After an offseason in which the Pittsburgh Pirates made minor moves to improve their starting rotation, it seems as if a battle for the final starting rotation spot has begun between Jeff Locke and Juan Nicasio. One season after they were ranked the second-best pitching staff in baseball in terms of total Earned Run Average (3.21 team ERA), the Pirates are rebuilding a rotation that is looking to replace starters A.J. Burnett, who says he retired in the offseason, and Charlie Morton, who was ... Read More
McCutchen continues producing in loss
Andrew McCutchen openly admits that he was not 100 percent at the beginning of last season. His leg injury was especially difficult because that is where he gets his power from. This season McCutchen made it a point to work on his legs in the off-season and it has served him well. McCutchen struck again in the first inning of Sunday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays hitting an opposite field home run. He has now homered in three consecutive games and four of the past five. That would ... 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
Freese addition gives Pirates flexibility, time to develop prospects
David Freese stuck the dagger in the 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates when blasted a second inning home run in Game Five of the National League Divisional Series. Now, he’s competing for a job with them. With Jung Ho Kang now likely to start the season on the disabled list, Freese went from unemployed to a near lock to being the Pirates’ opening day starter at third base. When Kang returns, likely in mid-April, Freese is slated to be the right-handed platoon partner with John Jaso at first ... Read More
Does Jordy Mercer need to hit to keep his job?
One of the myriad of Pittsburgh Pirates prospects that has been turning heads during the team's Spring Training workouts has been infielder Gift Ngoepe. The South African second-baseman/shortstop has shown great defensive flashes during the team's Grapefruit League action. Ngoepe is a light-hitter, but has stuck around in the Pirates system by virtue of that stellar defense. This is not to say that Ngoepe is not a capable hitter. Between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis last season, ... Read More
Pirates offense, Cole return in win
Sunday was an important day for Pittsburgh Pirates fans as it was their first chance to see Gerrit Cole on a mound in game action. Cole suffered a rib inflammation and it delayed the start of his throwing program. He was able to throw his two scheduled innings as the Pirates won 9-5 over the Detroit Tigers in front of a sold out crowd at McKechnie Field. 8,771 fans attended Sunday's game, the third-largest crowd in McKechnie Field history. Cole was able to use all of his pitches in the ... Read More
Pirates held scoreless against Tigers
Pittsburgh Pirates starter Jeff Locke appeared comfortable setting down 10 consecutive Detroit Tigers batters, that was until J.D. Martinez stepped up to the plate. The Tigers were already up 1-0 and Martinez's solo shot provided breathing room and helped result in a 3-0 win over the Pirates. This home run put a damper on what appeared to be a good outing for Locke. Locke was stretched out to four innings and appeared to respond well allowing two runs on two hits. He also walked a ... Read More
Liriano gets opening day nod
Clint Hurdle told reporters Friday that because of Gerrit Cole's injury, it will be Francisco Liriano gets the opportunity to pitch opening day Sunday for the Pittsburgh Pirates April 3 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Cole has not yet appeared in a game because of right rib inflammation. As a result his first Spring Training appearance has been delayed and will be Sunday against the Detroit Tigers. Hurdle further told reporters that while Cole is now healthy Cole did not start his ... Read More
Top Prospect Meadows suffers Orbital Fracture
In 2012, former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J Burnett was sidelined with an Orbital Fracture that required surgery and delayed his Pirates debut. The same injury has occurred to one of the Pirates top prospects, Austin Meadows. Meadows, a first round draft pick in 2013, injured his eye while playing catch during a workout on Tuesday. He is expected to undergo further testing in Pittsburgh early next week. According to MLB.com, Meadows ranks as the no. 2 overall prospect in the Pirates ... 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