First Call: Local pitching product, multiple ex-Pirates make MLB All-Star Game; Martavis Bryant still wants the NFL

Monday’s “First Call” has All-Star game nods for a few former Pirates and a Western Pa. product out in Oakland.

Also, one ex-Steeler is hoping to make a comeback from injury, and another is trying to make a comeback into the league.

Former Pirates parade

While Paul Skenes and Bryan Reynolds were selected to represent the Pittsburgh Pirates at the 2024 All-Star Game in Texas (July 16), a number of ex-Pirates made the roster as well.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow will join Reynolds and Skenes on the National League team. He’s 8-5 with a 3.47 ERA, 11 quality starts (fifth most in the NL) and a National League-leading 143 strikeouts. This is his first All-Star game.

Tyler Glasnow, Disgusting 90mph Slider. pic.twitter.com/ED3HfsLKF6

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 6, 2024

L.A. Angels southpaw Tyler Anderson and New York Yankees reliever Clay Holmes are making their second appearances in the game on the American League side. Anderson has a 2.81 ERA, sixth best in the AL, over 112 innings pitched. That’s the fourth-highest total in the league.

Tyler Anderson made his longest scoreless start of the season, throwing 8 shutout innings. #RepTheHalo x @NationalPro pic.twitter.com/qsihq7c2Po

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) July 6, 2024

As for Holmes, he has 19 saves. That’s the third most in the American League.

Mason’s moment

Another person with Pittsburgh ties who made the All-Star game is Bethel Park’s Mason Miller.

The Waynesburg University alum has 14 saves in 16 opportunities for the Oakland A’s. He also has 66 strikeouts in 37 ⅔ innings pitched. That’s 15.8 strikeouts per nine innings to go along with a 2.39 ERA.

The A’s posted this video of him learning that he made the roster Sunday afternoon.

Mason Miller’s All-Star Moment pic.twitter.com/KKDqbHBmzS

— Oakland A's (@Athletics) July 7, 2024

This is Miller’s first All-Star selection.

Related:

• Madden Monday: Starting Pirates' Paul Skenes would give the All-Star Game 'a bit more meaning this year'
• Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas gave the same speech to his young players that he did to the fans. Now Penguins must make it happen

Kendrick comeback

Kendrick Green is trying to make a comeback from injury with the Houston Texans.

The former Steeler was playing well in Houston after washing out with the Steelers in 2022. Following a trade to Houston in August of last year, Green made three starts for the improving Texans before tearing a meniscus. He was placed on injured reserve Oct. 4 following a win against the Steelers.

Over the weekend, the offensive lineman told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston that he is well down the road of recovery.

“I feel great. I’m ready to get after it. I’m excited. I’m in the best shape of my life. I’m ready to go,” Green said.

#Texans offensive lineman Kendrick Green @The_fridge53 pitched in to support teammate Steven Sims Jr. @StevenSimsJr youth football camp. Green has made a full recovery from knee injury and is looking forward to training camp @KPRC2 https://t.co/4io5RR8KhX pic.twitter.com/fjbVcHutKK

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) July 6, 2024

Green was working at a camp run by another former Steeler turned Texan, Steven Sims. He enters training camp as one of nine players on Houston’s roster capable of playing guard and one of four listed as center-guard capable.

Yet another shot

At least one more team may be giving Martavis Bryant a shot.

The former Steelers wide receiver is hoping to wind up in the Carolina Panthers camp. That’s via an interview he conducted with Charlotte Sports Live on the Queen City News YouTube channel

Bryant’s contractual rights were released by the Dallas Cowboys after the draft this spring. But during a golf event recently, the Clemson product caught up with Panthers offensive assistant Jim Caldwell.

“It was an introduction through one of my great friends,” Bryant explained. “I got a chance to talk to coach Caldwell and just to catch up a little bit. I was familiar with him, he was familiar with me, so it was a great conversation to get to catch up to him and talk to him.”

Bryant said he hopes that leads to a camp invite with the Panthers — and if not there, somewhere else.

“Rosters are set right now,” Bryant continued. “I’m never gonna say it’s never too late. So there’s some things that gotta be worked out, and hopefully coming into a training camp.”

It’s been since 2018 that we have seen Bryant in an NFL uniform. Bryant spent his first three seasons in Pittsburgh, totaling 126 receptions for 1,917 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Steelers traded Bryant to Oakland prior to the 2018 season, but he played in just eight games before getting suspended.

Since he was kicked out of the league, Bryant has been all over the map. He was in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Elks. He played this spring with the Vegas Vipers of the XFL. The Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League gave him a shot in 2021. He even played with the FCF Beasts of the Fan Controlled Football League.