Kevin Gorman stories, Page 25
‘I didn’t deserve it’: Pirates infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa passes on chance for performance bonus
After enduring backlash for releasing Rowdy Tellez earlier this week when he was four plate appearances from qualifying for a $200,000 performance bonus, the Pittsburgh Pirates found themselves in another payroll predicament before Sunday’s season finale at the New York Yankees. This time, it was the player who opted out...
Yankees rally for 2 runs in bottom of 8th inning to beat Pirates in season finale
That Oneil Cruz went down swinging for a strikeout for the final out in the ninth inning was a fitting end to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season. It proved to be a big whiff. Alex Verdugo hit a two-run single with the bases loaded to break a tie in the bottom...
Pirates RHP Mike Burrows returns from Tommy John surgery to beat Yankees for 1st MLB win
As Mike Burrows made his way from the bullpen to the mound, he couldn’t help but think of the long road it took for him to make his major league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 24-year-old right-handed pitcher, who grew up about two hours from The Bronx in Waterford,...
Paul Skenes shines in final start of rookie season, Pirates hit 5 homers to beat Yankees
Paul Skenes made Jazz Chisholm jump back off the plate with an inside fastball that was just a tick shy of triple digits for a called third strike to end the second inning, then walked off the mound wearing a wide smile. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander had a perfect ending...
Pirates promote RHP Mike Burrows, who is expected to make MLB debut against Yankees
The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled pitcher Mike Burrows, promoting the 24-year-old right-hander 18 months after he underwent Tommy John surgery. Burrows is expected to make his major league debut on Saturday at the New York Yankees, pitching piggyback with rookie Paul Skenes. Burrows is the Pirates’ No. 16 prospect, per MLB...
After season of struggles, Pirates catcher Henry Davis learning to be patient with the process
With two bone bruises causing inflammation in his left hand and a broken middle finger on his right hand, Henry Davis has trouble getting a grip on a bat let alone how his season with the Pittsburgh Pirates went awry. It isn’t lost on the No. 1 overall pick of...
Mitch Keller finishes off 2nd-half slide with a loss, as Brewers beat Pirates for series win
Mitch Keller won 10 games before the All-Star break but couldn’t quite put his finger on what has gone wrong since, as the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander completed another second-half slide. In his final start of the season, Keller saw positive signs with an uptick in his fastball velocity and six...
Liover Peguero double lifts Pirates past Brewers, as Luis Ortiz allows 1 run in 7 innings
Luis Ortiz made his last start of the season one of his best, perfectly punctuating a season that began in the bullpen and ended with him becoming one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most improved pitchers. Using a cutter that developed at midseason — much like the 25-year-old right-hander himself —...
‘Perfectly put together’: Pirates phenom Paul Skenes reflects on restrictions of rookie season
As Paul Skenes reflected on a rookie season that has been historically dominant, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher knows one thing he would change if he could. “Yeah, I wish it weren’t ending yet,” Skenes said Wednesday. “Just wish we could keep it rolling a little bit longer.” Before making...
Inspired by Rowdy Tellez, Pirates 3B Jared Triolo enjoys September offensive resurgence
Jared Triolo was missing his locker mate in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse but was quick to credit Rowdy Tellez for leaving a lasting impression on how to handle offensive struggles. By going 3 for 4 with an RBI in the 7-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night, Triolo...
Brewers use 3-run 2nd inning to roll past Pirates in opening game of final homestand
The first game of the final homestand of the season for the Pittsburgh Pirates went sideways in the second inning. Bailey Falter gave up three runs on three hits to the Milwaukee Brewers, who added another three-run inning in the seventh to cruise past the Pirates, 7-2, on Tuesday night...
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...
