Pirates/MLB category, Page 169
Michael Chavis could become part of Pirates’ long-term plans
Michael Chavis doesn’t necessarily care if he has made a good impression during his first two months with the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, that should not be mistaken for apathy. The Pirates acquired the infielder/outfielder from the Boston Red Sox on July 30 in a trade for left-handed relief pitcher Austin...
‘How are we going to lose this one?’: Ex-Pirates reflect on lessons learned in 100-loss seasons
The night before the Pittsburgh Pirates clinched the ninth 100-loss season in franchise history, Neil Walker sat in the AT&T SportsNet broadcast booth at PNC Park and sensed the impending doom. Walker certainly could relate, given he was a rookie second baseman on their previous 100-loss team, when the Pirates...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 30, 2021: Oneil Cruz homers again
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 60-66) lost to Nashville (Brewers), 8-3. RHP Beau Sulser (7-9, 5.65) got the start, allowing five runs in three innings. C Christian Bethancourt came in to pitch for an inning and did not allow a run. SS Oneil Cruz (.524) went 1 for 2 with three walks and...
Pirates hit century mark as Cubs hand them 100th loss of season
Well, no one can accuse the Pittsburgh Pirates of backing into 100 losses. Rookie starting pitcher Miguel Yajure was roughed up for seven runs in two innings, and the Chicago Cubs rolled to a 9-0 victory over the Pirates on Thursday night at PNC Park. The loss dropped the Pirates...
Pirates promote Tanner Anderson, option Roansy Contreras to Indianapolis
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of right-hander Tanner Anderson from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday and optioned rookie right Roansy Contreras to the same club. Anderson was in uniform for the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park and available to pitch out of the bullpen. The Pirates signed...
Pitching for Pirates ‘keeps getting cooler and cooler’ for Mars grad David Bednar
David Bednar has the same routine each day the Pittsburgh Pirates have a home game. The rookie relief pitcher parks his car in the players’ lot underneath the right field stands at PNC Park. He then walks across the field to the Pirates’ dugout on the third base side before...
With Ke’Bryan Hayes out, Pirates to give Hoy Park, Michael Chavis a chance to play third
When Ke’Bryan Hayes informed the Pittsburgh Pirates that he was feeling soreness in his left wrist, they took no chances risking the health of their starting third baseman. Even though Hayes expressed his desire to play through the pain for the final five games of the season, a conversation with...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 29, 2021: Oneil Cruz hits tying homer in Indy win
INDIANAPOLIS (60-65) rallied past Nashville (Brewers), 5-4. SS Oneil Cruz (.526) went 4 for 5 and hit a game-tying two-run home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth. 3B Diego Castillo (.293) hit a pinch-hit solo home run earlier in the inning. Indy won on a walk-off...
Willson Contreras hits two-run double as Cubs spoil Pirates prospect Roansy Contreras’ debut
Roansy Contreras arrived with a reputation for throwing heat, so it was no surprise that his first pitch in the major leagues was a four-seam fastball for a called strike. That it registered 120 mph on the radar in a television graphic, however, might have been a mistake. It was...
Pirates place 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes on 10-day IL with left wrist injury to end rookie season
Ke’Bryan Hayes is dealing with “general left wrist soreness,” an injury that caused the Pittsburgh Pirates to place the third baseman on the 10-day injured list to finish his rookie season. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk specified that while the injury is to the same wrist that forced...
Bryan Reynolds voted Pirates’ MVP, David Bednar team’s top pitcher by baseball writers
Bryan Reynolds refused to reflect on the struggles of his sophomore season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, preferring to put the memory of his .189 batting average in 2020 behind him. Instead, Reynolds let his bat do the talking. Not only did Reynolds rebound by making his first All-Star Game appearance,...
Staying healthy a secret to Jacob Stallings’ success in 1st full season as Pirates starting catcher
Jacob Stallings knew that it was an odd time to talk about his healthy season, given that he was just reinstated Tuesday afternoon from the seven-day concussion injured list. The Pittsburgh Pirates catcher was playing his 110th game of the season — and making his 101st start behind the plate...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 28, 2021: Greensboro loses winner-take-all Game 5
GREENSBORO (High-A, 2-3) lost 6-3 to Bowling Green (Rays), dropping a winner-take-all Game 5 in the High-A East championship series. Greensboro took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth on a bases-loaded walk by C Blake Sabol and an RBI groundout by CF Matt Gorski. Bowling Green broke...
