Pirates/MLB category, Page 148
Things got squirrely for Pirates, Cubs at PNC Park
There are no trees inside PNC Park, but a squirrel wormed his way onto the playing field Monday night, briefly interrupting play before the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Michael Chavis stepped to the plate in the second inning. While many in the crowd of 11,312 cheered and laughed, head groundskeeper Matt Brown...
First Call: Devin Bush in make-or-break season; Pirates rookie makes history; Gerrit Cole flirts with no-hitter
Tuesday’s “First Call” features a warning shot to Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush. One of the Pirates new rookies was part of history in Monday night’s win. And ex-Pirate Gerrit Cole nearly spun a no hitter in Tampa Bay. Time to shine On Monday, CBS Sports listed Steelers linebacker Devin...
Pirates’ Oneil Cruz shows off cannon arm, clocks fastest throw in MLB this season
When a baseball leaves rookie shortstop Oneil Cruz’s hand at an outrageous speed — something that happened Monday night at PNC Park — first baseman Michael Chavis tries not to worry. He can withstand a little pain in his hand. If the throw breaks the webbing in Chavis’ glove, oh,...
Oneil Cruz, Bligh Madris make dazzling debuts as Pirates crush Cubs
Oneil Cruz promised there were plenty of hard hits traveling long distances to come for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he didn’t disappoint in his long-awaited season debut. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound shortstop put on a dazzling display of speed, arm strength and power at the plate that showed why he was...
Pirates’ Bligh Madris far from an afterthought making MLB debut
Miguel Perez had some news Sunday he wanted to share with his Indianapolis players. So, everyone gathered around the Indians manager after the 5-3 road victory against the Gwinnett (Ga.) Stripers. The news: Shortstop Oneil Cruz, the No. 3 prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system, had been called up...
After playing waiting game, Pirates No. 1 prospect Oneil Cruz arrives with plans to stay
Oneil Cruz not only got a taste of playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates last October but gave a glimpse of greatness: After setting a club Statcast-era record with a 118.2-mph exit velocity in his debut, he dropped to one knee to hit an ankle-high pitch for a home run the...
Pirates put Zach Thompson on IL, send Liover Peguero to Double-A; Oneil Cruz, Bligh Madris prepare to start tonight
The Pittsburgh Pirates opened up roster space for Oneil Cruz and Bligh Madris to make their 2022 major-league debuts Monday night by placing starting pitcher Zach Thompson on the 15-day injured list with right forearm nerve inflammation and optioning shortstop Liover Peguero back to Double-A Altoona. Cruz and Madris were...
Pirates farm report for June 19, 2022: Homers by Rodolfo Castro, Travis Swaggerty lift Indy to victory
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 32-32) beat Gwinnett (Braves), 5-3. SS Rodolfo Castro (.213) smacked a three-run home run, and CF Travis Swaggerty (.276) hit a two-run shot to fuel the Indy victory. DH Carter Bins (.216) was 2 for 4. LF Oneil Cruz (.232) was 0 for 1 as a pinch-hitter before...
‘Now’s the time that he’s going to help us’: Pirates call up top prospect in SS Oneil Cruz
The Pittsburgh Pirates are making the much-anticipated promotion their fans have been awaiting by calling up Oneil Cruz, the 6-foot-7, 220-pound shortstop who is their No. 1 prospect. Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed after Sunday’s 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants that Cruz and outfielder Bligh Madris will be...
‘Just unbelievable’: Pirates rookie Jack Suwinski hits 3 homers in walk-off win over Giants
Jack Suwinski already was amid his first multi-home run game of his career when Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton asked the 23-year-old rookie outfielder a question while he waited in the hole in the eighth inning. “Did you ever have three homers in a game?” Shelton said. “He said, ‘No.’...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington: ‘There’s a chance’ Oneil Cruz could be promoted this homestand
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington didn’t rule out the possibility that shortstop Oneil Cruz, the club’s top prospect, could be promoted to the majors during the final four games of this homestand. “There’s a chance, sure,” Cherington said Sunday on his radio show on 93.7 The Fan. “We’ll have...
Pirates farm report for June 18, 2022: Greensboro pitchers throw pair of shutouts
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 31-32) lost to Gwinnett (Braves), 5-3. SS Oneil Cruz (.233) went 1 for 3 with a pair of RBIs. LF Ji-hwan Bae (.305) went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. CF Travis Swgaggerty (.276) went 1 for 4 and drove in a run. RHP...
