Kevin Gorman stories, Page 60
Pirates option OF Travis Swaggerty, INF Tucupita Marcano as position battles intensify
The Pittsburgh Pirates are getting closer to settling two of their most contested position battles, but that involved cutting one of their standouts of spring training. The Pirates optioned outfielder Travis Swaggerty and infielder Tucupita Marcano to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday to reduce their major-league camp roster to 38 players....
Playing for Team USA in WBC an ‘awesome experience’ for Pirates All-Star David Bednar
A beaming David Bednar showed off his silver medal from the World Baseball Classic on Thursday and called playing for Team USA an “awesome experience, top to bottom.” The Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star closer, interviewed on AT&T SportsNet during a Grapefruit League game against the Boston Red Sox, said playing in...
Johan Oviedo strikes out 7 but Red Sox hit a trio of 2-run homers to sink Pirates
Trouble came in twos for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Boston Red Sox, who hit a trio of two-run homers. On the strength of homers by Bobby Dalbec, Ronaldo Hernandez and Jorge Alfaro, the Red Sox beat the Pirates, 7-4, on Thursday afternoon in a Grapefruit League game at LECOM...
Pirates tout new enhancements to PNC Park to improve fan experience
The Pittsburgh Pirates are rolling out new enhancements to PNC Park, from a bigger LED scoreboard and better sound system to a speedier fan entry screening, in an effort to improve the fan experience. “Obviously, we start with the ‘Best Ballpark in America’ with PNC Park,” Pirates president Travis Williams...
Forbes values Pirates at $1.32 billion, 24th in baseball team rankings
Forbes placed the team value of the Pittsburgh Pirates at $1.32 billion again in its annual rankings of baseball’s most valuable teams, which ranks 24th out of 30 major league franchises. Despite the Pirates enduring a second consecutive 100-loss season, Forbes estimated they made $51.5 million in operating income in...
Now pitching pain-free, Tyler Chatwood hoping to revive career as a reliever with the Pirates
Tyler Chatwood was finishing his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery when he threw a bullpen session at Arizona State for the Pittsburgh Pirates, his first audition before a major-league team. It marked the first time in five years that Chatwood, a 33-year-old right-hander, was pitching pain-free. The attention he received from...
Pirates counting on healthier, happier version of Wil Crowe to be ‘right in the middle’ of bullpen
Wil Crowe wanted to get back to being the pitcher he was at the start of last season instead of the one who finished it on the injured list. His offseason motivation came as much from a Halloween photo as it did stepping on the scale. By early October, the...
Right-handers Luis Ortiz, Yohan Ramirez optioned as Pirates make 8 spring training cuts
The Pittsburgh Pirates made eight more cuts Tuesday, optioning one of their top pitching prospects in right-handed starter Luis Ortiz and righty reliever Yohan Ramirez to Triple-A Indianapolis. The 24-year-old Ortiz, ranked the Pirates’ No. 4 prospect by Baseball America, was 1-1 with a 10.50 ERA and 2.50 WHIP in...
Andrew McCutchen hits 1st homer of spring training as Pirates rally past Phillies
Andrew McCutchen hadn’t played in a Grapefruit League game since March 12 while nursing a sore elbow, but he made a major impact in his return to the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup. McCutchen hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies for his first homer of...
Analysis: Opening Day roster taking shape as Pirates enter final week of spring training
It’s not often Derek Shelton tips his hand on lineups, so it’s big news when the Pittsburgh Pirates manager does reveal plans. Some go without saying. Because of his glove, Ke’Bryan Hayes is the starting third baseman. Because of his bat, Bryan Reynolds is starting in the outfield — either...
Fighting for spot in OF, Canaan Smith-Njigba continues hot streak as Pirates beat Red Sox
As the position battles heat up for the final spots on the Opening Day roster, so have the bats of the outfielders fighting to start the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Canaan Smith-Njigba continued on his tear, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs, while Travis Swaggerty and Miguel Andujar...
Ji Hwan Bae aiming to start at second base but Pirates rookie knows speed, versatility are key
When Ji Hwan Bae was promoted to the Pittsburgh Pirates in September, one reason he wasn’t overwhelmed by the jump to the major leagues was because of the familiar faces in the infield. Bae had played alongside Oneil Cruz and Rodolfo Castro at Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, and they...
