Pirates/MLB category, Page 83
‘A turning of the tides’: Pirates teammates thrilled to see Mitch Keller’s long-term deal
BRADENTON, Fla. — As word buzzed around the spring training complex that the Pittsburgh Pirates had come to an agreement with staff ace Mitch Keller on a contract extension, only one thing was missing. That would be Mitch Keller. Before the 27-year-old All-Star right-hander could sign a five-year, $77 million...
Pirates lock up All-Star right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller to 5-year contract extension
BRADENTON, Fla. — Mitch Keller impressed the Pittsburgh Pirates as much with his character as he did with his rise to All-Star pitcher, making him appear a safe bet to bank on for the future. The Pirates locked up another franchise cornerstone Thursday morning, agreeing to a five-year contract extension...
Ryan Borucki’s new glove a purr-fect fit, much like lefty’s relief role for Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. — Ryan Borucki couldn’t stop smiling while getting ready for Photo Day, showing off his prized new glove to teammates inside the Pirate City clubhouse. The Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed reliever had a creative idea for a Rawlings REV1X custom glove, so he asked Rawlings representative Stevie Cohen if...
Street in front of Pirate City named in honor of Pirates great Roberto Clemente
BRADENTON, Fla. – A section of the street in front of Pirate City, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ spring training complex, was renamed “Roberto Clemente Memorial Way” on Wednesday in honor of the late Pirates great and Hall of Fame right fielder. For Roberto Clemente Jr., the symbolism is as important as...
TV Q&A: Who will SportsNet Pittsburgh have as Pirates announcers?
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review. Q: Who will the Pirates announcers be this season on SportsNet Pittsburgh? — Chris, via email Rob: This week, SportsNet Pittsburgh announced its Pirates broadcast team...
Pirates prospect Termarr Johnson believes camp injury taught him to overcome adversity
BRADENTON, Fla. — Termarr Johnson is the youngest player at Pittsburgh Pirates spring training for the second consecutive year, and the 19-year-old second baseman is hoping to get a full experience this time. The inaugural big league camp for the No. 4 overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft was...
SportsNet Pittsburgh adds 3 former players, new sideline reporter to Pirates broadcasts
BRADENTON, Fla. — SportsNet Pittsburgh announced its Pirates broadcast team, which includes new faces in the stands and the studio. Greg Brown and Joe Block return on play by play, with Bob Walk, John Wehner, Kevin Young, Matt Capps and Neil Walker serving as color analysts. Latrobe native Hannah Mears...
Mitch Keller hopes conversation with Pirates owner leads to talks of long-term extension
BRADENTON, Fla. — Mitch Keller unveiled a new pitch in spring training, but the Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace right-hander was most excited about being on the receiving end of one. As Keller watched a bullpen session Monday afternoon at Pirate City, chairman Bob Nutting and team president Travis Williams gave him...
Pirates bring back outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba
After a brief stint with the Seattle Mariners, Canaan Smith-Njigba is back with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates claimed the 24-year-old outfielder on waivers Monday. Smith-Njigba was the Pirates’ Opening Day starter in right field last season but hit. 125 in 15 major league games and spent most of the...
Ready to return: A healthy Oneil Cruz confident he can make a positive impact on the Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. — Oneil Cruz booted grounders. He couldn’t get a ball out of his glove to make a throw. He missed pickoff throws from the catcher at second base. He even got frozen by a Luis Ortiz changeup for a called third strike during a live batting practice. The...
Against all odds: Jason Delay embraces underdog role in Pirates’ competition at catcher
BRADENTON, Fla. — Jason Delay knows the odds are stacked against him to make the Pittsburgh Pirates as one of two catchers on the Opening Day roster. One spot is reserved for Yasmani Grandal, a 12-year veteran and two-time All-Star who last week signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with...
Back in the swing of things: Andrew McCutchen arrives at spring training, minus the fanfare
BRADENTON, Fla. — Andrew McCutchen was the last Pittsburgh Pirates player to report to spring training, an arrival befitting a 15-year veteran who is a five-time All-Star and former National League MVP. McCutchen took batting practice in the cages with hitting coach Andy Haines on Saturday afternoon at Pirate City....
