Pirates/MLB category, Page 210
First Call: TV reportedly sets Steelers-Titans start times; Ryan Switzer visits Browns; Pirates back Bryan Reynolds
Thursday’s “First Call” gives us the potential television times — and network — for the rescheduled Steelers game in Nashville. Bryan Reynolds is getting some support from Pirates brass. Ryan Switzer is getting interest from an AFC North rival. And the Cincinnati Bengals are looking out for their quarterback. Who’s...
Changes coming for Pirates, but GM Ben Cherington credits Derek Shelton for ‘progress’
Not that Derek Shelton needed a vote of confidence from his general manager after one of the worst seasons in Pittsburgh Pirates history, but Ben Cherington gave his manager one anyway. That Cherington and Shelton were seated next to each other Wednesday for a final Zoom conference call with reporters...
Pirates GM reiterates support for Oneil Cruz, expects him to be available for spring training
Despite being involved in an accident that killed three people in the Dominican Republic, the Pittsburgh Pirates are expecting top prospect Oneil Cruz to be able to play next season. “No reason to believe he wouldn’t be available for spring training, full participant,” Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington starts search for new farm director, says other changes coming
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday that changes are coming to the player development system, indicating that farm director Larry Broadway will be taking on a new role within the organization. Broadway, 39, oversaw the Pirates’ farm system, ranked No. 16 by MLB.com, for nine years, serving as...
Appalachian League leads off in minor league contraction
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball started the process of contracting minor league affiliates Tuesday, with the Appalachian League converted to a college summer circuit for rising freshmen and sophomores. The agreement between MLB and the minor leagues expires Wednesday. MLB has proposed cutting the minimum guaranteed minor league affiliates...
Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes earns NL Rookie of the Month honors after strong September
Ke’Bryan Hayes didn’t just have a September to remember, the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman had one worthy of honor. Hayes was named NL Rookie of the Month on Monday, his first award as a major leaguer. The 23-year-old Hayes batted .376 (32 for 85) with seven doubles, two triples, five...
Fantastic finish thrusts Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes into Rookie of the Year conversationVideo
For the fantastic finish Ke’Bryan Hayes had to his first month in the major leagues, getting eight consecutive hits over his final three games, he was more amazed by the way he started his Pittsburgh Pirates career. “I got my first hit off Jon Lester,” Hayes said of the 36-year-old...
Pirates blow 4-run lead to drop finale to Indians, finish 19-41 in shortened season
It was important to manager Derek Shelton that the Pittsburgh Pirates played to win the final game of the regular season, even though they long had been eliminated from playoff contention. Cleveland had clinched, so the Pirates wanted to play spoiler for the Indians’ seeding. Instead, Carlos Santana and Franmil...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington: ‘Not a single piece of evidence’ Oneil Cruz crash was alcohol-fueled
Speaking publicly for the first time about prospect Oneil Cruz being involved in a crash that killed three people last week in the Dominican Republic, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington warned “there’s not a single piece of evidence from what we’ve seen that this is anything but an accident.”...
Ke’Bryan Hayes goes 5 for 5, Joe Musgrove strikes out 10 as Pirates shut out Indians
Ke’Bryan Hayes already was having the best game of his young major league career, so the Pittsburgh Pirates were rooting for the rookie third baseman to make it even more memorable in his final at bat. Hayes lined a double to right-center field in the ninth inning to complete a...
Ke’Bryan Hayes embracing expectations of becoming Pirates’ next star
After dealing with a revolving door at third base the past five years, the Pittsburgh Pirates appear to have found a player who can put a lock on the position in rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes. Since his Sept. 1 call-up, Hayes has not only handled the hot corner with a great...
Indians rally for 3 runs in 9th as Pirates waste another strong Mitch Keller outing
Mitch Keller and his Pittsburgh Pirates teammates had a choice to make Friday night after their 40th loss of the season, 4-3 to the Cleveland Indians. Feel good or feel bad. For Keller, he could feel good about ending the season by throwing 11 consecutive hitless innings, six against the...
Covid concerns cancel 60th anniversary celebration of 1960 World Series Game 7
Herb Soltman isn’t sure what he will do Oct. 13 on the 60th anniversary of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. But he has a good idea. “I might sit home and cry,” he said. Breaking with a cherished tradition, Soltman and other members of the Game 7 Gang...
