Kevin Gorman stories, Page 78
‘You start to daydream’: With 7 rookies on roster, Pirates get a glimpse of their future
The Pittsburgh Pirates provided Derek Shelton a peek into the future by filling their roster with rookies, allowing the manager to dream about the days when his dugout is teeming with young talent. Where having a handful of veteran starters on the injured list had the potential to be devastating,...
Former Pirates 1st-round pick Travis Swaggerty pumped to get call-up, ready for MLB debut
Travis Swaggerty was getting dressed in his Indianapolis Indians uniform Saturday when he felt a tap on the shoulder. Manager Miguel Perez wanted to see the outfielder into his office. “He talked to me about (how) I was playing well and what I can improve on and all that,” Swaggerty...
Cal Mitchell’s 1st major league homer boosts Pirates to shutout of Diamondbacks
Sundays are Kids Days at PNC Park, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Pittsburgh Pirates relied on their rookies. Cal Mitchell crushed his first major-league home run, Jack Suwinski hit a pair of doubles and Diego Castillo drove him in with a sacrifice fly as the Pirates...
Diamondbacks claim Cole Tucker off waivers, ending former 1st-rounder’s tenure with Pirates
Cole Tucker, the former Pittsburgh Pirates first-round pick who was designated for assignment Monday, was claimed off waivers Sunday by the Arizona Diamondbacks. It’s a homecoming for Tucker, 25, who was drafted No. 24 overall as a shortstop out of Mountain Pointe High School in 2014 and makes his offseason...
After latest gaffes, Pirates option Rodolfo Castro to make room for OF Travis Swaggerty
The arrival of one Pittsburgh Pirates rookie came at the expense of another, as infielder Rodolfo Castro was optioned Sunday to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room on the roster for outfielder Travis Swaggerty one day after making a pair of costly gaffes against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Castro, 23, batted .197...
Pirates promoting 2018 1st-round pick OF Travis Swaggerty for MLB debut
The Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting outfielder Travis Swaggerty in time for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team source confirmed. Swaggerty, 24, signed for a $4.4 million after being drafted with the No. 10 overall selection in 2018 out of South Alabama, where he was regarded as one of...
Jack Suwinski’s walk-off home run lifts Pirates to comeback win over Diamondbacks
After hitting the first walk-off home run of his career and receiving a celebratory ice bath, Jack Suwinski couldn’t suppress his smile. On Faith Night at PNC Park, he turned Pirates fans into believers. Just when the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder was satisfied with extending his ninth-inning at-bat against Arizona...
How Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes used ‘squishy’ balls to eliminate errors
Ke’Bryan Hayes quickly has earned a reputation as one of the best defensive players in baseball, so the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman shakes his head when he looks at one important statistic. Hayes had seven errors through the first 50 games this season — including three in a five-game span...
Diamondbacks homer 5 times, hold off 9th-inning rally to top Pirates
JT Brubaker’s worst enemy returned, as the right-hander set an ominous tone for the Pittsburgh Pirates by serving up long balls. Brubaker surrendered three home runs, including a two-run shot to Ketel Marte for the go-ahead runs, as the Arizona Diamondbacks went deep five times. Then it almost came back...
Pirates GM on sweeping Dodgers: ‘You’ve got to celebrate and turn the page really quickly’
Watching the Pittsburgh Pirates sweep a three-game series at the Los Angeles Dodgers had a profound impact on Ben Cherington, but not necessarily the way one would expect. “I thought it threw off my sleep schedule,” Cherington joked Friday at PNC Park. The Pirates general manager was measured in his...
Pirates’ David Bednar named NL reliever of the month
David Bednar punctuated a marvelous month with a “gritty” two-inning, 50-pitch outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers and an expletive to express his excitement. After notching seven saves in May, the Pittsburgh Pirates closer was named NL reliever of the month. “It’s cool. It’s definitely an honor but, ultimately, it...
In his latest victory, Pirates closer David Bednar tests his limits
After striking out Will Smith to clinch a comeback win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, David Bednar couldn’t contain his excitement on AT&T SportsNet’s postgame interview. When Robby Incmikoski asked him about the excitement of beating the best team in baseball, the Pittsburgh Pirates closer dropped an...