Pirates sign veteran RHP Chase Anderson to minor league contract for rotation depth
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates continued to address their starting pitching Saturday by signing a former division foe in right-hander Chase Anderson to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training, a source confirmed to TribLive. Anderson, 36, has a 59-56 record, 4.35 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in...
Shock value: Pirates’ rapid response saved Ernie Withers, inspired him to pay it forward
BRADENTON, Fla. — Ernie Withers stood in left-center field at Pirate City, where he almost died during a spring training workout a year ago, and reflected on how the Pittsburgh Pirates saved his life. And, by doing so, saved his wife. When Withers went into sudden cardiac arrest at the...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: How can the Pirates still have uncertainty with Henry Davis?
The Pittsburgh Pirates took catcher Henry Davis with the first pick of the 2021 MLB Draft. When you select a player 1/1, he should make big-league impact fairly quickly. You should have a clear plan in place for his progress. With Davis, the Pirates didn’t. If they did, it was...
Pirates seeking stability, leadership from veteran lefty Martin Perez in starting rotation
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates were desperate for starting pitching when they signed Martin Perez, but they were seeking more than a start every fifth day from the veteran left-hander. For Derek Shelton, the goal was simple: stability. The Pirates manager was the bench coach for the Minnesota Twins...
Holy cowhide! Paul Skenes’ throw breaks web in Quinn Priester’s glove while playing catchVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — That Paul Skenes throws heavy is hardly a secret, as the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander regularly touches triple digits on the radar gun. But the 2023 No. 1 overall pick did something this week at Pirate City that you don’t often see in a friendly game of catch...
Despite signing Aroldis Chapman, Pirates say David Bednar has ‘cemented’ role as closer
BRADENTON, Fla. — David Bednar admits he was “surprised but pumped” when the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Aroldis Chapman, a seven-time All-Star who ranks third among active closers with 321 saves, to a one-year, $10.5 million contract in late January. That meant the 6-foot-4, 235-pound left-handed Chapman was going to be...
GM Ben Cherington expects Pirates to be better, continues to search for improvements
TAMPA — The Pittsburgh Pirates entered the offseason with a laundry list of upgrades needed to improve on a 76-win, fourth-place finish in the NL Central, one that got even longer when a starting pitcher and catcher were lost to season-ending elbow surgeries. With a dire need for starting pitching,...
Catching up: Yasmani Grandal embraces opportunity to mentor Pirates catchers
BRADENTON, Fla. — Yasmani Grandal knew the score when he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who had a gaping hole at catcher and a former No. 1 overall pick eager for his shot. The 35-year-old backstop, a two-time All-Star in 12 seasons, wasn’t worried about the money. He has more...
Charged Battery: No. 1 overall picks Henry Davis, Paul Skenes in spring training spotlight
BRADENTON, Fla. — Henry Davis and Paul Skenes wanted to treat the first official workout of spring training for Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers and catchers as just another day, considering they spent much of the offseason training together here at Pirate City. As No. 1 overall draft picks who are batterymates,...
Pirates sign C Yasmani Grandal, LHP Josh Fleming, place pair on 60-day injured list
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates signed veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal and left-handed pitcher Josh Fleming on Wednesday, the first official day for pitchers and catchers to report to spring training at Pirate City. Pirates manager Derek Shelton indicated that the 35-year-old Grandal, who signed a one-year $2.5 million contract...
With 7 Opening Day starters returning, Pirates start spring training with a sense of stability
BRADENTON, Fla. — For as much as the Pittsburgh Pirates coaching staff values versatility, the players crave a sense of stability. That’s something they finally might have in their lineup this season. As pitchers and catchers reported Wednesday morning to Pirate City for the start of spring training, the Pirates...
Mark Madden: Pirates, Steelers would be smart to sign Trevor Bauer, Matt Araiza
The Pittsburgh Pirates should sign pitcher Trevor Bauer. The Steelers should sign punter Matt Araiza. Wrongs would be righted. Both teams would be helped. We rush to crucify when malicious deeds are said to have occurred. But we drag our feet when it comes to vindicating the falsely accused. Bauer...
2024 Pirates spring training guide: Position breakdowns, analysis, A-Z
The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to open their spring training schedule in Bradenton, Fla. TribLive sports writer Kevin Gorman will be covering the team throughout the spring and season. Analysis • Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates enter spring training with raised expectations, storylines After starting the season with the best...
