Pirates/MLB category, Page 27
Pirates farm report for May 16, 2025: Mitch Jebb collects 3 hits in Curve win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 23-17) and Louisville (Reds) were rained out. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Saturday. Next: Saturday vs. Louisville (Reds), doubleheader, 5:30 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 19-18) got past Harrisburg (Nationals), 5-4. 2B Mitch Jebb (.308) went 3 for 4 with a double and three...
Phillies take advantage of free passes in 4-run 7th inning to beat Pirates in series opener
It looked promising for the Pittsburgh Pirates when they robbed the Philadelphia Phillies of a home run, took a commanding lead with a three-run blast and escaped a bases-loaded situation. Only to give it away. The Phillies took advantage of five free passes — four walks and a hit batter...
Pirates add Triple-A’s hottest bat in IF/OF Nick Solak, option Ji Hwan Bae to Indianapolis
The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted one of their hottest hitters in the minor leagues Friday, selecting the contract of infielder/outfielder Nick Solak from Triple-A Indianapolis. Solak led all Triple-A hitters in batting (.393), ranked fourth in on-base percentage (.452) and OPS (1.077) and fifth in slugging (.625). The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder batted...
Former manager Gene Lamont named special adviser to Pirates’ Don Kelly
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced a series of coaching additions to their major-league staff Friday, as new manager Don Kelly gets settled on the job. Former manager Gene Lamont is joining the Pirates as a special adviser to Kelly, and Triple-A Indianapolis manager Chris Truby has been added to the major-league...
Pirates 2B Nick Gonzales ready to get back to playing baseball on rehabilitation assignment
After being sidelined since Opening Day with a non-displaced fracture of his left ankle, Nick Gonzales was readying himself to round the bases one more time at PNC Park. Proving he could make cuts and handle turns was the final step for the Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman to be cleared...
On Sports: Chargers roast Steelers, Don Kelly reaches 1 week on the job as Pirates skipperVideo
In Friday’s On Sports, the Chargers landed a handful of creative jabs at the Steelers with their 2025 schedule release. Also, Pirates skipper Don Kelly reaches a week on the job while recently-signed Penguins forward Filip Hallander received a notable accolade from the Swedish Hockey League. Chargers roast Steelers The...
Pirates farm report for May 15, 2025: Spencer Horwitz homers in Indianapolis win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 23-17) took care of Louisville (Reds), 7-4. DH Spencer Horwitz (.323), continuing his rehab from wrist surgery, went 2 for 5 with his first home run and two runs scored. LF Matt Fraizer (.167) went 1 for 4 with his first homer. 1B Nick Solak (.393) went 3...
Pirates to give away Mac Miller bobbleheads
The Pittsburgh Pirates will pay tribute to the late Pittsburgh-born rapper Mac Miller by giving away commemorative bobbleheads during a game in July. On Thursday, the team shared a teaser video on social media featuring a montage and the message, “This is for you, Malcolm.” Miller, whose real name was...
Report squarely blames Bucco Brick fiasco on Pittsburgh Pirates
A report commissioned by Pittsburgh’s Sports and Exhibition Authority places blame solely on the Pittsburgh Pirates for a controversial decision to scrap personalized, fan-purchased bricks at PNC Park without telling anyone. “It was the Pirates, not the SEA or any of its contractors, that made the decision to dispose of...
Neil Walker on becoming Don Kelly’s bench coach with Pirates: ‘Not right now’
There has been some speculation that new Pirates manager Don Kelly may ask his brother-in-law, former Pirate Neil Walker, to be his bench coach. Walker joined me on the “Breakfast with Benz” podcast Wednesday. He acknowledges that the topic has been discussed, but it’s unlikely to happen. “If my brother-in-law...
Pirates’ Chase Shugart bounces back with longest relief outing of year, blanking Mets
For about a month leading into early May, Chase Shugart was among the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most lights-out bullpen options, posting a 1.23 ERA through his first 12 appearances of the season. While that clip of outings was briefly interrupted by a short stint at Triple-A Indianapolis, Shugart returned to Pittsburgh...
Pirates farm report for May 14, 2025: Billy Cook delivers walk-off hit for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 22-17) walked off Louisville (Reds), 9-8. LF Billy Cook (.205) slapped a walk-off base hit to second base to score pinch-runner Matt Frazier (.143) in the bottom of the ninth. Cook finished his night with four singles and two RBIs. CF Jack Suwinski (.264) smashed a two-run home...
