Kevin Gorman stories, Page 96
Searching for a strong second half, Pirates RF Gregory Polanco finds success in choking up
After a first half that had his batting average hovering around – and often below – the Mendoza Line, Gregory Polanco spent his time sidelined by an injury searching for ways to have a strong second half. When he was on the injured list with a bilateral adductor strain —...
Gregory Polanco, Kevin Newman have 3 RBIs as Pirates pound 16 hits to beat Giants
Sparked by three-RBI games from a pair of hitters in Gregory Polanco and Kevin Newman who have been hovering around the Mendoza Line, the Pirates pounded the pitcher with the best ERA in baseball Saturday night. Boosted by a big lead, Pirates right-hander Wil Crowe finished with a career-best nine...
Pirates notebook: Derek Shelton keeping close watch on starters’ pitch, inning counts
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ discussions with right-hander JT Brubaker have revolved around his pitch selection and execution, though Derek Shelton has a deeper issue in the back of his mind at all times. Brubaker (4-9, 4.68 ERA) is scheduled to make his 18th start of the season against Alex Wood (8-3,...
Pirates get a gift from Giants, scoring 3 runs without a hit in 7th to snap 4-game skid
Derek Shelton laughed at the suggestion, that the perfect antidote for the Pittsburgh Pirates after getting swept by the team with the worst record in baseball was to play the team with the game’s best record. “I don’t know if you ever welcome a challenge of playing the team with...
Pirates notes: Scoring change gives Adam Frazier another hit, NL batting lead
Even with a day off, Adam Frazier picked up another hit. This one moved the Pirates All-Star second baseman to the top of the National League batting leaders. MLB made a scoring change in the Pirates’ 9-7 win over the New York Mets on July 17, switching the third-inning error...
Pitcher Will Bednar, a Mars alum, signs with San Francisco Giants for $3.65 million bonus
Will Bednar, the Mars alum who led Mississippi State to the College World Series championship, signed with the San Francisco Giants on Friday for a reported bonus of $3.65 million. The Giants announced the signing of the 6-foot-2, 229-pound right-hander, the younger brother of Pittsburgh Pirates reliever David Bednar, just...
After choosing Pirates over Clemson, Bubba Chandler says he’s ‘only scratched the surface’
Bubba Chandler was ready to be a two-sport athlete at Clemson until the Pittsburgh Pirates presented an opportunity to be a two-way professional baseball player — and an offer he couldn’t refuse. The Pirates announced the signing of Chandler, their third-round pick in the MLB Draft, on Thursday morning and...
Back-to-back homers in 7th lead Diamondbacks past Pirates for series sweep
The Arizona Diamondbacks might have the worst record in baseball, but the Pittsburgh Pirates gave reason for debate over which team is the worst in the National League, if not the majors. Pavin Smith and Daulton Varsho hit back-to-back home runs off Duane Underwood Jr. in the seventh inning as...
Pirates infielder Erik Gonzalez ‘exceeding expectations’ in recovery from oblique injury
The Pittsburgh Pirates have three position players on the injured list. One is ahead of schedule and one right on schedule while another has suffered a setback. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said infielder Erik Gonzalez (right oblique strain) is “exceeding expectations” in his recovery by taking ground...
Pirates agree to $3 million bonus with third-round pick, RHP/SS Bubba Chandler
The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a $3 million signing bonus, pending physical, to convince two-sport star Bubba Chandler to skip playing quarterback at Clemson and play professional baseball instead. The Pirates selected Chandler, a right-handed pitcher and switch-hitting shortstop, in the third round of the MLB Draft with the intention...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: What a wild weekend for the Pirates, who were carried by castoffs
The Pittsburgh Pirates started the second half of the season with a wild weekend at PNC Park, from a benches-clearing scrum Friday to celebrating their 1971 World Series champions with a grand slam for a walk-off win Saturday to signing the No. 1 overall draft pick Sunday. The New York...
Michael Conforto’s 9th-inning homer leads Mets back from 6-run deficit, prevents Pirates sweep
The roles were reversed but for the second consecutive game, a six-run lead was blown and the Pittsburgh Pirates entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing the New York Mets after a home run. After rallying from a six-run deficit for a walk-off win Saturday night, the Pirates failed...
