Pirates/MLB category, Page 75
Pirates GM Ben Cherington defends decision to limit innings for young starting pitchers
Ben Cherington didn’t just defend the Pittsburgh Pirates’ decision to limit Jared Jones to five innings at the New York Mets on Tuesday but also applauded the coaching staff for coming up with the plan. The 22-year-old rookie right-hander was pulled despite holding the Mets scoreless and to one hit...
Pirates farm report for April 20, 2024: 3 Greensboro pitchers combine on 4-hit shutout
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 10-10) was crushed by St. Paul (Twins), 12-4. LHP Michael Plassmeyer (1-3, 6.86) started and gave up two runs on five hits in four innings. He struck out four. LHP Jose Hernandez (23.14) then allowed two runs in one-third of an inning and RHP Kade McClure (16.88) was...
Pirates prospect Bubba Chandler, armed with new outlook and curveball, off to hot start in AltoonaVideo
Few people go through high school without navigating some sort of event or experience that becomes impossible to forget. Like gum stuck on the bottom of your shoe, whatever that teenage situation was, however trivial, it can stay with you for years. Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Bubba Chandler had good...
Pirates continue to struggle with strikeouts, scoring runs in loss to Red Sox
The Pittsburgh Pirates addressed a troubling trend by increasing their hit total but had little answer for their most disturbing dilemma: They are struggling to stop striking out and score runs. The Boston Red Sox scored two runs in the first inning, and Masataka Yoshida provided the difference with a...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Plenty of questions surround Pirates’ player development
If you need reason not to trust the Pittsburgh Pirates’ developmental process, look no further than the most obvious example. Shortstop Oneil Cruz is 25, has all the raw talent in the world and doesn’t know how to play baseball. Cruz missed almost all of last season after breaking his...
Pirates farm report for April 19, 2024: Nick Gonzales, Ji Hwan Bae spark Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 10-9) defeated St. Paul (Twins), 7-2. SS Nick Gonzales (.387) went 2 for 5 with an RBI double and a base hit. 3B Malcom Nunez (.317) was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single. CF Ji Hwan Bae (.476) was 1 for 3 with a...
Red Sox trample Pirates in Quinn Priester’s season debut
Before the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 8-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Friday night, manager Derek Shelton said sending Quinn Priester to Triple-A Indianapolis to start the season was a difficult decision. “Overall, it’s our belief that he is a good starting pitcher,” Shelton said. In his first start since...
Ke’Bryan Hayes returns to Pirates’ lineup while team keeps keen eye on his back tightness
Ke’Bryan Hayes returned to third base and the No. 3 spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates batting order Friday night after missing the previous two games against the New York Mets with tightness in his lower back. Manager Derek Shelton said he monitors Hayes’ back issue with daily conversastions. “The biggest...
Pirates’ Aroldis Chapman’s suspension reduced from 2 games to 1
After a meeting Friday morning among MLB officials and the Major League Players Association, Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman’s suspension was reduced from two games to one. He served the suspension Friday night when the Pirates played the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park. Chapman was ejected from the...
Pirates prospect Paul Skenes focused on preparing for major leagues, not timeline for call-upVideo
During an appearance Friday on ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Show,” Pittsburgh Pirates 2023 No. 1 draft choice Paul Skenes said he has no idea when he will be called up to the big leagues. “I’ll be honest,” he told McAfee. “You know just as well as I do when I’m going...
First Call: Steelers QB Russell Wilson to throw out Pirates’ 1st pitch; watch Paul Skenes sparkle again in IndyVideo
In Friday’s “First Call,” new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is getting back to his baseball roots. Paul Skenes makes another minor league start. A local pitcher is tearing up the American League in Oakland, and we preview this weekend’s Pirates-Red Sox series at PNC Park. Russ is with us...
Bethel Park’s Justin Meis aims to keep climbing Pirates farm system ladder
It’s been nearly three years since the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted pitcher Justin Meis in the 10th round (No. 283 overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft, but the euphoria has yet to wear off for the Bethel Park native, who played collegiately at Eastern Michigan. Adding to the still-surreal feeling of...
Pirates farm report for April 18, 2024: Paul Skenes dominant again for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 9-9) gave up four runs in the top of the ninth but held on for a 6-5 win over St. Paul (Twins). Paul Skenes (0.00) made his fourth Triple-A start and was dominant again, throwing 3⅓ scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. He allowed a double to 1B Yunior...
