Kevin Gorman stories, Page 51
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: After sputtering start to July, Pirates celebrate a comeback win
The music blaring inside the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse could be heard from the hallway, so it was no surprise to enter and see players bouncing up and down, waving their arms and dancing to the beats. The Pirates had plenty to celebrate. They rallied from a four-run deficit for a...
Pirates designate Wil Crowe for assignment, as reliever was recovering from shoulder injury
The Pittsburgh Pirates designated Wil Crowe for assignment Wednesday, a source confirmed to the Tribune-Review. The right-handed reliever was recovering from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him for most of the season. A former second-round pick from South Carolina who was acquired from the Washington Nationals as part of...
Pirates rally from 4-run deficit to beat Guardians, snap 5-game losing streak
With one out in the seventh inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates trailing the Cleveland Guardians by a run, Ji-Man Choi was watching and wishing while waiting on deck behind Carlos Santana. “I was hoping that he would take a walk so that I could probably make something (happen) up there,”...
‘Frustrated’ by bothersome back, Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes denies report about trade
Ke’Bryan Hayes is the first to say he’s frustrated, though it’s not with the Pittsburgh Pirates but rather the bothersome back issues that have sidelined the third baseman since late June. Hayes said he was caught off guard when his mother told him about a report on 93.7 FM that...
Guardians rough up Mitch Keller early, hand Pirates 5th consecutive loss
Seven pitches into his first start since the All-Star Game, Mitch Keller was facing a four-run deficit. The Cleveland Guardians ambushed the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander, pitching on six days of rest, for five runs in the first inning on their way to a 10-1 win Tuesday night before 21,622 at...
‘We’re trying to get better’: Pirates GM says call-ups sending message to struggling team
On a day that centered around the Pittsburgh Pirates signing No. 1 overall draft pick Paul Skenes, general manager Ben Cherington also addressed the team’s ever-changing roster amid a slide into last place. The Pirates (41-53) entered Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians having lost four consecutive games and 11...
Pirates sign No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes to record bonus of $9.2M
Before coming to Pittsburgh, Paul Skenes went shopping for a necktie at Macy’s in his native California. The 2023 MLB Draft No. 1 overall pick was about to sign with the Pirates and wanted to make a positive first impression and was looking for a black tie with gold stripes...
How Pirates veteran lefty Rich Hill added split-finger fastball as new pitch
When Austin Hedges noticed an Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher throw a split-finger fastball earlier this month, the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher asked 43-year-old left-hander Rich Hill if he’d ever thrown the pitch. The splitter is one of an array of pitches Hill has thrown over the course of his 19-year major league...
Excitement from debuts fades as Guardians hand Pirates most lopsided loss of season
The Pittsburgh Pirates looked to the future by turning back the clock, having right-hander Quinn Priester and catcher Endy Rodriguez become their first battery in 80 years to make their major league debuts together. With the season spiraling and infielders Ke’Bryan Hayes and Ji Hwan Bae injured, manager Derek Shelton...
Endy Rodriguez’s MLB debut a sign of Pirates putting their future in hands of young talent
Endy Rodriguez had a sneaking suspicion the Pittsburgh Pirates had a promotion planned when he was scheduled to be off Sunday, just days after returning from the All-Star break. “I was thinking, ‘It was a long break. I just played two games,’ ” said Rodriguez, rated a top-100 prospect by...
Pirates add 3 top-10 prospects, designate former 1st-round pick Travis Swaggerty
The Pittsburgh Pirates made roster moves Monday involving a pair of first-round draft picks — one expected and one a surprise — and two players acquired in major trades. The Pirates selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester, a 2019 first-rounder, and recalled catcher Endy Rodriguez and shortstop Liover...
With season spiraling, Pirates promoting top-10 prospects Endy Rodriguez, Liover Peguero
With their season spinning out of control, the Pittsburgh Pirates are turning to a trio of their top-10 prospects for help. In addition to right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester, who will make his major-league debut Monday against Cleveland, the Pirates are promoting catcher Endy Rodriguez and shortstop Liover Peguero from Triple-A...
