Kevin Gorman stories, Page 25
Bryan Reynolds voted Pirates’ MVP, Paul Skenes top pitcher by Pittsburgh chapter of BBWAA
Bryan Reynolds joined three Pittsburgh Pirates greats when he was voted winner of the Roberto Clemente Award as team MVP for the third time by members of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Reynolds, who also won the honors in 2021 and ’22, joins Andrew McCutchen,...
‘No factor at all’: Pirates GM defends decision to DFA Rowdy Tellez on cusp of incentive bonus
The Pittsburgh Pirates defended their decision to designate first baseman Rowdy Tellez and center fielder Michael A. Taylor for assignment Tuesday, even though it prevented Tellez from qualifying for a performance incentive. Tellez signed a one-year, $3.2 million contract as a free agent in December that included another $800,000 in...
PiratesFest returns to convention center in January
David L. Lawrence Convention Center will host 2025 PiratesFest, the all-day festival for Pittsburgh Pirates fans on Jan. 18. The event will feature autograph and Q&A sessions with Pirates players, as well as appearances by Pirates alumni, coaches, broadcasters and mascots, interactive games and merchandise. The event is from 10...
Pirates rookie 2B Nick Yorke ready to check another box on list of major league firsts
Nick Yorke had checked off multiple boxes in his first week in the major leagues, from getting his first hit, RBI and run scored to starting at several positions in the infield and outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates. When Cincinnati Reds right-hander Fernando Cruz threw a 95.6-mph fastball on the...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates phenom Paul Skenes throws a changeup into rookie storyline
Paul Skenes has been one of the biggest stories in baseball this season, yet the Pittsburgh Pirates phenomenal rookie right-hander continues to outdo himself on a regular basis. When there were comparisons hyping the anticipation of the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft’s major league debut to...
Paul Skenes makes case for NL Rookie of the Year as Pirates shut out Reds to prevent sweep
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton stumped for phenom Paul Skenes to win NL Rookie of the Year honors before Sunday’s game at Cincinnati, noting the historic nature of the 2023 MLB Draft No. 1 overall pick’s season. Skenes then stated his case by delivering another dominant outing. The 6-foot-6 right-hander...
Jared Jones struggles in matchup of rookie right-handers as Reds roll past Pirates
Jared Jones being outdueled by a fellow rookie right-hander was the least of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ concerns. They were more worried that the flamethrower had a noticeable drop in velocity on his fastball. Pirates manager Derek Shelton and assistant trainer Tony Leo made a mound visit to check on Jones...
20/20 vision: Oneil Cruz becomes 10th Pirates player to reach home run-stolen base milestone
Oneil Cruz already had eclipsed one mark and knew he was a home run away from reaching another, so he took a swing at the first pitch he saw from Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brent Suter. When Cruz sent Suter’s slider 411 feet screaming to center field for his 20th home...
Oneil Cruz reaches 20/20 but Reds rough up Mitch Keller for 8 runs to win series opener
Mitch Keller couldn’t find the strike zone, and when he did the Cincinnati Reds pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander. Where Keller tied a career high by giving up eight earned runs and a season-high five walks, the Pirates couldn’t touch Reds righty Nick Martinez’s changeup. Martinez recorded a career-best nine...
Nick Gonzales trusts instincts to come through in clutch for Pirates
Nick Gonzales was facing an 0-2 count with two outs and runners on first and third in the eighth inning, so the Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman was looking for a pitch to hit. Even though he wasn’t expecting one. “I thought he was going to throw something in the dirt,...
Oneil Cruz scores winning run as Pirates beat Cardinals to avoid series sweep
The Pittsburgh Pirates are counting on Oneil Cruz’s speed for spectacular plays, and the converted center fielder provided a pair of them against the St. Louis Cardinals. Cruz made a fantastic diving catch to rob Masyn Winn of a hit in the first inning, but it was what he did...
For Pirates rookie Billy Cook, 1st home run of MLB career came on a wing and a prayer
When the Pittsburgh Pirates called up Billy Cook, it caused his family to scramble for flights in to make it to PNC Park in time to see his major league debut. Where that required a wing, his first home run came after a prayer. Cook said one with teammate Henry...
