Kevin Gorman stories, Page 7
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...
Learning to lead: Pirates believe Paul Skenes has earned the equity to be outspoken star
Paul Skenes returned from a recent road trip and discovered his locker had been moved to a more prominent spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse, just across from franchise icon Andrew McCutchen. It was designed to give Skenes more space but also served as a not-so-subtle message that the 23-year-old...
‘We’ll see what happens’: Andrew McCutchen noncommittal about future with Pirates
As the crowd applauded in appreciation, Andrew McCutchen tipped his batting helmet before what might have been his final at-bat for the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. A franchise icon who ranks among the club’s all-time leaders in most major offensive categories, McCutchen also is aware that he is a...
Jared Triolo, Joey Bart come up big with bats as Pirates pound A’s for shutout in home finale
The Pittsburgh Pirates had scored a combined total of 10 runs in their previous five games, causing manager Don Kelly to repeatedly call their inability to drive in runners the team’s Achilles’ heel. Perhaps they were saving it for the home finale. Spurred by Jared Triolo and Joey Bart, who...
Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft combine for 12 strikeouts as Pirates shut out Athletics
The Pittsburgh Pirates had lost 12 of their past 13 games entering their penultimate home game of the season, but Bubba Chandler had the perfect remedy to stop the skid: bring the heat. The 23-year-old rookie right-hander fired four-seam fastballs at the Athletics, topping triple digits eight times in striking...
‘A blessing to be back here’: Kavan Markwood throws out 1st pitch at PNC Park nearly 5 months after falling from Clemente WallVideo
As Kavan Markwood walked out to the pitcher’s mound, he couldn’t help but steal a glance toward right field at PNC Park and get flashbacks from his fall over the 21-foot Clemente Wall on April 30. “Every time I looked that way I see…,” Markwood told TribLive, his voice trailing...
Despite disappointing season, Ben Cherington operating with plans to return as Pirates GM
In a season that started with the proclamation by chairman Bob Nutting that the Pittsburgh Pirates “need to win more,” they instead clinched a seventh consecutive losing season and are careening toward 90 losses. Yet when Ben Cherington was asked Saturday afternoon in the news conference room at PNC Park...
Jacob Wilson’s web gem helps A’s preserve 1-run lead, hand Pirates 5th consecutive defeat
When former Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson, it recreated a moment of nostalgia from almost 19 years ago to the day at PNC Park. On Sept. 16, 2006, 4-year-old Jacob threw out the first pitch to his father. On Friday...
Pirates ace Paul Skenes sweeps team’s MVP, top pitchers awards, as voted by BBWAA
Paul Skenes got an early start on what should be a busy awards circuit, as the Pittsburgh Pirates ace swept the top two team honors. Skenes was named Friday the recipient of the 2025 Roberto Clemente Award for Team MVP and the Steve Blass Award for best pitcher, as voted...
Pirates’ Rafael Flores gives glimpse of hard-hitting future on 1st major league hit
Rafael Flores had turned his first major-league at-bat into a battle, working seven pitches against Matthew Boyd in the second inning before the Chicago Cubs left-hander fooled him with a full-count changeup that sent Flores down swinging for a strikeout. “I wasn’t expecting a 3-2 changeup there,” Flores said. “I...
Cubs take advantage of Pirates errors for series sweep, clinch postseason berth
The Pittsburgh Pirates were hoping to avoid watching the Chicago Cubs celebrate a series sweep and clinch a postseason berth at PNC Park. They provided a three-run response to a disastrous four-run first inning, then tied the score in the second inning with a bases-loaded walk. But the Pirates couldn’t...
Paul Skenes has shortest start of season, Cubs pound 14 hits to beat Pirates
When Paul Skenes walked off the field to an ovation Tuesday night, it was more in appreciation for his season than his start. Skenes had the shortest outing of the season in his final start at PNC Park as the Pittsburgh Pirates ace was pulled after throwing 92 pitches in...
