course, the Hall of Famer was watching Kelly’s debut in his dream job as Pittsburgh Pirates manager Friday night, rooting for his protégé to get his first victory, a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park. “Donnie,...
Bucs Beat Q&A: As new Pirates manager, Don Kelly knows ‘the ultimate decision is mine’
How much do you weigh following a script versus making gut decisions? I don’t think you can ever fully script a baseball game. When you’re sitting there and you’re in the heat of the moment, just trying to figure out, for me there are touch points. There’s stuff that can...
‘Yes, it was a dream’: Don Kelly embraces challenge of managing his hometown Pirates
Don Kelly lived out his childhood fantasy by playing in the major leagues, so he couldn’t help but dare to dream about managing his hometown team while serving as Pittsburgh Pirates bench coach. Kelly’s mind couldn’t help but drift to the times he walked onto the field as he left...
‘Unfortunately, I wasn’t shocked’: Pirates react to the firing of Derek Shelton as manager
Pittsburgh Pirates players reacted Friday to the firing of Derek Shelton with more of a sympathetic shrug than surprise, knowing that their poor start to the season had a lot to do with the managerial move. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t shocked,” said Pirates right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes, the 2024 National League...
‘It certainly starts with me’: Despite firing Derek Shelton, Pirates GM takes responsibility
Ben Cherington has delivered his share of double talk as general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and his explanation for firing manager Derek Shelton on Thursday was no exception. While severing ties with Shelton, Cherington accepted accountability and responsibility for a 12-26 start and seven-game losing streak that has the...
Pirates fire Derek Shelton, promote bench coach Don Kelly to manager for rest of 2025
Sitting in last place in the NL Central and with their season spiraling, the Pittsburgh Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton on Thursday and named bench coach Don Kelly his successor for the remainder of the 2025 season. Shelton was relieved of his duties following a 5-0 loss to the St....
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates manager Derek Shelton has no answers for 7-game losing skid
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a sinking ship whose skipper Derek Shelton seems at a loss when asked for answers about how to reverse course for their offensive ineptitude as they approach the quarter pole. Shelton didn’t even have a message to share with his team. “Right now, that’s what we’re...
Behind Victor Scott II’s speed, Sonny Gray’s 8 strikeouts, Cardinals sweep Pirates in shutout
The Pittsburgh Pirates started their series in St. Louis on Monday with Oneil Cruz making the fastest throw in the major leagues with a 100 mph strike to get Victor Scott II out at home plate. The Cardinals center fielder showed why he’s one of the fastest players in the...
‘This homestand was tough’: Pirates search for answers to understand struggles at PNC Park
The Pittsburgh Pirates were searching for answers after losing five times in a six-game homestand and being swept by the San Diego Padres. Derek Shelton didn’t have many to offer Sunday. So, the Pirates manager simply took the following question and turned it around: How tough was this homestand, and...
Offense comes up empty as Padres shut out Pirates to complete 3-game series sweep
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ offense hit another low Sunday afternoon, when a 28-year-old pitcher who was an undrafted free agent held them scoreless for 5 1/3 innings in his first major league start. The Pirates looked hapless against San Diego right-hander Stephen Kolek in a 4-0 loss to the Padres, who...
Amid slow start, GM Ben Cherington says Pirates need to be urgent but ‘not in a rush’
When asked about a stretch in which the Pittsburgh Pirates lost seven of nine games, Ben Cherington resorted to using a line the Pirates general manager admits he stole: You need to be urgent every day and not in a rush. The Pirates (12-22) had fallen 10 games below .500...
Pirates reinstate RHP Dennis Santana, option RHP Kyle Nicolas to Triple-A Indianapolis
The Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated right-handed reliever Dennis Santana from the bereavement list, providing a boost to the back end of their bullpen. Santana, 29, has a 1.46 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and three saves in 12 1/3 innings over 13 appearances this season, serving as the de facto closer when two-time...
Fernando Tatis Jr. rallies Padres in 9th to beat Pirates, who lose 7th in last 9 games
The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to lose in unfathomable fashion, and their latest fiasco happened before they could even blink. Fernando Tatis Jr. led off the ninth inning with a hustle double, stole third base and broke for home on a dirt-ball read as the San Diego Padres staged a dramatic...
Pirates place SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa on IL, select veteran RHP Tanner Rainey to boost bullpen
The Pittsburgh Pirates continued to shuffle their shortstops and bullpen Saturday, when they placed Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain and selected the contract of right-handed reliever Tanner Rainey from Triple-A Indianapolis. Kiner-Falefa’s injury is retroactive to May 1. Jared Triolo is scheduled to...
Full Count: Oneil Cruz sparks Pirates with bat, baserunning while learning a new position
As the first-base coach who also instructs the outfielders and baserunners for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tarrik Brock has watched Oneil Cruz go from fracturing his ankle on an awkward slide into home plate to developing into one of the game’s most dangerous baserunners. Entering the weekend series against the San...
Bucs Beat Q&A: Pirates 1B/OF Matt Gorski’s MLB debut was a home run in every way
Matt Gorski, 1B/OF You became the first Pirate to homer in your first major league plate appearance since Starling Marte. How much have you heard about him? That has been shared, but I haven’t heard a ton about him. I know he was a great player with us. Is that...
Pirates LF Tommy Pham finds it ‘frustrating’ to rank among MLB’s best defenders, worst hitters
As if it isn’t enough that Tommy Pham is dealing with the contrast of being both one of the best defenders and worst offensive performers in baseball, the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder can’t block out the noise. Playing for his 10th team in 12 major league seasons, the 37-year-old Pham wanted...