Pirates bullpen blows lead as Cardinals use 6-run 7th inning to cruise to 3rd straight win
For the Pittsburgh Pirates, it’s a familiar refrain: The bullpen blew it. The Pirates couldn’t protect the one-run lead provided by Billy Cook’s three-run home run – the first of his major league career – in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. Masyn Winn’s game-tying homer was the...
Pirates select Jake Woodford to start against Cardinals, placed Kyle Nicolas on 15-day IL
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford from Triple-A Indianapolis so he can start Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. To make room for Woodford on the active roster, right-handed reliever Kyle Nicolas was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 17) with a...
Pirates rookie Nick Yorke notches 1st MLB hit, picks up 2 more in St. Louis
Nick Yorke didn’t know when he was going to get his first major league hit, but the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie second baseman knew exactly who was getting the souvenir ball once he did. When Yorke singled to right-center off Lance Lynn in the fifth inning of a 3-1 loss to...
Pirates struggle to score against Cardinals, who clinch season series with win
The Pittsburgh Pirates got eight hits, including three by rookie second baseman Nick Yorke, but continued to struggle to score against the St. Louis Cardinals. It cost them the season series against their NL Central rival. Rookie Jordan Walker hit the go-ahead home run with a solo shot in the...
Could All-Star outfielder Bryan Reynolds be the next prominent Pirate to switch positions?
There was something different about the pregame drills Bryan Reynolds was doing along the left-field line Sunday, as the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star outfielder was on his knees fielding grounders in foul territory. That Pirates bench coach Don Kelly used a fungo bat to hit balls to Reynolds while wearing an...
On Roberto Clemente Day, Pirates honor the late Hall of Famer by wearing his retired No. 21
Derek Shelton rarely wears a game jersey in the dugout, but the Pittsburgh Pirates manager proudly wore his home white with the No. 21 on the back as MLB celebrated Roberto Clemente Day. What made it even better for Shelton is he wore it for a win that involved a...
Rookie RF Billy Cook shines on Roberto Clemente Day as Pirates top Royals
All of the Pittsburgh Pirates wore No. 21 in celebration of MLB’s Roberto Clemente Day, but rookie Billy Cook paid tribute in ways that captured the essence of the late Hall of Fame right fielder’s style of play. Cook prevented the Kansas City Royals from scoring a run, turning a...
‘Good in center field now’: Pirates’ Oneil Cruz embracing challenge of switch from shortstop
When the Pittsburgh Pirates moved Oneil Cruz from shortstop to center field, the greatest concern for talent evaluators was not whether he could play the position but rather if he would be willing. Blessed with size, speed and an elite arm, the 6-foot-7 Cruz has shown in flashes how the...
Bobby Witt Jr.’s 2 extra-base hits, 3 RBIs boost Royals past mistake-prone Pirates
Bobby Witt Jr. is one of baseball’s burgeoning stars, and the Kansas City Royals shortstop showed the Pittsburgh Pirates why he’s an American League MVP candidate. The 24-year-old Witt recorded his 100th RBI of the season on a solo home run in the first inning, then added two more on...
Whether Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes can return this season ‘still to be determined’
The Pittsburgh Pirates got some more clarity on the back issues bothering Ke’Bryan Hayes but don’t appear too optimistic that the Gold Glove third baseman will be ready to return for games this season. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Hayes was recommended rehabilitation after being examined by...
‘You don’t see that play often’: How the Pirates turned a rare 5-4-6 double play against Marlins
The Pittsburgh Pirates were clinging to a two-run lead with runners on first and second base with no outs in the fifth inning when Paul Skenes threw a 2-2 sinker low and away to Connor Norby, having no idea that the resulting bouncer would produce a rare double play. How...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates GM ‘not perfect’ but makes a case for continuity over cost
For all of the reactions to Ben Cherington’s public vote of confidence in Derek Shelton returning as Pittsburgh Pirates manager next season, one of the most interesting is the assumption that it really isn’t his to say. The suggestion is that Cherington is only the general manager and answers to...
Bailey Falter takes no-hitter into 7th, as Pirates beat Marlins for series sweep
Derek Shelton made no secret of the need for left-hander Bailey Falter to follow a bullpen game against the Miami Marlins by providing a strong start for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series finale. Falter went above and beyond, delivering the finest performance of his career by throwing six no-hit...
