Kevin Gorman stories, Page 24
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates trying to figure out the fallout of another late-season collapse
With the Pittsburgh Pirates in wild-card contention, general manager Ben Cherington became a buyer for the first time at the trade deadline and dealt for three players to make a push for the playoffs. The acquisitions of left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks, outfielder Bryan De La Cruz and infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa...
‘We’re not winning enough’: GM Ben Cherington isn’t satisfied with Pirates’ progress
That the Pittsburgh Pirates followed back-to-back 100-loss seasons with successive 76-win seasons might be viewed as progress, but general manager Ben Cherington isn’t about celebrate. Not when the Pirates have posted six consecutive losing seasons. Not when they have missed the playoffs nine years in a row. And not after...
Bryan De La Cruz projected for biggest raise among Pirates’ 9 arbitration-eligible players
One of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most disappointing players is in line for the biggest raise among their nine arbitration-eligible players, based on annual projections by MLBTradeRumors.com for the 2025 season. Right fielder Bryan De La Cruz, who batted .200 with six doubles, three home runs and 17 RBIs in 44...
Pirates shake up staff by firing hitting coach Andy Haines, bullpen coach Justin Meccage
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington gave a vote of confidence to Derek Shelton last month, saying he would return in 2025 for his sixth season as manager. Shelton’s coaching staff, however, is undergoing changes. Sources confirmed to TribLive that the Pirates dismissed hitting coach Andy Haines and bullpen coach...
Analysis: After ‘frustrating’ year, Pirates need Ke’Bryan Hayes to put back issues behind him
Ke’Bryan Hayes repeated the words “definitely frustrating” over and over, reinforcing that he wasn’t pleased with anything related to his health or performance when discussing the 2024 season. After winning the NL Gold Glove at third base and being voted team MVP, the 27-year-old was entering his prime and expected...
Pirates pitching phenom Paul Skenes wins Baseball America’s rookie of the year honors
Paul Skenes earned the first of what could be many awards Monday when Baseball America named the Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher its rookie of the year. The 22-year-old Skenes becomes only the second Pirates player to win Baseball America’s rookie of the year honors, joining outfielder Andrew McCutchen (2009). The...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Unsatisfying season has Pirates looking for ways to get better faster
Even before the Pittsburgh Pirates played their finale Sunday, Ben Cherington was asked to point out the highlights and lowlights of a season that fell far short of expectations. Given that they already had clinched their sixth consecutive losing season, the Pirates general manager was reluctant to put too positive...
‘I didn’t deserve it’: Pirates infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa passes on chance for performance bonus
After enduring backlash for releasing Rowdy Tellez earlier this week when he was four plate appearances from qualifying for a $200,000 performance bonus, the Pittsburgh Pirates found themselves in another payroll predicament before Sunday’s season finale at the New York Yankees. This time, it was the player who opted out...
Yankees rally for 2 runs in bottom of 8th inning to beat Pirates in season finale
That Oneil Cruz went down swinging for a strikeout for the final out in the ninth inning was a fitting end to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season. It proved to be a big whiff. Alex Verdugo hit a two-run single with the bases loaded to break a tie in the bottom...
Pirates RHP Mike Burrows returns from Tommy John surgery to beat Yankees for 1st MLB win
As Mike Burrows made his way from the bullpen to the mound, he couldn’t help but think of the long road it took for him to make his major league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 24-year-old right-handed pitcher, who grew up about two hours from The Bronx in Waterford,...
Paul Skenes shines in final start of rookie season, Pirates hit 5 homers to beat Yankees
Paul Skenes made Jazz Chisholm jump back off the plate with an inside fastball that was just a tick shy of triple digits for a called third strike to end the second inning, then walked off the mound wearing a wide smile. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander had a perfect ending...
Pirates promote RHP Mike Burrows, who is expected to make MLB debut against Yankees
The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled pitcher Mike Burrows, promoting the 24-year-old right-hander 18 months after he underwent Tommy John surgery. Burrows is expected to make his major league debut on Saturday at the New York Yankees, pitching piggyback with rookie Paul Skenes. Burrows is the Pirates’ No. 16 prospect, per MLB...
