Pirates/MLB category, Page 168
Pirates A to Z: Tanner Anderson’s lone relief appearance was appreciated for saving bullpen
During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Miguel Yajure. Player: Tanner Anderson Position: Relief pitcher Throws: Right Bats: Right Age: 28 Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 203 pounds 2021 MLB statistics: Anderson was 0-0...
Pirates A to Z: After whiffing early, outfielder Anthony Alford made most of 2nd chance
During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Miguel Yajure. Player: Anthony Alford Position: Outfielder Throws: Right Bats: Right Age: 27 Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 215 pounds 2021 MLB statistics: Batted .233/.311/.406 with six...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are fixating on Mike Tomlin, frothing over NFL officiating and frustrated with Pirates … uniforms?
The Steelers may have a bye week. But “U mad, bro?” does not. This one has a lot of salty Steelers fans who are mad at coach Mike Tomlin, the officiating at the end of Sunday’s win over the Seattle Seahawks and media members for being too critical. I guess...
Josh Gibson Foundation announces Negro League Centennial celebration symposium
After several Negro League Centennial events were canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Josh Gibson Foundation has announced a slate of activities for later this month. A special symposium called “Why the Negro Leagues Mattered, and Still Do” will take place Oct. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m....
Members of ’71 champion Pirates recall ‘joyous time’ 50 years later
Dave Cash remembers the “moment in time” that took his breath away 50 years ago, as though it happened yesterday. On Sunday, Oct. 17, 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates were clinging to a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning of the seventh game of the World Series at...
Steve Blass on retirement, hope for current Pirates, goofy minor league promos, and cow patty bingo
With seven years of minor league baseball under his belt, former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Steve Blass thought he had seen every possible goofy baseball promotion or fundraiser. Cow milking and greased pig catching while with the Kinston Eagles in 1962 leap to mind. “I lost horribly (at cow milking),” Blass...
Versatile Erik Gonzalez selects free agency after 3 seasons with Pirates
When Erik Gonzalez finished the 2020 season as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting shortstop, he predicted big numbers if given a chance to play on an everyday basis. Gonzalez, however, lost the starting job to the hot-hitting Kevin Newman in spring training and didn’t deliver at the plate this past season...
Pirates fire 3B coach Joey Cora, parting ways with 2nd member of Derek Shelton’s staff
The Pittsburgh Pirates fired third-base coach Joey Cora after five seasons with the club. Cora, 57, who also coached infielders, is the second member of manager Derek Shelton’s coaching staff to be fired after the Pirates (61-101) finished in last place in the NL Central for the third consecutive season....
Bryan Reynolds has become Pirates’ best player but will they lock up center fielder long term?
Ben Cherington pointed to the way Bryan Reynolds runs the bases as a model for the Pittsburgh Pirates to follow, calling their 26-year-old center fielder “the best player on the team right now.” The Pirates general manager is hardly alone in his high praise for Reynolds, whose bounce-back season included...
Pirates prospects Endy Rodriguez, Adrian Florencio earn Low-A Southeast League honors
Two more Pittsburgh Pirates prospects earned honors Friday, when Endy Rodriguez was named MVP and right-hander Adrian Florencio the pitcher of the year in the Low-A Southeast League after leading the Bradenton Marauders to the league’s championship series. Rodriguez, 21, a catcher/first baseman/outfielder who was acquired from the New York...
Pirates prospect Quinn Priester named High-A East League pitcher of the year; Matt Fraizer named MVP
Greensboro Grasshoppers right-hander Quinn Priester, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top pitching prospect who is ranked 49th overall by MLB Pipeline, was named High-A East League pitcher of the year. The 21-year-old Priester, the Pirates’ 2019 first-round pick, went 7-4 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 98 strikeouts and 39...
U mad, bro?: Steelers, Pirates, Ben Roethlisberger, Ben Cherington, Gerrit Cole feel fan wrath
With the state of affairs surrounding the Steelers of late, it’s a wonder how any other sports made the cut for this week’s “U mad, bro?” But with a 101-loss season and a smooth-talking general manager who just can’t seem to answer a question directly, the Pirates made the cut...
Former 1st-rounder Nick Gonzales among 7 Pirates prospects to play in Arizona Fall League
Seven Pittsburgh Pirates prospects, including 2020 first-round pick Nick Gonzales, will play for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League. Gonzales is one of 17 top-100 prospects who will play in the AFL. He will be joined by middle infielder Ji-hwan Bae, outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba and right-handed pitchers Bear...
