Pittsburgh Pirates / MLB category, Page 41
Pirates farm report for April 11, 2025: Konnor Griffin hits 1st Bradenton home run
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 4-5) doubled up Louisville (Reds), 6-3. DH Nick Yorke (.300) went 1 for 5 with his first home run and 2B Nick Solak (.250) went 1 for 4 with his first homer. C Henry Davis (.286) went 2 for 4 with two doubles, two runs scored and an...
Bailey Falter walks career-high 5, Pirates manage only 4 hits in loss to Reds
Bailey Falter was blunt in offering a self-evaluation following his last start Saturday vs. the Yankees, in which he allowed seven earned runs. “Just can’t happen. It’s unfortunate,” the Pittsburgh Pirates left said after his club fell to New York. Falter, searching for a different outcome, took the hill Friday...
Pirates recall reliever Kyle Nicolas from Triple-A ahead of Reds series
The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled righty reliever Kyle Nicolas from Triple-A Indianapolis Friday ahead of their series in Cincinnati against the Reds. Nicolas replaces righty rookie Thomas Harrington, who was optioned to Triple-A on Thursday, on the 26-man roster. His recall comes with the Pirates seeking bullpen reinforcements, with Colin Holderman...
Tim Benz: Pirates offense tells us Bob Nutting is either lying, or he believes his own baloney
Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting is either a liar, or he believes his own line of B.S. I’m not sure which is worse, but his team’s impotent offensive lineup would suggest he’s guilty of the latter. Prior to last week’s home opener at PNC Park, Nutting had the temerity to...
Pirates sidewinder Justin Lawrence ready to take advantage of sweeping changes in bullpen
When the Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Justin Lawrence off waivers, his social media-savvy father was the first to suggest he use the same walk-out song as the franchise’s most famous sidearm reliever. Lawrence didn’t know much about Pirates Hall of Famer and 1979 World Series hero Kent Tekulve but soon became...
Bucs farm report for April 11, 2025: Hunter Barco, 3 relievers throw 3-hit shutout for Curve
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 3-5) and Louisville (Reds) were rained out. The game will be made up Saturday. Next: Friday at Louisville (Reds), 7:15 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 2-4) saw four pitchers combine on a three-hit shutout in a 2-0 win over Akron (Guardians). LHP Hunter Barco (0.00) started and allowed two hits...
Pirates option RHP Thomas Harrington to Triple-A Indianapolis
The Pittsburgh Pirates optioned right-handed pitcher Thomas Harrington to Triple-A Indianapolis and will make a corresponding move before Friday’s series opener at the Cincinnati Reds. The 23-year-old Harrington is ranked the No. 3 player in the Pirates’ system and a top-100 prospect by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline. Harrington...
With ‘high-IQ’ plays, third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes saves runs for Pirates
When Ke’Bryan Hayes saw first baseman Endy Rodriguez crash into catcher Joey Bart on a Willson Contreras pop fly in the eighth inning, one word crossed the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman’s mind. “Whenever they hit, they hit pretty hard,” Hayes said. “In my head, I was like, ‘Dang.’ ” What...
U mad, bro?: April anger from Pirates fans is already boiling over
We are way beyond April Fools’ Day. But there are plenty of fools in Pittsburgh Pirates management. They seem to be proving that on a daily basis. Obtuse quotes from the owner. One public relations fumble after another. And the construction of an offense utterly incapable of extending a rally....
Pirates farm report for April 9, 2025: Ji-Hwan Bae, Braxton Ashcraft spark Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 3-5) took care of Louisville (Reds), 7-3. CF Ji-Hwan Bae (.250) went 2 for 4 with a double and his first home run. 1B Malcom Nunez (.240) went 1 for 3 with his first homer and two RBIs. C Henry Davis (.250) went 2 for 4 with a...
Joey Bart’s game-winning hit in 13th inning gives Pirates walk-off victory over CardinalsVideo
Joey Bart was exhausted from squatting behind the plate for 13 innings, but with the bases loaded and a full count, the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher didn’t hesitate to swing for the fences. Bart hit a deep fly ball to left field for a single to drive in the winning run...
Joe Rutter: Discarded Bucco Bricks are more than just pieces of stone
My father didn’t like to ruin surprises, which is why I learned about my Bucco Brick from a fellow sportswriter on Opening Day of the 2001 season. While PNC Park was being constructed late last century, the Pirates held a campaign to sell personalized bricks that would adorn the sidewalks...
