Pirates/MLB category, Page 182
Pirates rookie infielder Rodolfo Castro tries not to brag after hitting 1st career home runVideo
Before he answered reporters’ questions late Friday night, Rodolfo Castro wanted to make himself clear. “I hope this comes off the right way,” he said through interpreter Mike Gonzalez. Then, trying not to sound boastful, the 22-year-old Dominican infielder said what was on his mind after his first major-league hit...
Pirates keeping everyone guessing at No. 1, but a high school shortstop looks to be likely pick
Ben Cherington described a scene that sounded like constructive chaos in the Pittsburgh Pirates offices at PNC Park, an organized battle between the baseball operations and scouting departments to decide who they will select Sunday with the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft. When it comes to 1-1...
Pirates farm report for July 9, 2021: Mason Martin hits 16th homer for Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 28-29) was thumped by Columbus (Indians), 9-4. SS Dee Strange-Gordon, in his second game with Indy, went 1 for 5 with a two-run home run. RF Fabricio Macias went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and his first stolen base. 1B Hunter Owen went 2 for 4....
Mets score 10 runs in 6th inning to rout Pirates
When the two lowest-scoring teams in baseball got together Friday night, the first five innings were predictable. The sixth inning was not, except for one unfortunate factoid: Pittsburgh Pirates starter J.T. Brubaker continues to surrender home runs. The Mets, who ranked next-to-last in the majors with only 303 runs before...
Pirates notebook: Derek Shelton names Max Kranick to start 2nd game of Saturday doubleheader
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Friday night that Max Kranick will pitch the second game of the doubleheader Saturday against the New York Mets. He will be the 27th man (allowed by MLB rule for a doubleheader), and the Pirates won’t need to delete another player from the active...
Who will the Pirates pick? A look at potential prospects for the No. 1 choice in the MLB Draft
A look at the prospects who could be the No. 1 pick for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday night in the MLB Draft: Harold sees shades of Hall of Famer @RealCJ10 in #1 @MLBDraft prospect Marcelo Mayer! pic.twitter.com/FrkfDb0dSu— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 5, 2021 Marcelo Mayer Position: Shortstop Height, weight:...
Marcelo Mayer’s coach compares Pirates’ potential top draft pick to another former No. 1 from the same high school
As Sunday’s Major League Baseball draft approaches, all signs continue to indicate that the Pittsburgh Pirates will choose Eastlake High School (Chula Vista, Cali.) shortstop Marcelo Mayer with the No.1 overall pick. For some people (yours truly included) who believe that drafting Vanderbilt pitcher Jack Leiter is a better route...
For Pirates, owning the No. 1 pick in MLB Draft has been a boom-or-bust proposition
Picking first overall in the MLB Draft can be a boom-or-bust proposition, one the Pittsburgh Pirates know all too well as they prepare to make the top selection in Sunday’s first round. The four times the Pirates have owned the No. 1 pick, they have chosen college prospects — one...
Former Pirates outfielder Jose Tabata leaves West Virginia for Mexican League
Former Pirates outfielder Jose Tabata has earned a promotion, but not to the major leagues. The 32-year-old Tabata, who has been playing with the West Virginia Power of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, was signed by the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League. Tabata, best known for being...
Pirates farm report for July 8, 2021: Dee Strange-Gordon goes 0 for 4 in Indy debut
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 28-28) throttled Columbus (Indians) 10-3 after being shut out the previous two games. 2B T.J. Rivera went 2 for 5 with his fourth home run and three RBIs. C Joe Hudson went 1 for 3 with a two-run shot, his third, and three RBIs. 1B Will Craig, LF...
With Pirates in need of starter for Saturday doubleheader, Max Kranick joins team in NYC
The Pittsburgh Pirates need a starter and Max Kranick is in New York City with the team. Could those two facts come together and equal a second-major league start for Kranick? The Pirates are determined to maintain their six-man rotation through their current stretch of 20 games in 20 days....
Pirates game against Mets in New York postponed by rain; doubleheader Saturday
The Pittsburgh Pirates had played 16 games in 16 days before rain postponed the start of their four-game series Thursday night against the New York Mets at Citi field. The game will be made up Saturday as a part of a single-admission doubleheader, starting at 4:10 p.m. The Pirates were...
