Kevin Gorman stories, Page 120
Pirates play home opener as Marlins coronavirus outbreak raises concernsVideo
Before the Pittsburgh Pirates could play their home opener at PNC Park, a coronavirus outbreak with the Miami Marlins forced MLB to postpone two games and threatened to put the shortened season in jeopardy. Reports that the Marlins have at least 14 cases of positive covid-19 among their players, coaches...
Pirates activate Gregory Polanco in time to serve as designated hitter for home opener
The Pittsburgh Pirates activated Gregory Polanco from the injured list, and he will bat seventh and serve as designated hitter for their home opener Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. Polanco was cleared this past weekend after testing positive for covid-19, one of five Pirates players to...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates manager Derek Shelton had a ‘pretty good’ day with first win
Derek Shelton entered the Zoom room for the postgame interview following the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, his first win as a major-league manager, shook his soaking-wet silver hair and slicked it back. “How was your guys’ day?” Shelton said. “Mine was pretty good.” The first...
Pirates plan for Gregory Polanco to start out as designated hitter when he returns to playing
When Gregory Polanco returns to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ lineup, the right fielder likely first will be used as a designated hitter. Pirates manager Derek Shelton said that’s the plan for Polanco, who has been working out at PNC Park this weekend after being cleared to return from a positive covid-19...
Pirates pitcher JT Brubaker shares a special moment with Derek Shelton in MLB debut
The magnitude of the moment of his major league debut didn’t cross JT Brubaker’s mind until he set foot on the infield dirt at Busch Stadium to face the St. Louis Cardinals. “As soon as I stepped on it, it hit me: the adrenaline, the nerves, the excitement, everything that...
Pirates win eventful game for Derek Shelton’s 1st victoryVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates debuted their gray road uniforms with “Pittsburgh” in cursive across the chest, classic throwbacks to the early 1990s, and that wasn’t even the most prominent script change Sunday. Derek Shelton shuffled the starting lineup, a move the Pirates manager insisted was scripted before the start of the...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates can’t wait to get Gregory Polanco’s bat back in lineup
The news that Gregory Polanco has been cleared to resume workouts and could return to play soon couldn’t come at a better time for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Manager Derek Shelton was careful to remind us not to get reactionary because it’s only been two games, but the first three batters...
Cardinals cruise past Pirates behind 38-year-olds Adam Wainwright, Yadier Molina
The St. Louis Cardinals turned to the tried and true Saturday afternoon with Adam Wainwright on the mound and Yadier Molina behind the plate, a battery with a combined three decades in the majors. The 38-year-old pitcher and catcher combined to keep the Pittsburgh Pirates in check as the Cardinals...
With no fans allowed at PNC Park, Pirates to launch virtual fan initiatives for home opener
When the Pittsburgh Pirates return to PNC Park, it will be without fans in the stands because of the coronavirus pandemic. So the club is launching a virtual fan experience, starting with Monday’s home opener. The Pirates are encouraging fans to follow online at Pirates.com for in-between innings staples such...
Pirates’ Steven Brault will start home opener; Gregory Polanco cleared to return
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton announced left-hander Steven Brault will start the home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night at PNC Park and confirmed right fielder Gregory Polanco has been cleared to return after testing positive for covid-19. Shelton said Polanco is going through the MLB health and...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Derek Shelton’s debut was memorable in the most important waysVideo
When Derek Shelton was introduced first, the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie skipper took in the moment that was a half-century in the making and nothing like he had envisioned for his MLB managerial debut. Shelton wore a protective mask covering his face from the coronavirus, and beautiful Busch Stadium was otherwise...
Cardinals spoil Derek Shelton’s managerial debut, beat PiratesVideo
Derek Shelton finally made his long-awaited debut as Pittsburgh Pirates manager, only for the old hitting coach to find his team in a pitcher’s duel. In a battle of right-handers, Jack Flaherty outdueled Joe Musgrove to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a season-opening 5-4 win over the Pirates on...