After blowing 4-run lead, Pirates rally with 2 runs in the ninth to stun Dodgers
Trailing the best team in baseball by a run in the top of the ninth inning, the Pittsburgh Pirates decided to go for broke by taking a chance on a pair of plays at the plate. Diego Castillo scored from second on a Michael Perez single to right for the...
Pirates DFA former 1st-round pick Cole Tucker to make room for newly acquired Yu Chang
The Pittsburgh Pirates formally announced the trade with the Cleveland Guardians for corner infielder Yu Chang — and it came at the expense of a former first-round pick. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated infielder/outfielder Cole Tucker for assignment Monday morning. Tucker, their first-round pick (No....
Trent Grisham’s walk-off home run lifts Padres past Pirates in 10th inning
Trent Grisham showed bunt in the bottom of the 10th inning before the San Diego Padres gave him the green light. Grisham swung away when he saw Chris Stratton’s 2-0 fastball and drove it 368 feet off the right-field foul pole for a two-run home run to lift the Padres...
With 1B depth depleted by injuries, Pirates trade with Cleveland for Yu Chang
Down to playing a middle infielder at first base because of injuries, the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday acquired Yu Chang from the Cleveland Guardians for cash considerations, a source confirmed to the Tribune-Review. Chang’s arrival comes after the Pirates placed outfielder Ben Gamel and designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach (left hamstring...
Pirates starting lineup dealt another blow as OF Ben Gamel placed on IL, Hoy Park recalled
The Pittsburgh Pirates were dealt another blow to their starting lineup and already depleted outfield depth Sunday when they placed Ben Gamel on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. Gamel was injured while stealing second base and left in the eighth inning of Saturday night’s 4-2 win...
Pirates 1B prospect Mason Martin practicing patience while waiting for his time to come
When it comes to his own swing decisions, Mason Martin has changed his mentality so that he’s not searching for the perfect pitch. Now, he’s proving that his patience goes beyond the plate. Despite the Pirates dealing with depth issues at first base because of injuries, the top prospect at...
Ke’Bryan Hayes hits 1st homer of season, a 3-run shot in 9th to boost Pirates past Padres
Ke’Bryan Hayes had a glaring omission on his statistics line, a big, fat zero under home runs that followed the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman through the first 40 games of the season. His first came at the perfect time. Trailing by a run with one out in the top of...
Coming back as the closer: Since being traded by Padres, David Bednar thriving with Pirates
Returning to San Diego’s Petco Park this weekend is special for David Bednar, as the Padres drafted him in the 35th round out of Lafayette in 2016 and developed him into a major-leaguer. “I came up all the way with the Padres,” Bednar said. “It’s always cool to see all...
For Pirates rookie outfielder Cal Mitchell, 1st road trip to San Diego a happy homecoming
Cal Mitchell had his first pinch-me moment in the third inning of his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates, when he caught Charlie Blackmon’s fly ball to right field and threw it back into the infield. “It was like, ‘OK, I got to have my first touch,’ ” Mitchell said....
Jack Suwinski, Josh VanMeter hit 3-run homers as Pirates roll past Rockies
The Pittsburgh Pirates readily acknowledge their need to manufacture runs, with a lineup that lacks the power to rely on home runs. Two swings snapped the Pirates out of an offensive funk. Jack Suwinski hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, and Josh VanMeter added another three-run shot in...
Major league debut an ‘amazing’ experience for Pirates OF Cal Mitchell
After recording his first major league hit — an RBI single to break a scoreless tie, no less — Cal Mitchell was too worried about what was going on in the game to absorb the gravity of his career milestone. “Uh, no,” Mitchell said, sheepishly. “I had to run the...
Pirates rookies Roansy Contreras, Cal Mitchell shine but Rockies rally for 10-inning win
When the Pittsburgh Pirates needed a starting pitcher and an outfielder, they turned to Roansy Contreras and Cal Mitchell in hopes that the pair of prospects would provide a boost. Where Contreras became the first Pirates pitcher in the modern era to not allow a run in his first two...
GM Ben Cherington: Pirates want to make prospect promotions ‘because they’ve earned it’
The Pittsburgh Pirates have shown signs a youth movement is coming, with Ben Cherington placing an emphasis on the development of their top prospects with an eye toward the future. The Pirates general manager is making moves in the present, however, based on different criteria. Performance remains a priority, though...
