Kevin Gorman stories, Page 58
Pirates claim righty reliever Eli Villalobos off waivers, transfer SS Oneil Cruz to 60-day IL
The Pittsburgh Pirates added bullpen depth Tuesday when they claimed right-handed reliever Eli Villalobos off waivers from the Miami Marlins. Villalobos was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. To make room on the 40-man roster, shortstop Oneil Cruz (fractured left ankle) was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL....
After 1st start with Pirates, utility player Mark Mathias hopes to make impact with his bat
Even though Mark Mathias didn’t make the final cut of spring training, he’s been following the Pittsburgh Pirates through their box scores while trying to avoid being distracted by their transactions. Until, of course, he was one of them. Mathias was preparing for a day off with Triple-A Indianapolis when...
Ji Hwan Bae hits 3-run home run in bottom of 9th to lift Pirates to walk-off win over AstrosVideo
A pair of Pittsburgh Pirates sluggers went from scuffling to swinging a sword after hitting home runs that cleared the right-field stands. Jack Suwinski snapped out of a funk with a two-run homer in the second inning, and Ji-Man Choi went deep for the second consecutive game with a solo...
Astros take advantage of Roansy Contreras’ control issues to pound Pirates
A day after losing Oneil Cruz to an injury expected to keep the shortstop out four months, the Pittsburgh Pirates knew their resolve would be tested by a visit from the World Series champions. The Houston Astros took advantage of Cruz’s absence and Roansy Contreras’ control issues to beat the...
Pirates OF Bryan Reynolds honored as MLB player of the week after hot start to the season
Bryan Reynolds wanted to get off to a good start this season, but the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder didn’t imagine it would be the best opening week of anybody in baseball. Reynolds was named MLB player of the week Monday after leading the National League with 12 hits, 28 total bases,...
After surgery on fractured left ankle, Pirates SS Oneil Cruz expected to miss 4 months
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz underwent surgery late Sunday night to repair his fractured left ankle and is expected to miss four months. Drs. Greg Altman and Darren Frank performed the operation at Allegheny General Hospital to stabilize the fractured fibula and addressed the injury to the syndesmosis, according to...
With Pirates SS Oneil Cruz out, Rodolfo Castro ‘ready for whatever position they need me to play’
Rodolfo Castro’s heart dropped when Oneil Cruz fractured his left ankle in an awkward slide and home-plate collision Sunday, feeling a sense of sorrow and frustration for his friend and fellow Dominican. “It hurts a lot because he’s like my brother, and it hurts the team, too,” Castro said through...
Oneil Cruz’s broken ankle overshadows Pirates’ series-clinching win over White Sox
The Pittsburgh Pirates got a big win from starting pitcher Johan Oviedo but suffered an even bigger loss when manager Derek Shelton revealed shortstop Oneil Cruz fractured his left ankle during a home plate collision. The sight of Cruz writhing in pain on the dirt as benches cleared in the...
Armed with a sinking slider, reliever Dauri Moreta brings electric energy to Pirates’ bullpen
As much as the Pittsburgh Pirates have embraced the swagger and electric energy that Dauri Moreta has brought to their bullpen, they are marveling at one of the right-handed reliever’s pitches. While playing catch with Moreta, Duane Underwood Jr. couldn’t help but notice that Moreta’s slider moves two ways, first...
Pirates dealt a ‘big blow’ as shortstop Oneil Cruz fractures ankle in home plate collision
After an awkward slide and collision with Chicago White Sox catcher Seby Zavala, Oneil Cruz was in obvious pain, and his left leg bent at an odd angle underneath him. Cruz slid backward to inch away from home plate before turning onto his right side. As benches cleared in the...
Vince Velasquez exits early, Andrew McCutchen homers late as White Sox snap Pirates’ win streak
Vince Velasquez got goosebumps in anticipation of making his first start for the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, and the right-hander had extra motivation in facing his former Chicago White Sox teammates. What Velasquez didn’t have was control. Velasquez was pulled in the third inning after allowing five runs on...
Pirates triumphant in Andrew McCutchen’s return behind Bryan Reynolds’ 6 RBIs
The black-clad crowd chanted M-V-P during the introduction of Andrew McCutchen in his return for the Pittsburgh Pirates, bringing back that Buctober feeling to PNC Park. The trade that sent McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants five years ago came full circle when fans later serenaded the player the Pirates...
