Pirates/MLB category, Page 118
Pirates catcher Austin Hedges returns from concussion injured list
The Pittsburgh Pirates activated catcher Austin Hedges from the concussion injured list Friday and immediately inserted him into the starting lineup — batting ninth— against the St. Louis Cardinals. To make room for Hedges on the active roster, catcher Tyler Heineman was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Hedges was 0 for...
Pirates farm report for April 13, 2023: Jase Bowen homers in Greensboro win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 5-7) lost 3-2 to St. Paul (Twins). RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (0-1, 4.76) gave up a run in the eighth to take the loss. LHP Cam Alldred (2.16) started and went four innings, surrendering two runs on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts. RF Miguel Andujar (.182)...
Pirates’ Vince Velasquez, 3 relievers blank Cardinals, Ji Hwan Bae shines in center field
The Pittsburgh Pirates launched a seven-game road trip through St. Louis and Denver with a 5-0 victory Thursday night against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. It was only one good game in a current seven-day stretch in which the team has alternated victories and defeats (4-3), but it was pleasing...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: With JT Brubaker out, Pirates starting to sweat starting pitching depth
When Ben Cherington dabbed a black towel on the beads of perspiration on his forehead while talking to reporters Wednesday morning near the home dugout at PNC Park, it appeared the Pittsburgh Pirates general manager was battling the sunshine on his face. Then again, he could have been sweating about...
Pirates farm report for April 12, 2023: Mason Martin homers twice in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 5-6) struggled to get the bats going in a 5-1 loss to St. Paul (Twins). C Grant Koch (.200) was 1 for 3 and drove in the only Indians run with an RBI single. SS Tucupita Marcano (.405) was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. RF Travis Swaggerty...
Pirates starter JT Brubaker has Tommy John surgery on right elbow, to miss 14-16 months
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced right-handed pitcher JT Brubaker underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will be out 14-16 months. The Pirates revealed news of Brubaker’s surgery, which was performed by Arlington, Texas-based orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, after their 7-0...
Tim Benz: Pirates riding the ups and downs during the early stages of life without Oneil CruzVideo
Not one to show much emotion, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington couldn’t help hide a wry smile and a chuckle at the turn of phrase during a reporter’s question. The suggestion essentially was that once doctors performed surgery on Oneil Cruz’s broken ankle, it was “the best case scenario” diagnosis....
Astros shut out Pirates behind Alex Bregman’s 3-run homer to win series
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Dauri Moreta had lived up to his “Big Bank” nickname by not allowing an earned run and giving up only one hit with eight strikeouts through his first five appearances. When Moreta gave up a single and a walk in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros,...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington: Door remains open on Bryan Reynolds contract extension talks
Ben Cherington had “nothing to report” in negotiations with outfielder Bryan Reynolds, but the Pittsburgh Pirates general manager hasn’t closed the door on contract extension talks. Reynolds had set Opening Day on March 30 at Cincinnati as a deadline to get a deal done, and the sides reportedly had agreed...
Watch: Korean announcers lose it over Pirates’ Ji Hwan Bae’s walkoff HRVideo
When Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Ji Hwan Bae belted his walk-off home run Tuesday night against the Houston Astros, he and his teammates were obviously excited. As was the crowd at PNC Park — announced as 9,996 — and the fans watching at home on TV. And then there were the...
Whether it’s swinging a bat or a sword, Pirates DH Ji-Man Choi happy to make MLB history
After Ji Hwan Bae hit a three-run home run for a 7-4 walk-off win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night at PNC Park, Ji-Man Choi approached his countryman in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse and asked to pose for a photo. They stood shoulder to shoulder in front of Bae’s...
Pirates farm report for April 11, 2023: Jacob Gonzalez, Matt Fraizer lead Altoona to 1st win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 5-5) had its five-game winning streak snapped by St. Paul (Twins), 10-6, in 12 innings. LF Tucupita Marcano (.455) was 1 for 5 with a walk and two strikeouts. RF Cal Mitchell (.200) was 3 for 5 with three RBIs. CF Travis Swaggerty (.275) was 1 for 5...
Pirates SS Oneil Cruz discharged from hospital; RHP JT Brubaker seeks 2nd opinion on elbow
Two days after undergoing surgery to repair his fractured left ankle, Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz was discharged from Allegheny General Hospital wearing a cast and will have to go months without bearing any weight on his left leg. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound shortstop is expected to go two months without...
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...
First Call: Antonio Brown’s long overdue admission about playing career; White Sox reaction to Oneil Cruz collision, injuryVideo
It’s a little late, but maybe former Pittsburgh Steeler Antonio Brown has learned an important life lesson. The Chicago White Sox have some varying reactions to the Oneil Cruz injury and collision at home plate with their catcher, Seby Zavala. A familiar Steelers rival won’t be back with the Cleveland...
Madden Monday: Oneil Cruz’s injury is ‘further proof that they should allow the runner to run over the catcher’
Oneil Cruz’s fractured ankle is a gut punch for the Pittsburgh Pirates on many levels. Not the least of which is that the injury dampens the early momentum within the fan base and the belief that the team was on a fast ascent after nine games. Now, though, the 6-3...
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...
Pirates farm report for April 9, 2023: Tucupita Marcano knocks in 3 runs in Indy victory
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 5-4) beat Louisville (Reds), 8-1, for its fifth straight victory. LF Tucupita Marcano (.500) was 2 for 4 with three RBIs. 2B Nick Gonzales (.207) also knocked in two runs. CF Travis Swaggerty (.286) was 2 for 5 with an RBI, including a double and triple. C Endy...
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...
