Kevin Gorman stories, Page 2
Pirates ace Paul Skenes completes historic season as unanimous NL Cy Young winner
On a day when Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington dismissed trade talk about his ace with the declaration that “Paul Skenes is going to be a Pirate in 2026,” he has some additional incentive: For the first time in 35 years, the Pirates now have a Cy Young Award...
Homewood honors Black baseball pioneer with naming of Pete Hill Way
As two dozen members of his family smiled with pride, the sign for Pete Hill Way was unveiled Monday afternoon amid fanfare at the corner of Hamilton and N. Lang Avenues in Homewood. They wore blue-and-gold jackets and hooded sweatshirts — the colors of Westinghouse High School — and celebrated...
Panthers find their mark from beyond the arc, using 3-pointers to pull away from Longwood
An ugly first half only got uglier when Pitt went to the foul line with frequency, as the Panthers struggled to make free throws by missing eight of their first 12 attempts. So, they took a few steps back. Propelled by the long-distance shooting of Damarco Minor and Brandin Cummings...
Pirates announce spring training schedule, featuring Spring Breakout game against Tigers
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced their spring training schedule, which includes 16 of their 31 Grapefruit League games and the Spring Breakout prospect showcase at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla. The Pirates will open their spring schedule Feb. 21 against the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota before playing the Tampa Bay Rays...
Pirates ace Paul Skenes up for NL Cy Young Award as baseball writers announce finalists
Despite finishing with a .500 record, Paul Skenes is considered the consensus favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace is now one step closer to making history. Skenes was named a finalist for the NL Cy Young by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
Shortstop Konnor Griffin, pitcher Bubba Chandler earn top awards for Pirates prospects
Konnor Griffin developed into the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball and Bubba Chandler into the game’s top pitching prospect, so their status in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization was indisputable. The Pirates recognized Griffin with their Honus Wagner Player of the Year and Chandler with the Bob Friend Pitcher of...
Esmerlyn Valdez swings his way to Pirates’ Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year award
Before Esmerlyn Valdez made noise in the Arizona Fall League by hitting eight home runs in his first nine games, he led all Pittsburgh Pirates minor leaguers in homers this season. So it was befitting that the Pirates named the 21-year-old outfielder/first baseman who hit 26 home runs across two...
Edward Florentino, a top-100 prospect, headlines Pirates’ rookie-level award winners
Where Konnor Griffin developed into baseball’s top prospect and the consensus minor league player of the year this season, another teenage Pittsburgh Pirates prospect made a powerful impression. Edward Florentino, an 18-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic, dominated the Florida Complex League and earned a promotion to Low-A Bradenton to...
Pirates hire pitching coach Bill Murphy from Astros, marking 1st hire for Don Kelly’s staff
The Pittsburgh Pirates have one of the most talented young pitching staffs in baseball, so they hired one of the game’s top young pitching coaches in Bill Murphy, a source confirmed to TribLive. The 35-year-old Murphy has been with the Houston Astros since 2016, serving as one of their major...
Pirates have Gold Glove finalists in utility fielder Jared Triolo, left fielder Tommy Pham
After having a Gold Glove winner in three of the past four seasons, the Pittsburgh Pirates have a chance to produce multiple winners in the same season. Jared Triolo, a 2024 National League Gold Glove winner, was a repeat finalist as a utility fielder and Tommy Pham is a finalist...
Pirates claim outfielder Will Robertson off waivers from White Sox, DFA Ryan Kreidler
The Pittsburgh Pirates added an outfielder who flashed some power in the minor leagues by claiming Will Robertson off waivers Monday from the Chicago White Sox. The 27-year-old made his major-league debut last season, batting .129 (9 for 70) with one double and nine RBIs with 27 strikeouts against two...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates need to focus on future with urgency to win more now
The Pittsburgh Pirates started the season with a proclamation. “It’s time to win,” Derek Shelton said in March. “That’s the only focus.” They opened PNC Park with a mandate. “We didn’t win enough,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting told TribLive on April 4, before the home opener. “We need to win...
