Kevin Gorman stories, Page 149
Jason Martin’s 2-run homer in 9th leads Pirates past Phillies in spring opener
CLEARWATER, Fla. – When Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder Jason Martin misplayed a deep fly ball, the Philadelphia Phillies scored the game-tying run in the top of the eighth inning. But Martin made up for his mistake in a big way, hitting a two-run home run in the top of the ninth...
Energized Pirates ready for Saturday’s Grapefruit League openerVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates finished their final workout Friday at Pirate City on a positive note when right fielder Gregory Polanco perfectly executed a sliding drill on a padded mat. It was a symbolic ending for both Polanco, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on an awkward slide...
Garth Brooks on spring training with Pirates: ‘This is heaven for me’Video
BRADENTON, Fla. — As much as Garth Brooks enjoyed having a locker stall between Jameson Taillon and Chris Archer and sharing left field and a batting cage with Corey Dickerson, the country music legend will leave Pirate City cherishing another memory. Brooks was as thrilled about kneeling down to have...
Kevin Gorman: Hard to embrace Bob Nutting’s spin on Pirates’ payroll
BRADENTON, Fla. — Spend an hour asking Bob Nutting questions and the first thing baseball fans want to know is whether even the Pittsburgh Pirates chairman believes his own bull. The answer is an unapologetic yes. Nutting puts a politician’s spin on his ownership, with evasive answers that tend to...
Rookie Davis ready to compete for job in Pirates rotationVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Rookie Davis was patient during the free-agent process, waiting for a chance to be a starting pitcher while working to get his body healthy for the first time in two seasons. After signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, Davis arrived at Pirate City on Thursday and...
Pirates reliever Kyle Crick pitches constantly trying to prove himselfVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Kyle Crick returned to Pirate City this year with a chip on his shoulder, one that serves as motivation for the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher to never allow himself to be comfortable or complacent. The right-handed reliever admits to being ticked off he didn’t make the Pirates’ Opening...
9 innings with Bob Nutting: A Q&A session with the Pirates chairman
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates want to win a World Series, but their four-decade championship drought has become a constant source of frustration for the city’s baseball fans. They tend to take it out on Pirates chairman Bob Nutting, whose franchise increased its win total by seven games last...
Pirates owner Bob Nutting says club is ‘positioned to take another meaningful step forward’
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pittsburgh Pirates chairman Bob Nutting defended the club’s payroll, called it “critical” for MLB owners to address the treatment of minor-league players and said he hopes to change the public perception of the club toward its fan base. Nutting met with reporters for a 48-minute interview Tuesday...
Kevin Gorman: Pirates put faith in Trevor Williams to throw first punchVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Trevor Williams could wear his second half of last season as a badge of honor, when the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander ranked among the best pitchers in baseball. But Williams doesn’t find his identity in the game, even though he is thankful to count his blessings that he...
Pirates’ Clint Hurdle: Rookie Davis will be ‘in mix as a starting pitcher’Video
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said right-hander Rookie Davis, who signed a minor league contract Monday, “will be in the mix as a starting pitcher.” The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Davis, who was 1-3 with an 8.63 ERA in 2017 with the Cincinnati Reds, will create a four-way competition...
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle calls pitch clock a ‘fair allotment of time’Video
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pirates manager Clint Hurdle expressed no objection to MLB unilaterally employing a pitch clock in spring training games, a move made to get players accustomed to a possible rule change for this season. “I don’t feel it’s pushing any type of urgency on anybody to get anything...
Lonnie Chisenhall embraces opportunity to play right away for PiratesVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Lonnie Chisenhall was attracted to the Pittsburgh Pirates in free agency because they could offer a chance to start the season as an everyday player in right field. Chisenhall was willing to listen when the Pirates made the pitch that they needed to replace Gregory Polanco as...