Pirates manager Derek Shelton stands behind a kneeling Jarrod Dyson before season openerVideo
As Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals players held black fabric during the national anthem as a symbol of their unity in combating racial and social injustice, Jarrod Dyson took a knee and bowed his head. Before his MLB debut as Pirates manager, Derek Shelton showed support for his starting...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Nik Turley took long road to making Pirates’ Opening Day roster
What might have seemed but a footnote when the Pittsburgh Pirates finalized their Opening Day roster is actually an incredible comeback story for relief pitcher Nik Turley. That the 30-year-old left-hander, a non-roster invitee to spring training, made the 30-man roster for Friday’s season opener at St. Louis was Turley’s...
Derek Shelton ready for his delayed MLB debut as Pirates manager
The Pittsburgh Pirates wanted a new voice, and they found one who is as quick with a compliment as he is a wisecrack, one who isn’t afraid to delegate or deal with criticism that comes with sitting in his chair, one whose two-decade wait to manage a major league game...
Pirates finalize 30-man roster for Opening Day by adding infielder, 2 pitchers
Now that the Pittsburgh Pirates have finalized their 30-man roster, Derek Shelton is ready to fill out his Opening Day lineup for the first time as a major-league manager Friday at the St. Louis Cardinals. It won’t be the memento Shelton waited two decades for, starting in the minor leagues...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Derek Holland earns starting job, but will he pitch home opener?
Derek Holland was dressed in black and gold from head to toe, with an emphasis on the Pittsburgh gold spikes that stood out when the left-hander took the mound Wednesday night for the Pirates at PNC Park. Holland looked like someone who was auditioning to start the home opener, catering...
Addition of consistent changeup helps Mitch Keller earn spot in Pirates’ starting rotation
Mitch Keller came to training camp armed with a more consistent changeup, hoping to convince the Pittsburgh Pirates to show as much confidence in him as he did in the new and improved pitch. The 24-year-old right-hander, the team’s top prospect, earned the No. 3 spot in the starting rotation....
‘Burgh’s Best to Wear It, No. 40: Scott McKillop made one of the biggest stops in Pitt history
The Tribune-Review sports staff is conducting a daily countdown of the best players in Pittsburgh pro and college sports history to wear each jersey number. No. 40: Scott McKillop Scott McKillop had 344 career tackles as an inside linebacker at Pitt, none of them more famous — or critical —...
Reports: MLB has informed Toronto Blue Jays they will call PNC Park home this season
MLB has informed the Toronto Blue Jays that they will share PNC Park with the Pittsburgh Pirates as their home field this season, according to reports out of Canada. Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae first reported the news late Tuesday night, and the Toronto Sun confirmed that the majority of the Blue...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Schedule allows for Pirates, Blue Jays to share PNC Park
Just when you thought MLB blurred the lines between the American League and National League this season, with interleague games and a universal designated hitter, PNC Park is ready to blow your mind. The Pittsburgh Pirates are willing to welcome with open arms their neighbors from the True North, the...
Cole Tucker’s spectacular sliding catch marks a memorable outfield debut for Pirates shortstop
Never mind that Cole Tucker had never played outfield before. He has a knack for making dramatic debuts with the Pittsburgh Pirates, whether it’s hitting a game-winning home run or making a sliding catch. This one didn’t get a curtain call, but Tucker tipped his cap anyway. The 6-foot-3 shortstop,...
Trevor Williams ready for regular season but Pirates’ bullpen blows up in loss to Indians
In his final outing of training camp, Trevor Williams looked like he was ready for the regular season. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander retired seven consecutive batters before leaving with two outs, a runner on third and a two-run lead. Then the bullpen blew up, as the Cleveland Indians punished the...
Pirates open to idea of PNC Park as possible home field for displaced Toronto Blue Jays
Rejected from playing at Rogers Centre by the Canadian government amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Toronto Blue Jays are looking into the possibility of playing home games at PNC Park this season. And the Pittsburgh Pirates are welcoming the idea with open arms. The Pirates’ home ballpark is one of...
‘Burgh’s Best to Wear It, No. 42: Connie Hawkins soared first with Rens, Pipers
The Tribune-Review sports staff is conducting a daily countdown of the best players in Pittsburgh pro and college sports history to wear each jersey number. No. 42: Connie Hawkins When its most common association with professional basketball is from a movie, “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh,” it doesn’t speak great...