‘A great memory’: Rich Hill to start Pirates home opener 6 years after near no-hitterVideo
When Rich Hill takes the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home opener Friday against the Chicago White Sox, it will bring back memories of a night where he flirted with perfection and took a no-hitter into the 10th inning at PNC Park. That game is a good memory for the...
‘This is where I needed to be’: Andrew McCutchen revels in PNC Park return as a Pirate
Andrew McCutchen leaned back into his chair and imagined hearing “No. 22” and his name announced while wearing black and gold again before his first at-bat with the Pittsburgh Pirates back at PNC Park. McCutchen allowed his mind to wander with anticipation about the emotions and energy the ovations will...
Behind Carlos Santana’s homer, Mitch Keller’s strong start, Pirates beat Red Sox for sweep
Carlos Santana was making solid contact, so the Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman believed he was close to making an offensive impact. Santana, who hit .105 (2 for 19) in his first five games, went 2 for 4 with his first home run as a Pirate and an RBI double to...
Pirates will have highest slot value ever with No. 1 overall draft pick, 3rd-highest bonus pool
The Pittsburgh Pirates will have the highest slot value ever for the No. 1 overall pick and the third-highest bonus pool to use for the 2023 MLB Draft, per a report by MLB.com. After winning the inaugural draft lottery, the Pirates learned Tuesday that the slot value for the first...
Pirates rookie Ji Hwan Bae has Monster game with 1st career homer, spectacular catch
Ji Hwan Bae had a Monster night, one that left everyone in Boston green with envy. The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie was the talk of Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox, thanks to a pair of amazing plays he made to bookend the 4-1 win. Bae hit his first career home...
Ji Hwan Bae hits 1st career homer, Bryan Reynolds adds 2 RBIs as Pirates top Red Sox
Ji Hwan Bae picked a towering target and a historic ballpark to hit the first home run of his career, and Bryan Reynolds made some personal history of his own by going deep for the third consecutive game. Bae blasted an improbable two-run home run over the famed Green Monster...
Pirates place catcher Austin Hedges on 7-day concussion IL, add Tyler Heineman as backup
After using eight players at the position last season, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ catching carousel has started early. The Pirates placed Austin Hedges on the seven-day concussion injured list Tuesday and selected the contract of Tyler Heineman, who will join Jason Delay as the backstops while Hedges is out. To make...
‘You can be (ticked) off’: Henry Davis, Pirates prospects motivated by assignment to Altoona
ALTOONA — Henry Davis was blunt as could be about his minor-league assignment, starting this season with the Altoona Curve again after finishing last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Double-A affiliate. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, the 23-year-old catcher doesn’t dance around any notions that...
Henry Davis, Liover Peguero to start at Altoona as Pirates announce minor league rosters
ALTOONA — The Pittsburgh Pirates announced their minor league assignments Monday, revealing that MLB Pipeline top 10 prospects Henry Davis and Liover Peguero will return to Double-A Altoona to start the season. Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, slashed .207/.324/.379 but played in only 31 games after being...
Reds homer twice off Pirates starter Vince Velasquez to win opening weekend series
The Pittsburgh Pirates like the pitch repertoire right-hander Vince Velasquez offers but believe he needs to stay in the strike zone to be effective as a starting pitcher. Just not up in the zone. Velasquez surrendered a pair of solo home runs in his Pirates debut as the Cincinnati Reds...
Pirates move starter JT Brubaker to 60-day IL, claim righty reliever Edwin Uceta off waivers
The Pittsburgh Pirates don’t know the severity of JT Brubaker’s arm injury except that it’s serious enough to keep him out of the starting rotation for the next two months. The 29-year-old right-hander, who left spring training with right elbow/forearm discomfort, was moved from the 15-day injured list to the...
Analysis: Pirates would be better to pay Bryan Reynolds’ asking price than include an opt-out
Asked if he could envision signing a player to a $100 million contract in the near future, Pirates chairman Bob Nutting told the Tribune-Review that it was “definitely inside the realm of possibility.” Nutting knew that it would be met with skepticism by a fan base that views him as...
Last to make Pirates roster, reliever Rob Zastryzny’s 1st Opening Day worth the wait
CINCINNATI — Rob Zastryzny wanted to absorb the atmosphere of his first Opening Day but was trying to keep his emotions in check after days of uncertainty if he even would make the Pittsburgh Pirates. A non-roster invitee to spring training, the 31-year-old left-hander’s status was the ultimate cliffhanger. Zastryzny...
