Pirates/MLB category, Page 55
Tim Benz: Paul Skenes had ‘one of those days’ … as did many other Pirates in a costly loss to Arizona
Paul Skenes’ latest outing was his least impressive since his Major League debut against the Chicago Cubs on May 11. That day, the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation yielded three earned runs in four innings while allowing six hits, a hit batter and two walks. On Sunday against Arizona, Skenes struggled...
Pirates newcomer Jalen Beeks sees blueprint for success after pitching in 3 straight gamesVideo
When the Pittsburgh Pirates returned home to open a key series against the Arizona Diamondbacks this past weekend, lefty reliever Jalen Beeks already had debuted for his new club after being acquired from Colorado a day before the trade deadline. As for his potential role with the Pirates, Beeks was...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 4, 2024: Newly acquired Billy Cook knocks in 3 runs for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 49-55) fell 10-8 to Toledo (Tigers). LF Billy Cook (.288), who the Pirates recently acquired in a trade with the Orioles, was 3 for 5 with three RBIs, including a two-run homer and a double. RF Edward Olivares (.245) was 3 for 5. 1B Seth Beer (.313) doubled...
Pirates bullpen blows 4-run lead, as Diamondbacks rally to win 3-game series
The Pittsburgh Pirates want to be a playoff contender, and they got a taste of what it’s like to be in a wild-card race Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After blowing a four-run lead by giving up a three-run homer to Joc Pederson and a solo shot to Ketel Marte,...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 3, 2024: Billy Cook, Nick Yorke each double twice in Indy loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 49-54) lost 8-7 to Toledo (Tigers) in 10 innings. RF Billy Cook (.282) went 2 for 4 with two doubles, two runs scored and a stolen base. LF Nick Yorke (.313) went 2 for 4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI. C Henry Davis (.314)...
Homers by Joey Bart, Bryan Reynolds propel Pirates past Diamondbacks to tie series
Derek Shelton’s anxiety was running high during a rain delay Saturday night, as the Pittsburgh Pirates manager sat in his office and watched the downpour and the clock as it ticked past the one-hour mark. Shelton realized that the longer the delay lasted, the less chance he would be able...
Isiah Kiner-Falefa took winding road from rehab assignment to being activated by Pirates
Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s return from a rehabilitation assignment to the major leagues was a winding road, one that involved a trade and required multiple crossings of the Canadian border. Kiner-Falefa was traveling back and forth from Toronto to Triple-A Buffalo while recovering from a left knee sprain, then took a flight...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: For Pirates to succeed, Oneil Cruz has to help more than he hurts
Oneil Cruz giveth and he taketh away. The Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop did the latter this past Wednesday when he made three errors, including two on the same play. Cruz’s miscues led directly to three unearned runs and a 5-4 loss at Houston. Cruz did the former Friday when he went...
‘Built like a big leaguer,’ Pirates 1st-rounder Konnor Griffin looks the part in batting practice
When Konnor Griffin walked into the home clubhouse with a duffle bag and found his nameplate above a temporary locker, it was evident he was about to get the royal treatment from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Two days after signing for an above-slot $6.3 million bonus, the No. 9 overall pick...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 2, 2024: Isiah Kiner-Falefa collects 2 hits in 1st game of Altoona rehab stint
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 49-53) fell 5-4 to Toledo (Tigers). C Henry Davis (.318) went 1 for 4 with a two-run homer, his 11th. LF Billy McKinney (.272) went 1 for 3 with his third home run. 3B Jose Rojas (.248) went 1 for 3 with his 20th homer. RHP Mike Burrows...
Multiple rallies not enough for Pirates, who drop series opener to Arizona
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton could probably find quite a bit to be pleased with in his club’s series opener Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Pirates scored six runs with two outs, Oneil Cruz battled back from another costly fielding error to record his first career five-hit game...
Pirates hope to determine next steps of Jared Jones’ rehab; lefty Ryan Borucki suffers setback
The Pittsburgh Pirates hope to have some clarity on the next steps of rookie pitcher Jared Jones’ rehabilitation by the end of the weekend. Jones, who has been sidelined since July 4 with a right lat strain, is scheduled to throw a live batting practice Saturday. “I wish I could...
Pirates’ Isiah Kiner-Falefa rehabbing with Altoona Curve following trade
Newly acquired infielder/outfielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa will make his debut in the Pirates organization this weekend, although it won’t be in Pittsburgh, as the big-league club hosts the Arizona Diamondbacks for three games at PNC Park. Instead, the 29-year-old super-utilityman, who plays shortstop, second and third base as well as the...