Pirates can use Astros as model for building winner, not drafting No. 1 overall pick
If the Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to go from finishing in last place to winning the World Series in a short span, they need look no further than the Houston Astros for a blueprint on how to build a worst-to-first team. But not necessarily how to draft one. After losing...
Steve Blass’ 4-hit game in 1969 helped send Cubs into epic tailspin
In the three games since he was acquired Monday from the St. Louis Cardinals, first baseman John Nogowski has given Pittsburgh Pirates fans a reason to turn on their TV sets during the dog days of a dreary season. He’s hitting .583, with seven hits (all singles) in 12 at-bats....
Impeccable on defense, Pirates SS Kevin Newman working to be aggressive at plate
If Kevin Newman didn’t make it clear the first time that he doesn’t want to talk about his errorless streak, the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop repeats himself to remind that it’s off limits. So we don’t dare discuss that he hasn’t committed an error at short through his first 73 games...
With fans back, ballpark workers enjoy chance to return
A suite attendant at the Miami Marlins’ home ballpark, Lisa Eckstein had a chance to reconnect with a familiar face when she returned to work this season. “I have a guest I’ve taken care of for 18 years,” she said. “Their initial reaction was to come and hug me because...
Tim Benz: Sports Illustrated reporter sees 2 teams out front in the Adam Frazier trade sweepstakes
Wednesday’s 14-3 Pirates loss to the Atlanta Braves featured another multi-hit day for All-Star second baseman Adam Frazier. Pirates fans better enjoy those moments while they can because there likely won’t be too many games between the All-Star Game next week and the July 30 trade deadline before the team...
U mad, bro?: Pirates fans sound off about big picture, fret about future
The Pirates have won three of their last four, but that doesn’t seem to matter in this week’s “U mad, bro?” inbox. Buccos fans are fretting about the future, bummed about the big picture and “on tilt” about ownership. Get back to me when they’ve won 10 in a row...
Pirates farm report for July 7, 2021: Michael Burrows fans 10 in Greensboro win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 27-28) was shut out for the second straight game, losing 2-0 to Columbus (Indians) in a game shortened to eight innings by rain. RHP James Marvel started and allowed two runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings. He fell to 3-2. RHP Nick Mears threw 1.2 innings of...
Braves hammer 18 hits as Pirates lose out on 1st series sweep of the season
When he was on third base with a two-run lead and no outs in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves, John Nogowski never imagined he would find himself on the mound in the ninth. “No, but baseball is a pretty crazy game,” Nogowski said. “It keeps you on your...
For Pirates GM Ben Cherington, owning top pick in MLB Draft ‘doesn’t feel like a burden’
The Pittsburgh Pirates own the No. 1 overall selection in the MLB Draft for the fifth time in franchise history, and Ben Cherington sees it as a chance to change their trajectory for the foreseeable future. But the Pirates general manager also is aware of their previous top picks. The...
Pirates sign veteran infielder Dee Strange-Gordon to minor-league deal, ESPN reports
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Dee Strange-Gordon to a minor-league contract, and the 10-year veteran infielder will report to Triple-A Indianapolis, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Wednesday afternoon. Strange-Gordon, 33, is a two-time All-Star who can play second base or shortstop. He won the NL batting title, Silver Slugger and a Gold...
Pirates placed RF Gregory Polanco on IL when he ‘couldn’t run effectively’
The Pittsburgh Pirates shut down Gregory Polanco when the right fielder felt discomfort running at maximum speed but remain optimistic that he will return shortly after the All-Star break. Polanco was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a bilateral adductor strain, which Pirates director of sports medicine Todd...
First Call: A Steeler who might get cut; a player the Steelers should sign; unique WPIAL showdown at PNC Park
A running back the Steelers might cut. An offensive lineman the Steelers might sign. And high praise for Najee Harris, Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Plus, a WPIAL alumni showdown at PNC Park. All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.” Bye-bye, Benny? ESPN.com found one NFL veteran from each...
Pirates farm report for July 6, 2021: Mitch Keller throws 5 scoreless for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 27-27) managed just three hits and lost 1-0 to Columbus (Indians). RHP Mitch Keller made a strong start, giving up two hits and no runs in five innings, striking out four and walking none. Keller has a 1.84 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 14.2 innings since being sent...
