With Chad Kuhl, Jameson Taillon, Steven Brault, Tyler Glasnow and Adam Frazier getting the call to the big leagues recently, the Pirates have seemingly embraced the youth movement, similarly to their hometown partners, the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. With so many prospects up, it was only a matter of time until Josh Bell joined them at the big league level. A source told Pittsburgh Sporting News that first baseman/outfielder Bell is on his way to meet the Pirates in ... Read More
Which prospects could help the Pirates out this year?
Chad Kuhl's first career at-bat Sunday probably won't be memorable. He struck out, as pitchers often do at the plate. But it wasn't a typical strikeout. The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie fouled off five pitches and took another two for balls before he failed to connect with the eighth pitch he saw. In doing so, Kuhl drove Los Angeles Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw's pitch count up to 37 on the night and 21 in the second inning. Kuhl then helped set the stage for fellow rookie Adam ... Read More
Huntington: Glasnow, Bell will remain in Triple-A for time being
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington met with reporters Sunday. Here's what he had to say. On prized prospect Josh Bell: “Defensively, he continues to be a work in progress and is getting better, but there is still work to do. With Josh, we are talking about an outfielder moving into the infield, and that takes more time. It's more game situation and awareness and where he needs to be and what he needs to do. Offensively, the power is beginning to show. He'll learn how to work ... Read More
Has Josh Bell’s debut been pushed back by Jaso, Rogers?
Going into 2016, the first base position was one of great uncertainty for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Less than a month into the season, that uncertainty has given way to a new unknown: Has the team's production at first changed the timeline of prized prospect Josh Bell? Bell has been not-so-quietly faring well against International League pitching for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, culminating in Bell, yesterday, being named IL Hitter Of The Week. On the season, Bell is slashing ... Read More
Alen Hanson, Josh Bell among 10 Pirates cuts
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a second round of cuts on Friday, which saw many of its top prospects among position players reassigned. The team cut 10 total players, which brings its current camp roster down to 45. Among those cuts included: first baseman Josh Bell, second baseman Alen Hanson, shortstop Gift Ngoepe, outfielder Willy Garcia, infielder Max Moroff and right-handers Nick Kingham and John Holdzkom. All were optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis. Infielders Adam Frazier, Dan ... Read More
Pirates lose second straight to Phillies
Offense has not been hard to come by of late for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the team managed four hits in a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Josh Bell hit 1-for-2 at the plate in Tuesday's game and has safely reached base in the past five games. Harold Ramirez made the most of his lone plate appearance earning a single. Ramirez has seven hits in his last 10 at-bats Niese struggles It certainly was an outing to forget for Jonathon Niese and not because he lost to go 0-2 on the ... Read More
Can Josh Bell be Pirates answer at first base?
The Pittsburgh Pirates have an abundance of questions at this point in the offseason. One of the biggest questions surrounding the organization revolves around the starting first base position at the major league level. With the departure of Pedro Alvarez, veteran Mike Morse and newly-acquired players Jake Goebbert and Jason Rogers are currently three candidates that could replace "El Toro" in 2016. However, one top prospect, and a possible answer at first base, has yet to arrive in the Steel ... Read More
Josh Bell hits walk-off winner; Indians tie IL final
Faced with their second elimination game in a row, the Indianapolis Indians turned to Chad Kuhl to keep their season alive in Game 4 of the best-of-five Governor's Cup Championship at Victory Field on Friday night. Kuhl delivered for the first seven innings while he was on the mound and first baseman Josh Bell delivered the walk-off single to force a winner-take-all Game 5 against the Columbus Clippers Saturday night. Kuhl, a ninth-round pick of the Pirates in 2013, started 26 games for the ... Read More
It’s playoff time down on the farm
Four of the Pittsburgh Pirates' seven farm teams have advanced to the minor-league playoffs, which began on Wednesday. The Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, Double-A Altoona Curve, and High-A West Virginia Power got playoff action underway last night as the Low-A West Virginia Black Bears were rained out, and instead will start their road to the championship tonight against the Williamsport Crosscutters. Here's a look at the current playoff matchups for the aforementioned farm ... Read More
Pirates lose as Locke falters in fifth
The Pittsburgh Pirates fell six games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central following a 4-3 loss Tuesday night. This loss pushed the Pirates to 6-17 on the road this season against NL Central opponents. Jeff Locke [6-7] allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base four innings out of five however, it was the fifth inning that was his undoing. Locke walked the first two batters he faced and then after a mound visit Jason Heyward hit a single to put the Cardinals ... Read More