It turns out the Ryan Vogelsong start that will occur Wednesday night is not the only change to be announced in the past 24 hours. A.J. Schugel, a right-handed pitcher, has been called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Indianapolis Indians, the team's Triple-A affiliate. To allow for Schugel to get called up, Michael Morse was designated for assignment. Schugel does have major league experience as he was called up on April 12, 2015 with the Arizona Diamondbacks when Gerald Laird went ... Read More
Reports: Pirates release John Holdzkom
The Pirates released pitcher John Holdzkom Monday, according to reports. John Holdzkom cleared waivers, but the #Pirates were unable to outright him to Triple-A because he wasn’t “healthy”. Thus, the release. — Tim Williams (@timwilliamsP2) April 11, 2016 Holdzkom, an asset for the 2014 Pirates toward the end of the season, was designated for assignment April 3, when it was clear that the right-handed pitcher was not a part of the Pirates Opening Day roster plans. It was widely ... Read More
Pirates pregame 7/1: Martinez blasts Bucs; a look back at June
It was another extra inning game last night for the Pittsburgh Pirates and this one lasted 5.5 hours. In the end the Pirates defeated the Detroit Tigers 5-4 in 14 innings. Neil Walker's RBI double ended up being the game-winning hit as it brought Josh Harrison home from second base. In tonight's game A.J. Burnett will face Alfredo Simon. Burnett is making his 16th start of the season and his 6-3 earned a no-decision in his last start after allowing two runs [one earned] in six innings ... Read More
Pirates pregame 5/11: LaFromboise joins team; Kang’s leg kick
The Pittsburgh Pirates return to the road for a three game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. This is the first time the Pirates face a National League East team this season. Tonight’s starters The Pirates will send Gerrit Cole [4-1 2.27 ERA] to the mound against Jerome Williams [2-2 5.18 ERA]. Cole is 1-1 with a 2.61 ERA in two career starts against the Phillies. Cole is coming off his first loss in nine outings after allowing three runs on eight hits as part of his five innings of ... Read More
Pirate pitchers continue to battle for limited spots in victory
Jung-ho Kang played the hero in the Pittsburgh Pirates third consecutive Spring Training victory Saturday. Kang came into the game hitting .129, but left with a .171 average after a 2-for-4 day with three RBI. Kang broke what was a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning with an RBI single then won the game in the ninth inning with a two-run home run, his second homer of the spring. Kang's seventh inning RBI came against former Pirate closer Jason Grilli. Stolmy Pimentel made the start for the ... Read More
Morton has rough outing in Pirates loss
Charlie Morton had a start to forget in Sunday's 14-2 Spring Training loss to the Houston Astros. Morton allowed seven runs on nine hits in his 4.1 innings pitched and as a result lost his first game of the spring. The Pirates are now 7-8-3 in Spring Training. The highlight of the game for the Pirates was Jordy Mercer's second home run of the spring. The blast came in the sixth inning and was hit off Dan Straily. Mercer is 7 for his last 11 at the plate and is hitting .294 this ... Read More
Marte, Pirates end Spring Training losing streak
The Pittsburgh Pirates ended what was a three0game Spring Training losing streak with a 5-2 road victory against the Boston Red Sox Saturday. Clayton Richard [1-0] picked up the win throwing two shutout innings and striking out three batters. The victory is his first since June 16, 2013. The game started with Gerrit Cole throwing 3.2 innings. His twos miscues were Mike Napoli's first and second home runs. Napoli's first was a solo shot that came in the second inning, and the second also ... Read More
The remarkable journey of John Holdzkom
John Holdzkom has been through it all as a baseball player. What has happened for him over the past month has been something that could rival something out of a movie. Holdzkom was drafted in 2006 by the Mets and didn't make it past the Single-A level in three years while walking 84 batters in 51 appearances. He missed the 2009 season and only made 11 appearances in 2010. After another year off in 2011, he was signed by the Reds and made six appearances in High-A before being released after ... Read More
Can John Holdzkom impact bullpen for stretch run?
John Holdzkom is quickly becoming a household name in the city of Pittsburgh. Though he has only been with the Pirates for less than two weeks, and has a grand total of three appearances over that span, the well-traveled reliever is certainly getting a lot of attention. With an imposing 6'7 frame, and a fastball clocking in the upper 90s, Holdzkom stands out on the mound. Over his first three appearances, he's used that overpowering fastball to record six strikeouts and get his first major ... Read More