Pittsburgh Pirates / MLB category, Page 5
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Elroy Face and old baseball stories that never get old
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on Sports in 350 words or less I had only a few conversations with Elroy Face, but he was always ready with a story. His passing Thursday at age 97 reminded me of that. And of a few other things: • How quickly time flies and...
Power in The Password: Outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia makes strong 1st impression on Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. — Spencer Horwitz marveled at the home run display by a group of hitters that included Jhostynxon Garcia while standing on the infield Saturday at Pirate City during batting practice. When the right handed-hitting Garcia launched a ball over the fence at the 410-foot mark in right-center of...
Joe Starkey: Projecting Pirates lineups is suddenly enjoyable, especially with Konnor Griffin in them
I keep reading about how the Pirates defense could be compromised by their offseason acquisitions, and I keep not caring. I’ll take the offense. Consider the case of all-field, no-hit Ke’Bryan Hayes, now in Cincinnati. Hayes is an elite defender, but how many times per game is he afforded the...
Pirates promote Cibney Bello to assistant pitching coach after Thomas Whitsett resigns
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly learned weeks before the start of spring training there would be a change to his coaching staff, which made for a difficult decision. The Pirates promoted Cibney Bello to the major-league staff as the assistant pitching coach to replace Thomas Whitsett, who resigned for personal...
Pirates catcher Henry Davis hopes deep dive into biomechanics data improves his hitting
BRADENTON, Fla. — Since selecting Henry Davis with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, the Pirates have raved about his obsessive work ethic and effort to improve at and behind the plate. Davis knows he’s a better hitter than his batting average suggests. Given that the...
Pirates great Elroy Face, Baron of the Bullpen and pioneer of closer role, dies at age 97
Known as the “Baron of the Bullpen,” Elroy Face was a pioneer for modern-day closers in baseball who made the forkball famous and played a vital role for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1960 World Series champions. A three-time All-Star, Face owns Major League Baseball’s career record for most wins in relief,...
Konnor Griffin eyes starting shortstop job for Pirates, shows ‘no fear’ in facing Paul Skenes
BRADENTON, Fla. — Konnor Griffin swears he set the same expectations for spring training as last year, when he was less than a year removed from high school and wanted to be a sponge who soaked up every ounce of information he could in big-league camp. Griffin knows the baseball...
U mad, bro?: Prickly Pittsburgh fans snipe about Aaron Rodgers reports and Pirates’ spending history
It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air. Need proof? Take a look at my social media mentions. It’s pretty obvious. Steelers and Pirates fans are flat-out gushing over everything I have to say about their teams. Enjoy our heartfelt love letters to one another in this week’s “U...
Baseball won’t sleep on Paul Skenes, even if Pirates ace has ‘no more made-up pitches’Video
BRADENTON, Fla. — Whether Paul Skenes was straight-faced serious or acting intentionally ignorant to protect a new pitch before its unveiling in a game, only the Pittsburgh Pirates ace knows. But Skenes swore that he’s never heard of the “sleeper” despite a revelation late last month on MLB Network that...
Tim Benz: Pirates’ offseason spending should be embraced, even if cynical explanations are accurate
With spring training getting underway, a lot of Pittsburgh Pirates fans are eagerly debating how much the club’s offseason moves will improve 2026 results from a year ago. Did you catch those words I just tied together in that sentence? “Fans.” “Eagerly.” “Improve.” “Pirates.” Yeah. Uncharted waters around these parts...
‘Andrew will always be a Pirate’: Marcell Ozuna signing could spell end of McCutchen era
BRADENTON, Fla. — Ben Cherington is aware one of his most celebrated moves this offseason could be his most controversial for the Pittsburgh Pirates, considering what the writing on the wall means for a franchise great. By agreeing to a one-year contract worth $12 million with free-agent slugger Marcell Ozuna,...
First Call: Calvin Austin on his uncertain future with Steelers; Marcell Ozuna’s PNC Park struggles
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some revealing quotes from one of Pittsburgh’s top wide receivers. We look at a challenge facing Marcell Ozuna now that he is a Pittsburgh Pirate. Pitt gets good news about a Panthers basketball alum in advance of the club’s big game against Duke on Tuesday night....