Colin Moran powers Pirates past Cubs in opening game of final homestand
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton recently claimed that Bryan Reynolds is the biggest beneficiary when Colin Moran is locked in at the cleanup spot because Reynolds sees better pitches. The reverse was true for the Pirates against the Chicago Cubs, as Reynolds reached base four times and twice was in...
Pirates reinstate Jacob Stallings, Michael Chavis from injured list before final homestand
The Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated catcher Jacob Stallings from the seven-day concussion injured list and infielder/outfielder Michael Chavis from the 10-day IL Tuesday, making both players active for the final homestand of the season. Stallings experienced mild concussion symptoms after taking a backswing off the facemask against the Miami Marlins and...
Pirates plan for RHP Roansy Contreras to make MLB starting debut against Cubs on Wednesday
The Pittsburgh Pirates intend for Roansy Contreras, one of their top pitching prospects, to make his major league debut by starting against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday at PNC Park. The 21-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic, one of four prospects acquired from the New York Yankees in the Jameson...
With a shortage of starting pitchers, Pirates relying on relievers to finish the season
With four members of the starting rotation on the injured list, Derek Shelton promised he would get creative with his pitching staff. What exactly that involved, the Pittsburgh Pirates manager wouldn’t — or couldn’t — say. “In terms of how we’re going to have to be creative, I can’t honestly...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 27, 2021: Greensboro loses to set up winner-take-all Game 5
GREENSBORO (High-A, 2-1) lost 7-5 to Bowling Green (Rays) to set up a winner-take-all Game 5 in the High-A East championship series. RHP Carmen Mlodzinski started and allowed four runs on five hits and three walks in 2.2 innings. After the Grasshoppers tied the score 4-4 in the top of...
Joey Votto goes deep twice as Reds hit 5 home runs, pound Pirates in final road game
The Pittsburgh Pirates have made no secret of their belief that the bandbox dimensions of Great American Ball Park benefit the power-hitting lineup of the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds reminded them anyway. Joey Votto hit a pair of home runs – one in the front row in left, another to...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 26, 2021: Greensboro takes lead in Championship series
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 59-65) outslugged Omaha (Royals), 17-12. SS Oneil Cruz (.429) smacked a solo home run and was 2 for 3 with an RBI, three walks and four runs scored from the leadoff spot. C Christian Bethancourt was 3 for 5 with two home runs and five RBIs. 3B Rodolfo...
Pirates shut out Phillies to play spoilers, avoid sweep
Max Kranick certainly didn’t show any nerves for a rookie pitching in a pennant race near his hometown. In fact, he was so cool that he made some of the 50-some family in friends in attendance at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia a little angry Sunday. Kranick worked five scoreless...
Pirates reliever David Bednar returns from injured list
Pirates rookie reliever David Bednar was reinstated from the 10-day injured list prior to Sunday’s game against the Philles at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The Mars graduate had been out with a right oblique strain since Sept. 8. Bednar is 3-1 with three saves and a 2.18 ERA in...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 25, 2021: Michael Chavis homers in Indy loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 58-65) was routed by Omaha (Royals), 12-3. 2B Michael Chavis (.271) went 1 for 3 and hit his 13th Triple-A homer of the season, a two-run shot, to provide one of few highlights for Indianapolis. RHP Beau Sulser (7-8, 5.42) started and was hammered for 10 runs on...
Phillies’ Suarez throws 4-hit shutout in victory over Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates could not figure out Ranger Suarez. The left-hander pitched a four-hit shutout to lead the Phillies to a 3-0 win over the Pirates on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The Pirates did not get a runner past first base against Suarez (7-5) as he lowered...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 24, 2021: Bradenton sweeps championship series
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 58-64) narrowly beat Omaha (Royals), 9-8. RHP James Marvel (6-7, 5.46) gave up five runs over six innings with eight strikeouts. Indianapolis hit four home runs: 1B Mason Martin had his first two Triple-A long balls, and DH Oneil Cruz (3 for 4) and SS Rodolfo Castro (2...