Pirates score 4 runs or less for 20th straight game but it’s enough to top Mets, avoid sweep
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been receiving largely solid starting pitching of late, with a club ERA of 2.28 in their last eight games dating to May 5. Their record over that span? 2-6. That, primarily, has been the result of a persistently underperforming offense, which sank the Pirates in their...
Pirates claim INF/OF Michael Helman off waivers from St. Louis
The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed 28-year-old infielder/outfielder Michael Helman off waivers from the Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon. Helman, who bats right-handed, appeared in 18 games for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds this season, slashing .185/.260/.292 with a homer, four doubles and six RBIs. An 11th-round (No. 334 overall) draft pick in 2019...
Mark Madden: What if Paul Skenes doesn’t pitch better?
Paul Skenes isn’t falling apart. But he’s not a phenom so far this season. He isn’t dominating. Look at Monday vs. the New York Mets, Skenes’ most recent start. He allowed six hits and one run in six innings. He walked three and struck out six. He had to pitch...
Tim Benz: As consistently bad as Pirates’ hitters have been, Tuesday night’s failure was surreal
The Pirates’ season-long offensive ineptitude hit a new low in New York during a 2-1 loss to the Mets on Tuesday night. It was the 19th straight game in which the Pirates failed to score more than four runs. That’s a franchise record. Tuesday’s flop may have been the most...
‘We need him’: Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds navigates through elongated offensive slump
Through parts of seven big-league seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bryan Reynolds largely has been a pillar of productivity, offering consistent offense year-in and year-out. Aside from the covid-condensed 2020 campaign, during which he (along with many hitters across MLB) struggled immensely, batting only .189, Reynolds benefited the Pirates’ offense...
Pirates farm report for May 13, 2025: Bubba Chandler fans 8 in 5 shutout innings
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 21-17) defeated Louisville (Reds), 3-1. RHP Bubba Chandler (1.91) started and pitched five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. RHP Ryder Ryan (2.87), RHP Kyle Nicolas (1-0, 6.48) and RHP Isaac Mattson (2.30) had scoreless outings. Rehabbing RHP Dauri Moreta (6.00) gave up...
Offense disappoints again for Pirates, who waste Mitch Keller’s quality start vs. Mets
Five games into his tenure as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Don Kelly has shown a willingness to shuffle the deck, making various lineup and batting order alterations in hope of facilitating a change in fortune for his club. But Kelly ultimately is dealing with the same deck of cards...
Pirates’ Isiah Kiner-Falefa homers after meeting 2nd cousin, Ralph Kiner’s son, for 1st timeVideo
NEW YORK — Ever since he was a kid, Isiah Kiner-Falefa has heard all about the cousin who was a Hall of Fame slugger for the Pittsburgh Pirates years ago. Now he finally knows kin from Ralph Kiner’s side of the family. In a touching rendezvous Monday at Citi Field,...
Pirates’ Paul Skenes to represent U.S. at 2026 World Baseball ClassicVideo
Rosters for the upcoming 2026 World Baseball Classic have yet to be unveiled, but the United States already knows it can depend on one of the most electric pitchers in MLB in pursuit of a gold medal: Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes. Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in the...
For Paul Skenes, latest start consistent with pros and cons of 2025
For Paul Skenes, his latest outing on Monday was emblematic of his overall season. In a 4-3 Pirates loss to the New York Mets, expected dominance wasn’t to be found in a no-decision. Yet, a pretty good line score at the end of the night emerged. Skenes went six innings...
After 4 straight 1-run games, Pirates hope to build on early days of Don Kelly’s tenureVideo
When the Pittsburgh Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton on May 8, staff ace Paul Skenes was blunt when asked the next day for his reaction. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t shocked,” he said. “… Someone’s got to be held accountable, and, unfortunately, right now, it’s him. That’s just kind of how it...
Pirates lose another Paul Skenes start with Mets rallying for walk-off win
If the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 4-3 loss to the New York Mets on Monday proved anything, it’s that Paul Skenes taking the hill far from guarantees a successful outcome for the club, which has won only three of his nine starts this season. A quality start from Skenes at Citi Field...
Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham loses appeal, serves 1-game suspension for gesture
NEW YORK — Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham served a one-game suspension Monday night against the New York Mets for conduct directed at Los Angeles Angels fans last month. Pham was disciplined by Major League Baseball and fined an undisclosed amount on April 25 for “inappropriate actions toward” Angels fans...