Bryan Reynolds resumes throwing, a positive sign for Pirates All-Star to return to outfield
Bryan Reynolds is back to throwing the ball, a good sign for the Pittsburgh Pirates to get the two-time All-Star back to the outfield after spending the first two weeks of the season at designated hitter. Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Reynolds, who is dealing with...
Tim Benz: Paul Skenes’ rough outing continues typically dreary start for Pirates
On Tuesday night, Paul Skenes actually looked human. Fortunately, there was barely anyone in the ballpark to see it. Even the draw of seeing the Pittsburgh Pirates ace in his 2025 home debut wasn’t enough to lure more than 8,291 out to PNC Park on a 38-degree night against the...
Pirates farm report for April 8, 2025: Bubba Chandler fans 8 in 4 innings for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 2-5) lost 4-2 to Louisville (Reds). RHP Bubba Chandler (0.00) started and threw four dominant innings, allowing one hit and two walks with eight strikeouts. RHP David Bednar worked a perfect sixth, striking out two. RHP Drake Fellows (7.36) and RHP Kyle Nicholas (11.57) also worked a scoreless...
Paul Skenes gives up career-high 5 runs as Cardinals beat Pirates to even series
The St. Louis Cardinals proved Paul Skenes is human, after all. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander, the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and 2025 Cy Young favorite, surrendered the most earned runs of his 26 career starts as the Cardinals did all of their damage in two innings. The Cardinals...
Pirates left to explain why personalized ‘Bucco Bricks’ from PNC Park ended up on scrap heap
In the latest of a series of events aggravating the team’s fans, the Pittsburgh Pirates issued a statement Tuesday explaining the appearance of commemorative bricks once displayed outside PNC Park at a recycling center. The “Bucco Bricks” program began in 1999. For $75-$150, fans could personalize a message on a...
Pirates mourn loss of Octavio Dotel, killed in a nightclub roof collapse in Dominican Republic
The Pittsburgh Pirates are mourning the loss of Octavio Dotel, the former relief pitcher who was among at least 44 people killed when a nightclub roof collapsed Monday night in his native Dominican Republic. Dotel was among the crowd attending a concert by merengue singer Rubby Perez at Jet Set...
Tim Benz: Ben Cherington’s Paul Skenes-Pedro Martinez comp misses a crucial ingredient
During his weekly radio show on Sunday afternoon, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington was asked if he had ever seen anyone like Paul Skenes. The name he pulled was Pedro Martinez. “I was with the Red Sox during part of Pedro’s prime. They’re very different pitchers. They do it...
Pirates hope minor league stint can fix David Bednar’s struggles
For Derek Shelton, the decision to demote David Bednar to Triple-A Indianapolis was difficult, so the Pittsburgh Pirates manager knew informing the two-time All-Star closer would be uncomfortable. Shelton expected Bednar to be emotional, given that he’s a 30-year-old veteran with four-plus years of major league service time and a...
Young pitchers get back on track, lead Pirates past Cardinals
Their first starts of the season didn’t go as Carmen Mlodzinski or Thomas Harrington had planned, so the Pittsburgh Pirates right-handers were eager to prove themselves Monday night. In a role reversal, the reliever-turned-starter Mlodzinski had six strikeouts in five innings and the starter-turned-reliever Harrington added five strikeouts in protecting...
Pirates prospect Tsung-Che Cheng soaks up atmosphere after call-up to majors
Over its 24 years as home of the Pirates, PNC Park has had a mesmerizing effect on many because of its picturesque view of downtown Pittsburgh. By his own admission, Tsung-Che Cheng was the latest to be enchanted by the sights. For Cheng, called up Monday by the Pirates from...
Pirates call up shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng, their No. 17 prospect, from Triple-A
The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted their No. 17 overall prospect, 23-year-old shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng, from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday. Cheng, who is with the Pirates ahead of their series-opening home game Monday night vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, would be in line to make his MLB debut. Cheng’s promotion comes as...
Swissvale man embodies loyalty, love of the Pirates by attending 68th straight home opener
When John Wray III was 6 years old, his father took him to his first Pittsburgh Pirates baseball home opener at Forbes Field in Oakland. The date was April 18, 1958. The younger Wray, now 73, hasn’t missed a home opener since. He attended his 68th home opener Friday at...
Mixing and matching: With back end of bullpen in flux, Pirates relievers stay ready for any role
With Colin Holderman on the 15-day injured list and David Bednar demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis, Derek Shelton had neither his setup man nor his All-Star closer for the final two innings Sunday. That is the dilemma for the Pittsburgh Pirates manager in his attempt to navigate high-leverage situations by telling...