‘I refuse to be in that situation’: As Pirates plummet, Andrew McCutchen aims to avoid collapse
As their season spirals further away from an amazing April and closer to the bottom of the NL Central standings, the Pittsburgh Pirates are searching for solutions to stop their descent. Since a 20-9 start, the Pirates (41-52) are playing at a .333 winning percentage, have lost twice as many...
Giants score 5 runs in 10th for series sweep as Pirates continue freefall
The Pittsburgh Pirates are plunging toward last place in the NL Central, a freefall for which they don’t seem to have any answers. The Pirates tied San Francisco in the eighth inning but left the bases loaded, allowing the game to go into extra innings. Joc Pederson’s sacrifice fly gave...
Pirates’ Quinn Priester, 2019 1st-round draft pick, pumped to make MLB debut
After a comebacker bounced off his calf in the first inning Friday night, Quinn Priester returned to the dugout and was informed by Indianapolis Indians manager Miguel Perez he was being pulled from the game. The 22-year-old right-hander was in for a sweet surprise. “He was like, ‘We’re not risking...
Pirates activate Andrew McCutchen from 10-day IL, option Rodolfo Castro to Indianapolis
Andrew McCutchen is back with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rodolfo Castro is headed to the minors. The Pirates made a pair of roster moves before Sunday’s game against the San Francisco Giants, activating McCutchen (right elbow inflammation) from the 10-day injured list and optioning Castro to Triple-A Indianapolis. McCutchen, 36, is...
Pirates bullpen blows Johan Oviedo’s strong start as Giants score twice in 8th for win
Johan Oviedo came into his first start of the second half with six consecutive losses, a streak the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander desperately wanted to end against the San Francisco Giants. Oviedo delivered a strong start, tying his career high with 10 strikeouts while allowing only one hit before exiting with...
Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin focusing on future of rotation shaken by injury
As Oscar Marin faces the pressure of filling spots in the starting rotation this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach can’t help but keep an eye on the future after they loaded up on pitching in the draft. Marin was thrilled the Pirates selected LSU right-hander Paul Skenes with the...
Pirates’ mishaps in 7th inning prove costly as Giants rally for comeback win
The way the Pittsburgh Pirates blew a lead against the San Francisco Giants had their fans ready to blow a gasket. Austin Hedges, the veteran catcher starting for his defense, allowed a passed ball that put the tying run at third base and the go-ahead run at second. Rookie right...
Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen shakes off All-Star snub, hopes to have strong 2nd half
On the eighth anniversary of his All-Star Game home run, Andrew McCutchen was in no mood to reminisce Friday afternoon about playing in the Midsummer Classic. Asked what he remembers about his solo shot off the American League’s Chris Archer to lead off the sixth inning to join Ralph Kiner,...
Led by No. 1 pick Paul Skenes, 5 Pirates in Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects rankings
The Pittsburgh Pirates have five players in Baseball America’s new Top 100 Prospects list, including two new additions. The Pirates’ new top prospect is Paul Skenes, the LSU right-hander selected with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft. Skenes is ranked sixth by Baseball America, behind Cincinnati...
Pirates transfer struggling pitcher Roansy Contreras to Florida Complex League
The Pittsburgh Pirates transferred the option of struggling right-handed pitcher Roansy Contreras from Triple-A Indianapolis to their Florida Complex League team. After going 5-5 with a 3.79 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 21 games, including 18 starts, last season, the 23-year-old Contreras entered the season expected to be one of...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Start to 2nd half should answer key questions for the Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates open the second half of the season Friday with more questions than answers, especially after winning 20 of their first 30 games followed by winning only 21 of the next 60. Let’s start with this: Was April an anomaly? If so, is another late-season collapse inevitable? When...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Starting with Paul Skenes, Pirates went all in on drafting pitchers
After the Pittsburgh Pirates won the inaugural lottery for the No.1 overall pick in the MLB Draft, general manager Ben Cherington intentionally decided not to see any of the top prospects play live. “That was because I don’t trust myself to not bring bias into the room when I do...
Pirates’ Mitch Keller gives up home run, records strikeout in All-Star debut
In an All-Star Game defined by a pair of catches at the wall in the first inning, Mitch Keller had no such luck. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander gave up the game’s first run on a solo homer by Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz to give the American League...