Dominican court sets bail for Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz
Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz, who was involved in a traffic accident that killed three people in the Dominican Republic early Monday morning, was ordered to pay bail of 2 million Dominican Pesos ($34,000 in U.S. currency) during a preliminary hearing Friday, Dionisio Soldevila of the Dominican newspaper Periodico Hoy...
Pirates rookie outfielder Jared Oliva’s black book has new entries for his first MLB hits
Jared Oliva started jotting down notes in a black book in the fall of his freshman year at Arizona, a way for the wide-eyed walk-on to track his progress at tryouts for the defending national champions. “I was trying to make the team,” Oliva said. “There’s 55 dudes for a...
Pirates homer 4 times, Chad Kuhl shines in shutout of Cubs in home finale
The home finale for the Pittsburgh Pirates started the same way as their home opener almost two months earlier, with automated crowd noise cheering a Colin Moran home run at an otherwise empty PNC Park. What was drastically different is Moran’s was the first of a season-high four homers by...
Catcher Jacob Stallings voted Pirates’ MVP by sports writers
When the Pittsburgh Pirates started the season, catching was the position of primary concern. A year earlier, Jacob Stallings had been designated for assignment and cleared waivers. Now, he was being counted on as the starter. Not only did Stallings solidify that spot, but the 30-year-old became the Pirates’ most...
Adam Frazier, Ke’Bryan Hayes hit back-to-back homers to lead Pirates past Cubs
The Pittsburgh Pirates started Wednesday’s game the same way Jacob Stallings ended their walk-off win the night before, with Adam Frazier and Ke’Bryan Hayes hitting back-to-back home runs in the first inning. “We went back-to-back-to-back homers,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton cracked. “We just waited 24 hours to do it.” It...
Oneil Cruz’s accident in Dominican Republic latest legal issue involving Pirates playerVideo
As if owning the worst record in baseball wasn’t bad enough, the Pittsburgh Pirates received another brutal blow when one of their top prospects was involved in an accident that killed three people. When Dominican Republic investigators found Oneil Cruz was driving under the influence of alcohol and past a...
Pirates introduce reward-based benefits program for season-ticket holders in 2021
The Pittsburgh Pirates introduced Wednesday an enhanced, reward-based benefits program called Pirates Points for season-ticket holders for the 2021 season. Pirates season-ticket holders can earn points “based on longevity and commitment level” that can be redeemed for discounts at the clubhouse store, ticket discounts, free subscriptions to MLB.TV, a flexible...
First Call: Pirates may ‘earn’ MLB top draft choice; NFL mask fines; former Penguins are NHL buyout targets
Wednesday’s “First Call” shows us that the Pirates may be in line for Kumar Rocker atop the MLB draft after all. We try to figure out when the NBA and NHL may restart for next season. And the NFL keeps handing out mask fines for coaches. Ready to Rock? ESPN’s...
Jacob Stallings hits walk-off home run to help Pirates beat Cubs, snap 5-game losing streak
Steven Brault finished the season on a high note, and Jacob Stallings provided the big finish. After Brault pitched seven scoreless innings, only to see the Pittsburgh Pirates blow a two-run lead, Stallings smacked an Andrew Chafin fastball into the left-field seats for a walk-off home run to lift the...
Report: Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz was driving under the influence in collision that killed 3 in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic investigators say Oneil Cruz, one of the top prospects for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was under the influence of alcohol when he was involved in a collision Monday night that killed three people, according to an ESPN report. Oneil Cruz está siendo acusado de provocar la muerte de tres...
Is Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds taking advantage of opportunity in center field?
Bryan Reynolds was as succinct as he was honest when asked to evaluate his performance during this almost-completed season. “I think I played decent defense,” the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder said, “and my offense was terrible.” It’s difficult to dispute Reynolds’ latter self-assessment. Reynolds was hitting .180 heading into Monday night....
Pirates lose to Cubs, match 2019 team by falling 24 games under .500
Somehow, in this drastically shortened 2020 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates matched the 2019 team in one rather dubious way. Games under .500. A 5-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs in the opener of the final home series of the season Monday dropped the Pirates to 15-39. The 24 games under...