Paul Skenes wins landslide vote for Baseball Digest/Inside Edge MLB pitcher of the year
Paul Skenes has been selected the Baseball Digest/Inside Edge MLB pitcher of the year by landslide voting, making him the first Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher to win the publication’s award. Skenes, who won Baseball Digest’s National League rookie of the year award last year, led the major leagues with a 1.97...
As Pirates address power problems, hitters want to see them address ballpark dimensions
When assessing a Pittsburgh Pirates offense that ranked last in the major leagues in home runs, runs scored, RBIs, slugging percentage and OPS, general manager Ben Cherington didn’t mince words. “We’ve got to score more runs,” Cherington said. How the Pirates will do that will be the focus of their...
Dennis Santana served as most reliable reliever in a Pirates bullpen of constant flux
There is a widespread belief in baseball that every reliever wants to be the closer, and every closer wants to make a memorable entrance in the ninth inning and record the final three outs of the game. Dennis Santana is no different. “I always dreamed about that,” Santana said in...
Pirates took calculated risk by changing pitching coaches in push to maximize talent
Don Kelly repeatedly made the point that pitching was the foundation for the Pittsburgh Pirates, with Paul Skenes an overwhelming favorite to win the National League Cy Young and anchoring a staff that led MLB in shutouts and ranked in the top 10 in multiple categories. So, it came across...
Source: Pirates won’t renew contracts of pitching coach Oscar Marin, 3rd base coach Mike Rabelo
The Pittsburgh Pirates will not renew the contracts of pitching coach Oscar Marin and third base coach Mike Rabelo, according to a league source. In addition, assistant pitching coach Brent Strom is retiring. Additional support staff moves could be coming, according to a source. The coaching staff decisions come a...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: By keeping Don Kelly, the Pirates opt for continuity over change
After a season of moves that made little sense, it was only fitting that the Pittsburgh Pirates chose to extend the contract of manager Don Kelly on a day that three MLB teams terminated their skippers. That’s not to suggest that keeping Kelly as manager on a permanent basis isn’t...
Despite ‘very frustrating year,’ Pirates confirm that GM Ben Cherington will return in 2026
Despite the Pittsburgh Pirates enduring a 91-loss season that team president Travis Williams termed a “very frustrating year … both on and off the field,” there will be no major changes in their front office. Not only did the Pirates extend the contract of manager Don Kelly on Monday, but...
‘Higher standard for baseball in Pittsburgh’: Pirates extend contract of manager Don Kelly
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ season had just ended when general manager Ben Cherington discussed with Don Kelly the desire to extend his contract as manager, with a simple theme affirming the decision. Cherington explained that it went beyond Kelly’s success since taking over when Derek Shelton was fired May 8 after...
Behind Charlie Morton, Chris Sale, Braves beat Pirates in season finale to avoid series sweep
The Pittsburgh Pirates entered the finale of a disappointing season seeking a sweep against the Atlanta Braves, only to endure the same storyline that plagued their performance at the plate. Instead of a sweep, their bats went to sleep. From a ceremonial start by former Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton to...
Bubba Chandler shines with 6 strikeouts as Pirates beat Braves
Bubba Chandler always dreamed of pitching at Turner Field, before the ballpark closed in 2016. So Truist Park served as a perfect consolation prize for the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander from Bogart, Ga. Chandler drew a large contingent of family and friends for his first start in Atlanta and gave...
Spencer Horwitz homers twice as Pirates post pair of 4-run innings to beat Braves
Mitch Keller rarely got run support to start the season, so it proved poetic that his final start would be the one where the Pittsburgh Pirates finally came through with a big inning. Sparked by Spencer Horwitz — who went 3 for 3 with two home runs, two walks, three...
After getting the ‘better’ surgery, Pirates righty Jared Jones thrilled to be throwing again
When doctors couldn’t get good imaging of the backside of his elbow to determine the damage to his ulnar collateral ligament, Jared Jones wasn’t sure what type of surgery lay ahead. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander didn’t know whether he would need reconstruction of his right elbow, the preferable InternalBrace or...
Baseball America names Pirates prospect Konnor Griffin its Minor League Player of Year
Baseball America announced Monday that it has named Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin its 2025 Minor League Player of the Year, a first for an Altoona Curve player. The 19-year-old Griffin, who was selected ninth overall in 2024, batted .333/.415/.527 with 23 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 94...