MLB suspends Pirates’ Aroldis Chapman 2 games for ‘inappropriate actions’ vs. Mets
Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Aroldis Chapman was suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount Thursday for his “inappropriate actions” against the New York Mets three days earlier. Michael Hill, MLB’s senior vice president for on-field operations, made the announcement and said Chapman’s suspension begins Friday when the Pirates host Boston....
Pirates recall pitcher Quinn Priester from Triple-A
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester on the major-league taxi squad Thursday. He is expected to be recalled to the 26-man active roster and start Friday’s series opener against the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park. Priester is 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA this season for Triple-A Indianapolis....
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: After strong start, Pirates spiral as strengths turn to weaknesses
A seven-game road trip that ended with being swept by the New York Mets turned the Pittsburgh Pirates upside down as their strengths became weaknesses, and they spiraled after a strong start. It’s bad enough the Pirates (11-8) have lost six of their past eight games, but the fashion of...
Pirates farm report for April 17, 2024: 5 Indianapolis pitchers blank St. Paul
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 8-9) won a 1-0 pitchers’ duel with St. Paul (Twins). C Carter Bins (.286) went 2 for 4 and hit a walk-off single to score CF Gilberto Celestino. 2B Nick Gonzales (.388) went 1 for 4 with a double and two strikeouts. LF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.300) went 1...
Led by 2-run homers by Starling Marte, Harrison Bader, Mets sweep Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are dealing with their share of problems, but none is more glaring than their sudden offensive ineffectiveness. The New York Mets held the Pirates to five hits — none over the final four innings — and got two-run homers by Starling Marte and Harrison Bader for a...
Out of alignment: Bothersome back issue sidelines Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes again
Even before Ke’Bryan Hayes was a late scratch from the starting lineup Tuesday at the New York Mets, the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman knew lower back tightness could become an issue this season. The 2023 NL Gold Glove winner told TribLive during the opening homestand that his back continues to...
Pirates farm report for April 16, 2024: Nick Gonzales racks up 4 more hits in Indy win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 7-9) outslugged St. Paul (Twins), 10-6. 2B Nick Gonzales (.397) went 4 for 5 with a double and a triple. DH Canaan Smith-Njigba (.286) went 3 for 3 with a walk, a double, two runs scored and two RBIs. CH Ji Hwan Bae (.500) went 2 for 4...
Jared Jones shows ruthless efficiency but bullpen blows lead as Mets beat Pirates
Jared Jones continues to shove with a ruthless efficiency, recording seven strikeouts without a walk while holding the New York Mets to one hit in five shutout innings. That the Pittsburgh Pirates practiced caution with his innings limit, pulling the rookie right-hander after 59 pitches, backfired when their bullpen blew...
Alika Williams embracing utility role for Pirates, proving his bat is better than expected
Alika Williams never had played anywhere but shortstop or second base before this season, when he started taking grounders at other infield positions and even shagging flies in the outfield. Williams knew his best chance of making the Pittsburgh Pirates out of spring training might be as a utility player,...
Aroldis Chapman ejected after giving up 3 runs in 8th inning as Mets rally past Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates endured another meltdown in the back end of their bullpen. This one belonged to Aroldis Chapman, who appeared angered that the strike zone was being squeezed. The seven-time All-Star reliever was ejected by home plate umpire Edwin Moscoso after surrendering a two-run double in a three-run eighth...
Paul Skenes not atop Pirates’ shortlist of candidates to plug hole in starting rotation
Pittsburgh Pirates starter Marco Gonzales was direct during spring training when discussing the club’s top overall prospect, fellow pitcher Paul Skenes, complimenting his abilities and predicting Skenes “probably (is) going to take one of our jobs eventually.” With Sunday bringing news of Gonzales heading to the injured list with a...
Pirates farm report for April 14, 2024: Hudson Head’s 3-run homer lifts Grasshoppers to win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 6-9) lost to Toledo (Tigers), 16-6. 3B Malcom Nunez (.271) blasted a solo homer and had two RBIs. PH Eli Wilson (.500) also hit a solo home run. DH Liover Peguero (.356) had an RBI double. CF Gilberto Celestino (.265) was 2 for 4 with an RBI and...
