Pirates/MLB category, Page 177

Lonnie White Jr. could have been a Penn State wide receiver, perhaps one day assuming a prominent role for one of the top college football teams in the nation while playing in front of crowds numbering more than 100,000. But he chose professional baseball and its much smaller crowds and...

Adam Frazier heard daily rumors about where the Pittsburgh Pirates would trade him – one day to the New York Mets or Chicago White Sox, the next to the Seattle Mariners — before manager Derek Shelton pulled him from Sunday’s game at San Francisco and broke the news he long...

A day after sending All-Star second baseman Adam Frazier to the San Diego Padres for three prospects, the Pittsburgh Pirates traded right-handed reliever Clay Holmes to the New York Yankees for infielders Hoy Jun Park and Diego Castillo. Holmes, 28, was 3-2 with a 4.93 ERA, 44 strikeouts and 25...

The trade conversations started soon after the MLB Draft ended, and Ben Cherington knew any trade offers involving Adam Frazier would have to meet certain criteria for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After talking with a handful of teams last week, the Pirates general manager settled on sending the All-Star second baseman...

The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to meet their own expectations in the process of rebuilding the minor league system with young players. But that’s only part of the journey toward what really matters: eventual playoff contention. Three young prospects with specific skills — Tucupita Marcano (sharp batting eye), Jack Suwinski (Double-A...

Pittsburgh Pirates draft pick Lonnie White Jr. has chosen to play professional baseball and bypass a football scholarship to Penn State, according to a report by PhillyVoice.com. The Malvern Prep outfielder, selected No. 64 overall in the MLB Draft in the Competitive Balance B round, was reportedly torn between the...

The Pirates acquired three players from the San Diego Padres in the Adam Frazier trade Sunday — all with zero or minimal major-league experience. The closest to the majors is infielder/outfielder Tucupita Marcano. That’s because he played in 25 games for the Padres this season. He was named for the...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 34-36) was beaten by Toledo (Tigers), 7-3. RHP James Marvel (3-3, 5.43) was tagged for seven runs on seven hits and four walks in 4.2 innings. Four relievers – RHP Matt Eckelman, LHP Dillon Peters, LHP Blake Weiman and LHP Braeden Ogle – held Toledo scoreless the rest...

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher J.T. Brubaker had to tell the truth Sunday when he heard Adam Frazier was traded to the San Diego Padres for three young prospects. “I’m happy for the guy. Dude’s an All-Star,” Brubaker said. Catcher Jacob Stallings didn’t hide from what many players in the Pirates clubhouse...

Except for two pitches, J.T. Brubaker gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a chance to win Sunday at Oracle Park in San Francisco. But leadoff hitter Lamonte Wade Jr. homered twice off Brubaker, Pittsburgh Pirates bat went silent and the Giants finally looked like the team with the best record in baseball...

Ben Cherington offered no specific details Sunday when he appeared on his radio show on 93.7 FM and was asked about the upcoming trade deadline. But the Pittsburgh Pirates general manager indicated trades are an important component in rebuilding the team. “We have to stay focused on adding talent and...

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 —...

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...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 34-35) lost 6-4 to Toledo (Tigers). RHP Mitch Keller (1-1, 3.21) was knocked around, giving up six runs, four earned, on seven hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out nine and allowed a home run. 1B Christian Bethancourt (.284) went 2 for 4 with his...

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,...

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...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 34-34) beat Toledo (Tigers), 2-1. LHP Steven Brault (0-1, 1.29) made a brilliant rehab start as he continues to recover from a lat strain that has kept him out most of the season, pitching four perfect innings with six strikeouts. RHP Beau Sulser (5-3, 3.29) went the rest...

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...

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...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 33-34) was drilled by Toledo (Tigers), 7-2. RHP Cody Ponce (0-4, 5.29) was a hard-luck loser, giving up two runs on six hits with six strikeouts in six innings. LHP Joe Jacques and LHP Blake Weiman combined to give up five runs in three innings of relief. 3B...

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...

This week’s “U mad, bro?” is all over the map. Penguins hockey. College hockey. Baseball drafts. Steelers from the 1930s. And English lessons. This is what they call the “dog days” of summer. I don’t have a dog right now. But based on the emails I received this week, if...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 33-33) was knocked around by Toledo (Tigers), 11-5. Veteran RHP Shelby Miller (1-1, 4.50) made his first start with Indianapolis but pitched only one inning, giving up a solo home run and striking out one. RHP Steven Wright relieved him and gave up eight runs on eight hits...

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...

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...