The Pittsburgh Riverhounds continued to make roster moves. The team announced on Jan. 6 that they have signed two ex-MLS players. Corey Hertzog and Zak Boggs, who are both forwards, were signed to the Riverhounds to bolster their attacking game. Hertzog’s career started at Penn State. In his junior year, he led the NCAA Division I in goal scoring. He decided to forgo his senior season and became eligible for the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, where he was selected by the New York Red Bulls. With the Red ... Read More
Pirates add 12 to spring training non-roster invitee list
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced today that they would be inviting 12 additional non-roster prospects to spring training in 2016. Headlining the list is prized catching prospect Reese McGuire. The 20-year old McGuire spent the entirety of the 2015 with the Class A- Advanced Bradenton Marauders, in which he hit .254 with a .595 OPS. By most accounts, his defensive abilities are far ahead of his swing. The invite to spring training comes on the heels of a hot sting in the Arizona Fall League. ... Read More
Top 10 stories of 2015: Pittsburgh teams struggled in spotlight
In case you missed it, Pittsburgh Sporting News is counting down the top 10 Pittsburgh sports stories from 2015. The bottom five of the top five have already been covered, and now the countdown will conclude with the top five biggest stories of 2015. No. 5 – James Conner diagnosed with cancer On Dec. 5, University of Pittsburgh running back announced he was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma. The 20-year-old junior was a 2014 All-American and a candidate for the Heisman Trophy in 2015, ... Read More
Is Glasnow ready to make a major league impact in 2016?
For anyone who follows the Pittsburgh Pirates, it is no secret that many questions have surrounded the team this offseason. One of their major question marks surround their starting rotation, which was a part of the second-best pitching staff in all of baseball in 2015. With the departures of both A.J. Burnett and Charlie Morton, the Pirates must construct a new rotation that will likely include Gerrit Cole, Francisco Liriano and Jeff Locke as returning starters. The Bucs did acquire starting ... Read More
Pirates offseason analyzed: So long
In part two of analyzing the Pirates offseason, take a look at the guys the Pirates parted ways with. Good-byes: Oct. 20 Baltimore Orioles claim Vance Worley off waivers - Worley was a likable guy and very pleasant in the dealings I had with him, but it was clear that the Pirates were done waiting for him to show consistent promise as a starter. Worley had a trying season and saw his time as a starter with the Pirates end in Philadelphia, site of where he had some of his best pitching ... Read More
Top 10 moments in 2015: Some players became favorites, one protested
While no Pittsburgh sports teams brought home titles in 2015, there were still a lot of happenings on and off the field. From athletes returning to Pittsburgh, record breaking performances, late-season let downs and the protest of a quarterback, Pittsburgh Sporting News is counting down the top 10 sports stories in Pittsburgh in 2015. The first half includes stories 10 thru six. No. 10 – Gung Ho for Jung Ho When the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Jung Ho Kang to a four-year, $11 million ... Read More
Face off Friday: Pirates roundtable
If there's one thing Pittsburgh Pirates fan love, it's debating the team's move during the off-season. The signing of John Jaso and acquisition of Yoervis Medina gave fans plenty of chances to do so. We here at the Pittsburgh Sporting News are no exception. Fellow Pirates contributor Jose Negron and I went back and forth via email on a few key hot stove topics, and that exchange is recounted for you here. On the First Base position... JASON: Jose, it seems as if the Pirates have ... 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
Pittsburgh Pirates acquire LHP Kyle Lobstein for cash
Today the Pittsburgh Pirates announced via Twitter that they have acquired LHP Kyle Lobstein from the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations. Lobstein is a 26-year old left handed pitcher who has spent parts of the last two seasons with the Tigers. Lobstein has made 17 starts over that time as well as appeared in three games in a relief capacity. He has posted a 5.33 ERA over that span, with a 1.59 strikeout-to-walk ratio. At first glance, Lobstein's performance thus far can be considered ... Read More
Pittsburgh Pirates acquire IF Jason Rogers from Brewers
The Pittsburgh Pirates dealt from a position of strength to fill a position of need in a trade consummated late Thursday night. The team announced the acquisition of Jason Rogers, first baseman with the Milwaukee Brewers, in exchange for outfielder Keon Broxton and starting pitching prospect Trey Supak. Rogers comes to the Pirates having had his first real taste of the majors last season. The 27-year-old appeared in 86 games for Milwaukee last season, collecting 169 plate appearances. In ... Read More