After season of struggles, Pirates catcher Henry Davis learning to be patient with the process
With two bone bruises causing inflammation in his left hand and a broken middle finger on his right hand, Henry Davis has trouble getting a grip on a bat let alone how his season with the Pittsburgh Pirates went awry. It isn’t lost on the No. 1 overall pick of...
Mitch Keller finishes off 2nd-half slide with a loss, as Brewers beat Pirates for series win
Mitch Keller won 10 games before the All-Star break but couldn’t quite put his finger on what has gone wrong since, as the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander completed another second-half slide. In his final start of the season, Keller saw positive signs with an uptick in his fastball velocity and six...
Liover Peguero double lifts Pirates past Brewers, as Luis Ortiz allows 1 run in 7 innings
Luis Ortiz made his last start of the season one of his best, perfectly punctuating a season that began in the bullpen and ended with him becoming one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most improved pitchers. Using a cutter that developed at midseason — much like the 25-year-old right-hander himself —...
‘Perfectly put together’: Pirates phenom Paul Skenes reflects on restrictions of rookie season
As Paul Skenes reflected on a rookie season that has been historically dominant, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher knows one thing he would change if he could. “Yeah, I wish it weren’t ending yet,” Skenes said Wednesday. “Just wish we could keep it rolling a little bit longer.” Before making...
Inspired by Rowdy Tellez, Pirates 3B Jared Triolo enjoys September offensive resurgence
Jared Triolo was missing his locker mate in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse but was quick to credit Rowdy Tellez for leaving a lasting impression on how to handle offensive struggles. By going 3 for 4 with an RBI in the 7-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night, Triolo...
Brewers use 3-run 2nd inning to roll past Pirates in opening game of final homestand
The first game of the final homestand of the season for the Pittsburgh Pirates went sideways in the second inning. Bailey Falter gave up three runs on three hits to the Milwaukee Brewers, who added another three-run inning in the seventh to cruise past the Pirates, 7-2, on Tuesday night...
Bryan Reynolds voted Pirates’ MVP, Paul Skenes top pitcher by Pittsburgh chapter of BBWAA
Bryan Reynolds joined three Pittsburgh Pirates greats when he was voted winner of the Roberto Clemente Award as team MVP for the third time by members of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Reynolds, who also won the honors in 2021 and ’22, joins Andrew McCutchen,...
‘No factor at all’: Pirates GM defends decision to DFA Rowdy Tellez on cusp of incentive bonus
The Pittsburgh Pirates defended their decision to designate first baseman Rowdy Tellez and center fielder Michael A. Taylor for assignment Tuesday, even though it prevented Tellez from qualifying for a performance incentive. Tellez signed a one-year, $3.2 million contract as a free agent in December that included another $800,000 in...
PiratesFest returns to convention center in January
David L. Lawrence Convention Center will host 2025 PiratesFest, the all-day festival for Pittsburgh Pirates fans on Jan. 18. The event will feature autograph and Q&A sessions with Pirates players, as well as appearances by Pirates alumni, coaches, broadcasters and mascots, interactive games and merchandise. The event is from 10...
Pirates rookie 2B Nick Yorke ready to check another box on list of major league firsts
Nick Yorke had checked off multiple boxes in his first week in the major leagues, from getting his first hit, RBI and run scored to starting at several positions in the infield and outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates. When Cincinnati Reds right-hander Fernando Cruz threw a 95.6-mph fastball on the...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates phenom Paul Skenes throws a changeup into rookie storyline
Paul Skenes has been one of the biggest stories in baseball this season, yet the Pittsburgh Pirates phenomenal rookie right-hander continues to outdo himself on a regular basis. When there were comparisons hyping the anticipation of the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft’s major league debut to...
Paul Skenes makes case for NL Rookie of the Year as Pirates shut out Reds to prevent sweep
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton stumped for phenom Paul Skenes to win NL Rookie of the Year honors before Sunday’s game at Cincinnati, noting the historic nature of the 2023 MLB Draft No. 1 overall pick’s season. Skenes then stated his case by delivering another dominant outing. The 6-foot-6 right-hander...
Jared Jones struggles in matchup of rookie right-handers as Reds roll past Pirates
Jared Jones being outdueled by a fellow rookie right-hander was the least of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ concerns. They were more worried that the flamethrower had a noticeable drop in velocity on his fastball. Pirates manager Derek Shelton and assistant trainer Tony Leo made a mound visit to check on Jones...
