All articles tagged with #pittsburgh pirates
19-year-old Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin belted two home runs in a Grapefruit League win over the Red Sox, showcasing the power and speed that fuel his status as baseball’s top prospect and drawing early comparisons to a young Alex Rodriguez, while Pittsburgh weighs Opening Day implications amid an offseason reshaping of the roster.
Konnor Griffin, the Pirates’ top prospect who reportedly dazzled in his first pro season, is in a spring training spotlight with a roster spot up for grabs. The team must weigh his inexperience and potential impact against service-time considerations and possible extension talks that could affect his rookie-year eligibility. Pirates have also added veterans to boost offense and bolster their competition for the middle infield. A fan poll reflects split hopes: most expect Griffin to reach Opening Day without an extension, a sizable minority anticipate an extension with a roster spot, and a smaller group foresee him starting the year in the minors.
19-year-old Konnor Griffin has become the Pirates’ spring sensation, showing advanced approach and tools in Grapefruit League play, including a hard homer off Ranger Suárez and steady defense at short, fueling optimism he could join the Opening Day roster despite his youth and the Pirates’ patient development plan.
Konnor Griffin, the Pirates’ top prospect, is being discussed as a potential Opening Day roster addition in 2026, a move that would make him the youngest MLB hitter in years. His 2025 breakout across Low‑A to Double‑A (.333/.415/.527 in 563 PAs over 122 games, plus Minor League Player of the Year honors) plus elite speed, power and defense fuel the case to fast‑track him, despite relatively few minor‑league games/plate appearances. If he debuts early, he would join a rare group of teenagers who reached the majors early, a path trodden by the likes of Griffey Jr., Rodriguez, Harper and Soto.
Bill Mazeroski, a Hall of Fame second baseman celebrated for delivering the first World Series-ending walk-off homer in Game 7, has died at 89. A durable defensive standout known as a ‘defensive wizard,’ he spent his entire 17-year career with the Pirates, earned 10 All-Star selections and a record 1,706 double plays, and his iconic 1960 walk-off homer at Forbes Field clinched Pittsburgh’s title over the Yankees; he later coached and had his No. 9 retired by the Pirates in 1987, with a 2010 statue commemorating the moment.
Bill Mazeroski, the Pirates second baseman whose ninth-inning homer in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series delivered Pittsburgh its first championship in 35 years, died at 89. Renowned for defense as much as power, Mazeroski won eight Gold Gloves and, after years of waiting, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001. His iconic walk-off remains one of baseball’s most famous moments, cementing his legacy in the sport.
Hall of Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski, famed for his Game 7 walk-off homer that gave the Pittsburgh Pirates the 1960 World Series title, dies at 89. A defensive standout who won eight Gold Gloves and turned a record 1,706 double plays, Mazeroski is remembered for both his stellar defense and the iconic homer that sealed baseball history.
Bill Mazeroski, Hall of Fame second baseman and 1960 World Series walk-off hero for the Pittsburgh Pirates, dies at 89; celebrated for his defense and seven-time All-Star status, he was inducted into Cooperstown in 2001 and is honored with a statue at PNC Park.
Hall of Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski, renowned for his walk-off homer in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series for the Pirates, died at 89; a durable defender with eight Gold Gloves and 2,016 hits, he spent his entire career in Pittsburgh and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.
The Pirates signed Marcell Ozuna to a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2027, boosting their offense as they push to upgrade at third base and add a left-handed starter. Ozuna’s move to DH could dampen talk of a McCutchen reunion and likely ends Pittsburgh’s pursuit of Isaac Paredes, who’s owed $9.35M in 2026. With Ozuna in the fold, Pittsburgh’s 2026 payroll sits around $105M, a potential franchise Opening Day record, underscoring a busy but careful off-season as they balance short-term needs with payroll limits.
Pirates have joined a crowded market for left-hander Framber Valdez after he declined the Astros’ qualifying offer, a pursuit that would likely require a multi-year, potentially franchise-record contract and could cost Pittsburgh a top draft pick. The bid would bolster Pittsburgh’s rotation depth and, if paired with strategic moves for hitting, signals a bold push into the upper end of MLB payroll in a bid to transform their title contending window.
Keith Law’s 2026 Top 100 MLB prospects ranks Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin No. 1, led by his rare combination of power, speed and defense at age 19, with a hitter-heavy cohort that features teens rapidly climbing through Low- and Double-A. The list emphasizes future upside and development over 2025 stats, previewing both high-ceiling pitchers and position players (e.g., McGonigle, Made, Emerson, Clark, Wetherholt and Basallo) across the sport, and outlines varied paths to impact in the majors as players progress through the system.
The Minnesota Twins have appointed Derek Shelton, former Pirates manager and Twins bench coach, as their new manager, succeeding Rocco Baldelli, amid a challenging rebuilding phase for the team.
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 14-0, extending their winning streak to 11 games and improving their recent record to 27-5 in the last 32 games, with key home runs from Frelick, Turang, Yelich, Vaughn, and Durbin.
The Milwaukee Brewers, on a nine-game winning streak and leading the NL Central, are set to face the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are struggling offensively. The series features key pitchers like Jose Quintana and Andrew Heaney for the Brewers and Freddy Peralta and Paul Skenes for the Pirates. The Brewers aim to extend their winning streak, while both teams deal with injuries. The games will be broadcast on MLB Network, MLB.TV, and the Brewers Radio Network.