Pablo Reyes sets sights on super-utility role for PiratesVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. – Pablo Reyes reveled in his role as a September sensation. Now, he wants to prove to the Pittsburgh Pirates than he’s more than a one-month wonder. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle will be the first to say that, sometimes, Septembers are hard to read when a team is...
Clint Hurdle’s message to Pirates: ‘Team-first mentality is real’Video
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pittsburgh Pirates conducted their first full-squad workout of spring training on Monday at Pirate City, a day that manager Clint Hurdle calls his “favorite day of the spring, by far.” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting was present for practice, and spent time chatting with outfielders Starling Marte...
Pirates sign right-hander Rookie Davis to minor-league deal
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pittsburgh Pirates signed right-handed pitcher Rookie Davis on Monday to a minor-league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder Davis was selected in the 14th round of the 2011 MLB draft by the New York Yankees and traded to the Cincinnati Reds...
Kevin Gorman: Adam Frazier looks forward to starting at second for Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. Adam Frazier has played a handful of positions for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the infield and outfield but was in danger of becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. Frazier showed he could play second base, shortstop and third base, as well as all three outfield positions but...
With struggles behind him, Kevin Newman ready to compete for Pirates’ starting shortstop jobVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Kevin Newman knew there would be a transition to the major leagues and his status as a former first-round draft pick would only add to the expectations. Newman struggled after being called up last season, but believes that experience has prepared him for the starting shortstop competition...
Chris Archer excited to feed off energy of Pirates home openerVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Chris Archer is no stranger to starting Opening Day — he threw four consecutive openers for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2015-18 — but is pumped for a first in his major league career. Archer will pitch in the home opener against the St....
Outfielder Melky Cabrera ready to do ‘whatever it takes’ for PiratesVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. – Melky Cabrera might be the elder statesman on the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the 14-year veteran outfielder feels like he can still contribute to a winning baseball team. The Pirates signed the 34-year-old Cabrera to a minor-league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training, hoping that he...
Kevin Gorman: New hitting coach Rick Eckstein pushes Pirates to tap into powerVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. When the Pittsburgh Pirates prioritized tapping into their potential for power, they turned to a man who is small in stature but has a reputation for being big with the bat. New hitting coach Rick Eckstein, charged with changing the club’s philosophy in its preparation at the plate...
Pirates tab Jameson Taillon as Opening Day starter, Chris Archer for home openerVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Jameson Taillon was the kid who searched the spring-training box scores in the newspaper, following the progress of pitchers to see who would earn the Opening Day start. For his hometown Houston Astros, Taillon remembers Scott Elarton getting the nod in 2001 and then eight consecutive seasons...
New shortstop Erik Gonzalez excited for chance to play every day for PiratesVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Erik Gonzalez waited a decade to become an everyday player in the major leagues, and this spring training represents his first chance to be a starter. “I always tried to put my vision on being a guy that played every day in the league,” said Gonzalez, 27,...
Kevin Gorman: Mobility a priority for Pirates’ Colin MoranVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. Colin Moran didn’t need an exit meeting with the Pittsburgh Pirates last fall to be told what he should work on in the offseason if he wanted to remain their starting third baseman. It was that obvious. “I was pretty honest evaluation-wise,” Moran said Friday at Pirate City....
Colin Moran hopes for improved mobility at 3rd base for PiratesVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. – Colin Moran was honest with his self-evaluation, so the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman spent the offseason working on his mobility to improve his defensive range. “When I’m ready to react to the ball, the right muscles are firing so I’m maybe not as slow on the first...
Dan Zangrilli returns, Kraig Riley joins Pirates shows on 93.7 The Fan
Dan Zangrilli will host Pittsburgh Pirates pregame and postgame broadcasts on flagship station 93.7 The Fan, returning to a role he held from 2012-16. Analyst Jack Zduriencik, a former Pirates scouting director and Seattle Mariners general manager, returns for his fourth season. Kraig Riley, a producer at The Fan since...
