Kevin Gorman stories, Page 16
Pirates reliever Peter Strzelecki embraces underdog role, chance to compete in bullpen
Before Peter Strzelecki met his Pittsburgh Pirates teammates, one All-Star closer contacted another on his behalf. Devin Williams put in a good word for the right-handed reliever with David Bednar, helping to ease the transition to another new team. For a pitcher who has bounced from Milwaukee to Arizona to...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Jared Jones could have ripple effect on Pirates’ final roster decisions
Ben Cherington has been resolute in repeatedly saying the Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t have a formula to follow to prevent rookie right-handers Jared Jones and Paul Skenes from injury last season, other than to carefully monitor their pitch and innings counts and days of rest. The Pirates general manager drew praise...
Pirates reliever Colin Holderman aims to reclaim role as setup man, as Pirates lose to Rays
Colin Holderman claims he had the best offseason of his baseball career, one where he prioritized his diet and strength training to gain weight back while adding new pitches to his repertoire. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed reliever had no shortage of motivation, given his poor performance at the most critical...
Pirates right-hander Jared Jones experiencing elbow soreness, will miss final start of spring
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton announced Wednesday morning that right-hander Jared Jones is experiencing right elbow soreness after his most recent bullpen session. “He’s not going to make his next start in spring training, that’s for sure,” Shelton told reporters in Bradenton, Fla. “I think, with that being said, we’re...
Lefty Caleb Ferguson wanted a chance to start for the Pirates but has thrived out of bullpen
Caleb Ferguson signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on a promise that he would get a chance to be a starting pitcher but with the understanding that he was willing to perform in any role. Most of the 28-year-old left-hander’s major league experience has come out...
David Bednar’s clean inning a confidence boost for Pirates, who top Phillies on walk-off homer
Thomas Harrington was nervous before his first spring training start, even though the right-hander ranked the Pittsburgh Pirates’ No. 3 prospect was thrilled to still be in big-league camp. David Bednar was more relieved after his performance as the two-time All-Star battling to keep his closer job relied on his...
SportsNet Pittsburgh to broadcast 20 games of Pirates’ Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve announced that SportsNet Pittsburgh, the television and streaming partner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, will broadcast 20 home games of the Double-A affiliate this season. The first Curve game to air on SportsNet Pittsburgh will be against the Somerset Patriots, a New York Yankees affiliate, on April 16...
After ‘whirlwind’ season ended in World Series, lefty Tim Mayza hopes to help Pirates’ bullpen
As Tim Mayza reflects on last season, he shakes his head in amazement about how he went from the worst season of his major-league career to winding up pitching in the World Series. After being drafted by Toronto and spending seven seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays, the...
Paul Skenes strikes out a spring-best 7 as Pirates combine for 16 Ks in win over Twins
In his first start since being named Opening Day starter, Paul Skenes dabbled in dominance by touching triple digits twice in the first inning and recording seven strikeouts. It was the most strikeouts by a Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher this spring, and Skenes’ swing-and-miss action set the tone as Pirates pitchers...
For Pirates prospect Thomas Harrington, fastball command key to making the majors
The Pittsburgh Pirates have reassigned most of their top pitching prospects to minor-league camp, eliminating Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft, Hunter Barco and Mike Burrows from the Opening Day roster. That Thomas Harrington not only remains in big-league camp but is scheduled to start a Grapefruit League game Tuesday against the...
Pirates taking chance that sidewinder Justin Lawrence can become a bullpen success story
Justin Lawrence has an unorthodox delivery, unique metrics on his primary pitches and the back of a baseball card that even he admits isn’t pretty. What the right-handed reliever does have is a pair of perfect innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates since they claimed him off waivers from the Colorado...
After battling injuries, Joshua Palacios singles, scores in return as Pirates top Yankees
A season of battling injuries tested the perpetually positive personality of Joshua Palacios, so the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder took it as a lesson that put things into perspective. And caused him to develop an alter ego. After meeting with Pirates mental performance coordinator Andy Bass, Palacios worked with Todd Herman...
Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes returns for 1st game in 10 days, as Pirates pound Orioles
Ke’Bryan Hayes was happy to see his name in the leadoff spot on the lineup card for his first spring training game in 10 days. The Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman knew exactly what to expect after a long layoff. “I always joke that when you lead off, you know you’re...