Pirates come up short against Giants in SS Liover Peguero’s major-league debut
All eyes were on Liover Peguero as fans clapped in unison for the 21-year-old shortstop who made the jump from Double-A Altoona to starting at shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates in his major-league debut. Peguero faced a full count with two outs and runners on first and second in the...
Pirates lefty reliever Cam Vieaux delivers Father’s Day present in MLB debut
After spending seven years in the minor leagues, Cam Vieaux was finally pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park when Evan Longoria came to bat with two outs and runners on first and second base. The 28-year-old left-handed reliever was full of nerves but concentrated on keeping the same...
Surprise at shortstop: With Tucupita Marcano on covid-IL, Pirates promote Liover Peguero
With Pittsburgh Pirates fans awaiting the arrival of top prospect Oneil Cruz, another shortstop prospect was the subject of a surprise roster move before Friday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants. No one was more surprised than Liover Peguero. “I still can’t believe this,” Peguero said Friday night after...
Pirates farm report for June 17, 2022: Aaron Shackelford homers twice for Curve
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 31-31) held off Gwinnett (Braves), giving up two runs in the ninth but winning 5-4. DH Bligh Madris (.309) went 3 for 5 with a double and two RBIs. CF Jared Oliva (.226) was 2 for 4 with three runs scored. C Carter Bins (.200) went 2 for...
Homers by Luis Gonzalez, Joc Pederson boost Giants past Pirates
Zach Thompson was one the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most effective starting pitchers last month, but the right-hander was off target from the start against the San Francisco Giants. Two pitches he missed in particular proved to be the difference. Luis Gonzalez and Joc Pederson hit solo home runs, and Giants left-hander...
Pirates All-Star CF rediscovers swing to get ‘back to the Bryan Reynolds we know and love’
After struggling to find his swing for the first two months of the season, Bryan Reynolds finally is starting to feel like himself. That’s a simply stated but powerful development for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Especially if it means Reynolds is returning to All-Star form. Over the eight-game road trip to...
Surprise at shortstop: With Tucupita Marcano on covid-IL, Pirates promote Liover Peguero
With Pittsburgh Pirates fans awaiting the arrival of top prospect Oneil Cruz, another shortstop prospect was the subject of a surprise roster move before Friday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants. No one was more surprised than Liover Peguero. “I still can’t believe this,” Peguero said Friday night after...
Pirates place OF Canaan Smith-Njigba on 60-day IL, call up LHP Cam Vieaux
Only three games into his major-league career, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba is headed for the 60-day injured list with a nondisplaced fracture of the schaphoid bone in his right wrist. The Pirates selected the contract of 28-year-old lefty reliever Cam Vieaux from Triple-A Indianapolis, where he was 3-0 with...
Pirates farm report for June 16, 2022: Oneil Cruz singles, doubles in Indy loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 30-31) was humbled by Gwinnett (Braves), 10-5. RHP Osvaldo Bido (1-4, 5.28) started and surrendered six runs, five earned, on seven hits, including two home runs. SS Oneil Cruz (.236) went 2 for 5 with a double. RF Travis Swaggerty (.283) was 2 for 5 with a triple...
Analysis: Pirates could send important message by finally promoting top prospect Oneil Cruz
With every loss, the chorus of calls for Oneil Cruz to be called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates has grown louder, and the patience to prioritize the development of the 6-foot-7 shortstop has worn thinner. The Pirates lost nine consecutive games on a road trip to Atlanta and St. Louis...
Tim Benz: Bryan Reynolds, David Bednar stopped the Pirates’ bleeding; now others need to contribute in homestand
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ losing streak finally ended after nine games thanks to a 6-4 victory in St. Louis on Wednesday night. More specifically, it ended because of outfielder Bryan Reynolds. His tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning was the difference. Bryan Reynolds in June ???? pic.twitter.com/Z6vhXOfcZg— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates)...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans in QB mode already; Penguins fans antsy about offseason moves; Pirates fans despondent
The Stanley Cup Final isn’t even over yet, but Pittsburgh Penguins fans are all worked up about what’s coming in the offseason. As they should be. Steelers fans are firing off opinions about the quarterback depth chart. As they should be. And Pirates fans are fed up. As they should...
Pirates farm report for June 15, 2022: Matt Gorski homers in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 30-30) was edged out by Gwinnett (Braves), 5-4. CF Jared Oliva (.228) went 1 for 4 with a two-run homer, his fifth. LF Travis Swaggerty (.279) went 1 for 4 with a pair of RBIs. RF Bligh Madris (.301) was 2 for 4 with a double. 2B Ji-hwan...