Pirates No. 1 pick Henry Davis signs under slot value
Henry Davis went through the first-pick formalities of putting a black Pittsburgh Pirates cap on his head and slipping into a No. 1 white home jersey, then cracked a smile and straightened up in his seat. After officially signing with the Pirates for a $6.5 million bonus — $1,915,300 under...
Jacob Stallings smacks walk-off grand slam as Pirates rally from 6-run deficit, beat Mets
The bases were loaded with two outs when Jacob Stallings came to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher wasn’t thinking about the heroics of hitting a home run after popping out in a similar situation earlier in the game. When Stallings turned on...
Benches clear, Wilmer Difo, Bryan Reynolds homer as Pirates win wild game with Mets
The downpour that interrupted the second inning with the bases loaded sent fans scrambling for cover. Despite the 39-minute rain delay, this game proved to be worth the price of admission. The Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets on Friday night provided a throwback game to their early 1990s rivalry,...
Pirates notebook: Derek Shelton likes leadership, intensity of No. 1 pick Henry Davis
Before the Pittsburgh Pirates made Henry Davis the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft, manager Derek Shelton got to watch the Louisville catcher’s workout at PNC Park and spend time talking with him. “He’s a good kid, man,” Shelton said. “He’s a leader. He wants to win. He...
Baseball analysts give Pirates’ draft good grades, predict a potential top-5 farm system
Jonathan Mayo understood the strategy when the Pittsburgh Pirates took Louisville catcher Henry Davis with the No. 1 overall pick of the MLB Draft, knowing it would allow them to spend over slot on others. What Mayo couldn’t believe was the prep talent the Pirates added with their next three...
Former 1st-rounders Jason Kendall, Neil Walker praise Pirates for picking catcher Henry Davis No. 1 overall
After the Pittsburgh Pirates made Henry Davis the first overall pick of the MLB Draft on Sunday night, the Louisville catcher came to the table where another former Pirates first-round pick at the position was seated. Neil Walker handed his phone to Davis. From a celebratory draft room at PNC...
Pirates make MLB Draft special for Bethel Park’s Justin Meis
Justin Meis knew the Pittsburgh Pirates were interested when they continued to make calls to check in after almost every round late in the second day of the MLB Draft. Meis was on vacation with nearly two dozen members of his family at Deep Creek Lake in Maryland when he...
Pirates believe strategy of ‘going after the highest talent’ paid off in MLB Draft
When the MLB Draft ended Tuesday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Pirates had selected 11 pitchers and 10 position players in a near-even split that wasn’t as intentional as the strategy to select top talent. After taking Louisville catcher Henry Davis with the first overall pick and receiving rave reviews for picking...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Ben Cherington’s strategy involves risks with Pirates’ top picksVideo
Ben Cherington had suggested the strategy as a possibility, that the Pittsburgh Pirates could go under-slot with the No. 1 overall pick and spread their draft pool bonus money through the MLB Draft. With the largest pool in the majors at $14,394,000, the Pirates were more interested in adding an...
Pirates have strong 2nd day of MLB Draft, taking three top-32 prep prospects
After taking their target in Louisville catcher Henry Davis with the top pick in the MLB Draft on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Pirates reset their strategy for a second day that felt like it was an extended first round. The Pirates added three more highly ranked prospects, including a pair of...
Pirates Adam Frazier, Bryan Reynolds realize childhood dreams with 1st All-Star appearance
When the Pittsburgh Pirates visited the Colorado Rockies last month, Bryan Reynolds couldn’t help but notice that the All-Star Game would be played at Coors Field. The Pirates center fielder saw a poster of Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout promoting the event and wondered whether his next trip to...
Louisville catcher Henry Davis ‘punched the clock’ to earn No. 1 overall pick by Pirates
When Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington raved about No. 1 overall draft pick Henry Davis for his willingness to work and confront a challenge, it reminded Louisville baseball coach Dan McDonnell of a confrontation he had with the catcher after his freshman year. Davis earned the starting job, showed...
Pirates surprise by taking Louisville catcher Henry Davis with No. 1 overall pick in MLB DraftVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates kept everyone in the baseball world guessing over who they would select with the No. 1 overall pick right up until the start of the MLB Draft on Sunday night at Denver’s Bellco Theater. The Pirates ended the suspense by selecting Louisville catcher Henry Davis, addressing their...