After historic rookie year, Paul Skenes named Pirates’ Opening Day starter against Marlins
A year after Paul Skenes shined in the Spring Breakout prospect game, the 22-year-old right-handed pitcher who became baseball’s biggest story last season will make his first Opening Day start for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pirates manager Derek Shelton informed Skenes he would be on the mound to start the season...
Pirates top prospect Bubba Chandler dazzles with 4 Ks in Spring Breakout loss to Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Bubba Chandler came out throwing heat against the Philadelphia Phillies, firing four-seam fastballs on five straight pitches for the first of four strikeouts in a pair of perfect innings. It was the second consecutive year that a flamethrowing right-hander delivered a dominant start in the Spring...
‘Here to stay’: Like his signature ‘stache, Nick Gonzales is making plans to stick with Pirates
Nick Gonzales showed up to spring training with a handlebar mustache and an announcement: “It’s here to stay.” There’s a method to his mustache: When Gonzales grew it for “Mustache May,” it coincided with his promotion to Pittsburgh after starting the season at Triple-A Indianapolis. Gonzales stayed with the Pirates...
Jared Jones minimizes damage but Pirates bullpen blows up in loss to Twins
Jared Jones had kept the Minnesota Twins off the scoreboard for four innings, before the Pittsburgh Pirates pulled the right-hander after he allowed back-to-back singles to start the fifth. Then the bullpen blew up. Jack Carey surrendered four runs on five hits and one walk in a five-run fifth. David...
Working with mental strength coach paying off for Pirates middle infielder Alika Williams
After making the Opening Day roster only to endure a season best described as difficult, Alika Williams wanted to address the doubts that drifted through his mind. Williams noted that baseball players are typically active for only about 18 minutes of a three-hour game, and he was drowning in his...
Buried in Baltimore, Billy Cook embracing 1st base in his 1st spring training with Pirates
Billy Cook couldn’t help but smile in recognizing the rarity that he made his major-league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates before attending his first big-league camp at spring training. “It is kind of crazy,” Cook said. “I don’t know how uncommon it is, but I would think more people would...
Pirates make 2nd round of spring training cuts
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their second round of cuts in spring training, reducing their roster at big league camp to 50 players. The Pirates optioned right-handed pitchers Braxton Ashcraft, Mike Burrows and Chase Shugart, middle infielders Liover Peguero and Tsung-Che Cheng and infielder/outfielder Enmanuel Valdez to Triple-A Indianapolis. They reassigned...
Paul Skenes strikes out 5 as Pirates hit pair of homers, 5 doubles to pound Yankees
Paul Skenes didn’t get another showdown with Aaron Judge, but the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander got something almost as rare and just as valuable as the two-time AL MVP slugger: run support. Skenes benefited from a big lead after the Pirates hit two home runs and five doubles in a 9-1...
For Pirates lefty reliever Ryan Borucki, a season spent mostly sidelined changed perspective
On his darkest days, Ryan Borucki watched the Pittsburgh Pirates turn to their bullpen in situations where he once thrived. It was a reminder of how fast an injury can change fortunes, not to mention perspective. The wiry 6-foot-4 left-handed reliever was sidelined for the better part of five months...
Hot mic: Jared Triolo triples, makes spectacular stop on broadcast as Pirates lose to Orioles
Jared Triolo was wearing a microphone while playing third base for the Pittsburgh Pirates but thought he was done discussing his defense with SportsNet Pittsburgh broadcasters Greg Brown and Kevin Young. The crack of the bat changed everything in an instant. When Daz Cameron drilled a sharp grounder down the...
Willing to play wherever for the Pirates, Nick Yorke wants ‘to prove Ben Cherington right’
Now that Nick Yorke made his major-league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates, it makes sense that the 22-year-old doesn’t want to talk about being ranked among their top 10 prospects anymore. Prospect rankings never meant much to Yorke, who was listed at No. 96 by Baseball America and No. 139...
Tommy Pham hits 1st home run with Pirates but exits loss to Tigers with left hip tightness
The Pittsburgh Pirates got a taste of what Tommy Pham can offer when the 12th-year veteran left fielder threw out a runner and hit his first home run of spring training Sunday against the Detroit Tigers. But they also dealt with the downside of having a 37-year-old penciled into the...