Adding Marcell Ozuna solves DH dilemma but creates confusion in projecting Pirates roster
A team once infamously dubbed a “hodgepodge of nothingness” by Dennis Eckersley now has a lineup littered with All-Stars after the Pittsburgh Pirates added another in Marcell Ozuna. By agreeing with Ozuna to a one-year contract worth $12 million Monday, the Pirates not only pushed their payroll above $100 million...
Even with Marcell Ozuna, Pirates’ offseason moves are tough to evaluateVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates made some national headlines Monday by signing former Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract. Even before that acquisition, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden recently released his grades for how Major League Baseball organizations performed this offseason. The former Cincinnati Reds general manager...
‘Be yourself’: In 1st spring as Pirates manager, Don Kelly accepts advice from Hall of Famer
Don Kelly is past the pinch-me phase of being manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, yet the Mt. Lebanon and Point Park alum was so stunned by one fun factoid that he let out a hearty laugh in disbelief. After Mike Sullivan was relieved of duties in April after 10 seasons...
Pirates add big bat by agreeing with DH Marcell Ozuna on 1-year contract
The Pittsburgh Pirates completed the final piece of the puzzle in an aggressive offseason designed to add some pop to baseball’s least productive offense by agreeing Monday morning to a free-agent deal with Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna will sign a one-year contract for $12 million, pending the passing of a physical,...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Top storylines to watch for as Pirates start spring training
The Pittsburgh Pirates have endured seven consecutive losing seasons, finishing either in last place or tied for last in six of them, so it’s not often they are associated with consensus or unanimous in a positive way. But the Pirates enter spring training with the unanimous winner of the National...
Pirates by Position: Whether a 1-man job or rotation, designated hitter could be different
Despite their pursuit of pop in free agency, the Pittsburgh Pirates have maintained their position that the designated hitter doesn’t necessarily have to be a one-man job. The DH spot has been occupied the past three seasons by Andrew McCutchen, but the 39-year-old franchise icon remains an unsigned free agent...
Pirates by position: Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds look to bounce back; expect battle in left field
Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds are considered unquestioned starters who compose two-thirds of the outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates, yet both provided plenty of question marks last season. With Cruz in center field and Reynolds in right, the Pirates are more concerned with who will cover the cavernous ground in...
7 Pirates, including Paul Skenes, named to World Baseball Classic rosters
Rosters for the 20 teams in the 2026 World Baseball Classic were revealed Thursday evening, including seven Pittsburgh Pirates players. Paul Skenes (United States), Oneil Cruz, Dennis Santana and Gregory Soto (Dominican Republic), Spencer Horwitz (Israel), Nick Gonzales (Mexico) and Kyle Nicolas (Italy) will play in the international tournament held...
Pirates add pitching depth by signing righty Jose Urquidy
The Pittsburgh Pirates struck out on another top free agent target when left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez signed with the Detroit Tigers but added one of his former teammates Thursday. The Pirates agreed to sign right-hander Jose Urquidy to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, a source confirmed to TribLive. The 30-year-old...
Pirates by Position: Infield adds 2 All-Stars, but will Konnor Griffin start season at shortstop?
The Pittsburgh Pirates opened last season with a pair of Gold Glove winners on the left side of the infield — shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes — and question marks on the right side. This spring, their lineup could feature a pair of All-Stars — first baseman...
Led by top prospect Konnor Griffin, Pirates boast Baseball America’s No. 1 farm system
Boosted by shortstop Konnor Griffin, baseball’s No. 1 prospect, the Pittsburgh Pirates can claim the sport’s top farm system according to Baseball America rankings released Wednesday. The Pirates boast four of Baseball America’s top 100 prospects: Griffin, right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler (No. 15), outfielder Edward Florentino (No. 28) and right-hander...
Pirates by Position: Endy Rodriguez, Rafael Flores look to fit in at catcher
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting lineup included Endy Rodriguez on Opening Day and Rafael Flores in the season finale, but the 25-year-olds will start spring training wondering where they fit into the roster. Although both are catchers who can play first base, the majority of their major-league starts came at the...
Pirates add 6 non-roster invitees to big league camp
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced an additional six players will attend big league camp as non-roster invitees. Catcher Derek Berg, first baseman Nick Cimillo, right-handed pitcher Michael Darrell-Hicks, left-handed pitcher Nick Dombkowski, outfielder/infielder Mitch Jebb and infielder Alika Williams were invited to camp, which opens Feb. 16 at Pirate City in...