Tim Benz: Yes, Oneil Cruz’s errors are a problem. Want a bigger one? Move him to a new position in August
Oneil Cruz’s horror show in Houston this week has resulted in a wave of Pirates fans and some in the media calling for him to be moved away from the shortstop position. Is it time to have a discussion on making Oneil Cruz a 1st baseman due to the crazy...
Pirates to send Luis Ortiz, Mitch Keller, Paul Skenes to mound in key series vs. Arizona
Luis Ortiz has put together a solid campaignfor the Pittsburgh Pirates. The way he’s shifted between the bullpen and starting rotation, performing whatever duties the club has asked of him, has been commendable. But Ortiz was not at his best the last time he took the mound during a 4-3...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 1, 2024: Bethel Park’s Justin Meis throws 3 scoreless innings, earns win for Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 49-52) handled Toledo (Tigers), 7-3. 2B Nick Yorke (.309) went 1 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs. SS Liover Peguero (.256) went 2 for 2 with a double. 3B Malcom Nunez (.267) went 2 for 3 with two RBIs. RF Jack Suwinski (.265)...
Decision to reclassify for 2024 Draft paid dividends for Pirates’ 1st-round pick Konnor Griffin
From his vantage point at PNC Park Friday, soaking in the moment after being signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Konnor Griffin could say with certainty that one decision made a few years ago paid off, literally. Griffin, the Pirates’ first-round (No. 9 overall) pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, received...
U mad, bro?: I’m too hard on Mike Tomlin, too soft on Ben Cherington, too excited about Pirates
After a week off from “U mad, bro,” my emails and social media messages were overflowing. Here is what I learned after sifting through them. I’m too hard on Mike Tomlin. I’m not hard enough on Ben Cherington, but I’m too optimistic about the Pirates. I’m too nice to Kenny...
Jake Woodford, Bryan De La Cruz, Jalen Beeks make Pirates debuts, with varying resultsVideo
Before Wednesday night, Jake Woodford’s last taste of MLB action came with the Chicago White Sox in early June. After getting shellacked in back-to-back starts, he was jettisoned, electing free agency after being designated for assignment. Less than 48 hours ago, Bryan De La Cruz and reliever Jalen Beeks were...
Pirates farm report for July 31, 2024: Nick Yorke knocks in run in Indy debut
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 47-52) took down Toledo (Tigers), 7-5, for its eighth straight win. 2B Nick Yorke (.311), who was acquired from the Red Sox via a trade on Monday, was 1 for 3 with an RBI while batting cleanup in his debut. SS Liover Peguero (.251), LF Edward Olivares (.237)...
Errors sink Pirates in narrow loss to Houston, spoiling sweep opportunity
After two innings Wednesday night in Houston, the Pittsburgh Pirates led by four and were in prime position to sweep the Astros at Minute Maid Park for their fourth straight win. But three errors charged to Oneil Cruz allowed three runs to score and sank them in a 5-4 loss....
Pirates sign 2 more 2024 draft picks: LHP Jacob Bimbi, OF Andrew Patrick
Two more members of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2024 draft class were signed Wednesday: left-handed pitcher Jacob Bimbi and center fielder Andrew Patrick. Bimbi, chosen in the 11th round out of Western Kentucky, went 4-2 over 15 outings (14 starts), leading the Hilltoppers with 71 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings last...
Pirates activate newly acquired OF Bryan De La Cruz, place OF Joshua Palacios on IL
Bryan De La Cruz was arguably the crown jewel of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2024 trade deadline haul. A day after acquiring the 27-year-old outfielder from the Miami Marlins, he joined the Pirates in Houston ahead of their Wednesday night series finale against the Astros. De La Cruz, wearing No. 41,...
Mark Madden: Ben Cherington improved Pirates, but can Derek Shelton and players finish job?
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ flurry of positive activity at the 11th hour of Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline makes for an unexpected flurry of positive analysis. I figured them to do nothing by way of avoiding increased payroll. But the Pirates accomplished that, too. Unloading pitcher Martin Perez — to fellow National...
Pirates sign 1st-round pick Konnor Griffin, who says he’s ‘ready to take the challenges’
Before the Pittsburgh Pirates made the No. 9 overall pick in the MLB Draft, general manager Ben Cherington listened to everyone from the team’s analysts to coaches to scouts and strength and conditioning trainers speak with excitement about Konnor Griffin. When the Pirates signed Griffin on Wednesday to a $6,532,025...