Pirates option OF Cal Mitchell to Triple-A, reassign INF Nick Gonzales to minor league camp
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a pair of roster moves Sunday afternoon, optioning outfielder Cal Mitchell to Triple-A Indianapolis and reassigning infielder Nick Gonzales to minor league camp. Mitchell, 24, finished the season with the Pirates last year, slashing .226/.286/.349 with 11 doubles, five home runs and 17 RBIs in 69...
Vince Velasquez gets hit hard as Orioles pummel Pirates in shutout victory
Vince Velasquez signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the opportunity to earn a spot in the starting rotation, but a pair of Baltimore Orioles former first-round picks spoiled his start with two-run homers. Adley Rutschman homered in the first inning and Heston Kjerstad in the second as the Orioles pounded...
Pirates reliever Duane Underwood Jr. proves in WBC that he could handle high-leverage role
Duane Underwood Jr. brought a five-pitch repertoire to the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen, but the right-hander did so with a grudge. He remained a reliever who wanted to be a starter. It took some convincing last year, when Underwood lasted 10 pitches on Opening Day before a strained hamstring sent him...
Mitch Keller’s strong start leads Pirates to spring training win over Twins
Mitch Keller continues to show why the Pittsburgh Pirates named him their Opening Day starter. The right-hander had seven strikeouts and allowed three hits in 4 2/3 innings as the Pirates beat the Minnesota Twins, 7-4, on Saturday afternoon in a Grapefruit League game at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla....
Pirates prioritize playing time, experience as trio battles for backup catcher spot
After enduring a season in which the Pittsburgh Pirates used eight catchers, breaking the emergency glass for an ill-fated inning with a position player, Ben Cherington wasn’t about to allow their backstop to become a laughingstock again. The Pirates general manager looked smart after trading NL Gold Glove winner Jacob...
Ji-Man Choi hits 1st homer of spring training against former team as Pirates beat Rays
Ji-Man Choi promised to bring a lot of smiles to Pittsburgh Pirates fans this season, and he delivered one against his former team. Choi hit his first home run of spring training, a two-run shot in the first inning, to lead the Pirates to a 6-2 win over the Tampa...
Coming back from elbow injury, Pirates lefty Caleb Smith working to become a starter againVideo
As soon Caleb Smith got Willy Adames swinging at a slider and squatted on the mound, it was immediately obvious that something was seriously wrong with the left-handed pitcher. Smith walked off the field with the trainer in the eighth inning of the season finale. Doctors diagnosed a partial tear...
Miguel Andujar breaks up perfect game in 6th, Pirates pound 13 hits to rally past Yankees
For the first five innings, the Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t get on base. After that, they couldn’t stop scoring. The Pirates overcame a five-run deficit to beat the New York Yankees, 9-6, on Thursday night in a Grapefruit League game at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. The Yankees built a...
Ryan Vilade found friendly competition in Pirates outfield with teammate Canaan Smith-Njigba
Ryan Vilade was standing within earshot when Canaan Smith-Njigba was asked about his old teammate becoming his new teammate with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Smith-Njigba raised his voice, making sure Vilade heard every word. “That’s my brother for life. I love my man Ryan Vilade,” Smith-Njigba said, with a smile. “Ryan...
Blue Jays tag starter JT Brubaker for 4 runs to beat Pirates
The Toronto Blue Jays tagged starter JT Brubaker for four runs on four hits in a 7-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon in a Grapefruit League game before 6,905 at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla. Brubaker, who had six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings and leads the...
Mitch Keller to start Pirates’ Opening Day against Reds
When Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton brought Mitch Keller into his office, he casually asked the right-hander about his side session and how many pitches he threw. Then Shelton dropped a subtle surprise question. “How many do you think you’ll throw on the 30th?” Shelton asked. Keller paused and a...
Pirates agree to terms with 27 players, but Oneil Cruz’s contract renewed at MLB minimum
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that they have agreed to 2023 contract terms with 27 players on their 40-man roster who are pre-arbitration eligible, with one notable exception: Oneil Cruz had his contract renewed. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the 24-year-old shortstop will be paid the major league minimum of...
Jared Triolo has Gold Glove at 3rd base, but his path to Pirates might be at another position
Jared Triolo was hitless in his first 19 at-bats of spring training when he finally broke out of his funk Tuesday with a fly ball that was misplayed by Baltimore Orioles right fielder Dylan Beavers. After the eighth-inning double, Triolo came to bat in the bottom of the ninth with...