Altoona Curve promotes Nate Bowen to general manager, as Derek Martin moves to advisor role
The Altoona Curve, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, announced Wednesday the promotion of Nate Bowen to general manager. The 2022 season will mark Bowen’s 10th in the Curve’s front office. He spent the past three as assistant general manager to Derek Martin, who has accepted a job in...
Tim Benz: With MLB playoffs underway, Pirates’ roster is as far away as ever
If you spent any time in the Pittsburgh sports Twittersphere last Friday, you saw a lot of chatter about the eighth anniversary of the 2013 National League Wild Card Game. The Pirates’ first postseason game in Pittsburgh since 1992. PNC Park. Blackout. Johnny Cueto drops the ball on the pitcher’s...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington: Winning games best way to draw fans back to ballpark
When the Pittsburgh Pirates finished the season with an announced attendance of 859,498, it marked the first time since 1995 they failed to draw at least 1 million fans to their home stadium. Those figures came with a caveat, considering fans weren’t permitted to attend games in 2020, and the...
Oneil Cruz hits first career homer but Pirates lose season finale to Reds
The Pittsburgh Pirates played their finale on a day as dreary as their season, and watched their prospects of finally clinching a series sweep slip away in the same inning their manager was ejected. Derek Shelton was tossed for arguing an overturned call, so he wasn’t in the dugout to...
Pirates farm report for Oct. 3, 2021: Bligh Madris hits 2 doubles as Indianapolis loses season finale
INDIANAPOLIS (61-67) ended its season with an 8-3 loss to Nashville (Brewers). 1B Mason Martin (.240) and RF Bligh Madris (.272) each were 2 for 4. Madris smacked two doubles. LF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.095) and C Eli Wilson (.333) had RBIs. RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (0-1, 4.50) allowed two runs (one...
Pirates farm report for Oct. 2, 2021: Indy’s penultimate game rained out
INDIANAPOLIS (61-66) and Nashville (Brewers) were rained out. The game will not be made up. Indianapolis will play its season finale Sunday. Next: Sunday vs. Nashville, 1:35 p.m....
Top prospect Oneil Cruz sparks Pirates to 6-run rally, win against Reds in MLB debut
As a 6-foot-7 shortstop, Oneil Cruz often is the subject of tall tales. The Pittsburgh Pirates even speak of their top prospect in mythical terms, so it’s no wonder Ke’Bryan Hayes called Cruz a “unicorn” who can hit baseballs 600 feet with a single swing. Cruz didn’t deliver any majestic...
Ke’Bryan Hayes says cyst that developed on left hand forced Pirates to shut him down
Ke’Bryan Hayes blamed a cyst that developed in his left hand for causing the pain that forced a premature end to the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman’s rookie season. Hayes said he plans to see a hand specialist when he returns home to Houston after the season ends but doesn’t expect...
Pirates promote top prospect Oneil Cruz, giving 1st glimpse of 6-foot-7 shortstop
The Pittsburgh Pirates are giving fans their first glimpse of the team’s top prospect by promoting 6-foot-7 shortstop Oneil Cruz on Saturday for the final two games of the season at PNC Park, a source confirmed to the Tribune-Review. The news was first reported by Dominican baseball insider Hector Gomez....
Pirates farm report for Oct. 1, 2021: Indy’s James Marvel fans 8 in 8 innings
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 61-66) beat Nashville (Brewers), 7-2. RHP James Marvel (7-7, 5.26) had his best start of the season, allowing two runs and striking out eight over eight innings. RHP Tyler Bashlor (2.39) pitched a perfect ninth with a pair of strikeouts. C Christian Bethancourt (.281) had two RBIs on...
Pirates get stellar effort from Crowe, grand slam from Tucker in win over Reds
The final start of Wil Crowe’s rookie season might have been the best by a Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher all season. Yet it wasn’t enough to get him a win. While Crowe wasn’t credited with what would have been his fifth victory of the season, the Pirates rallied for an exhilarating...
Pirates recall reliever Shea Spitzbarth
The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled right-handed reliever Shea Spitzbarth from Triple-A Indianapolis for the fourth time this season prior to Friday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. Spitzbarth made his major league debut Aug. 2. In four games with the Pirates, he has allowed two runs and four...
