All articles tagged with #pittsburgh pirates
The Pirates selected LSU outfielder Derek Curiel with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Curiel is hailed for elite contact and center-field defense, batting .353 with a strong on-base percentage at LSU and stealing 13 bases, but scouts note limited power, suggesting a high-floor, fast-tracking contributor rather than a power hitter.
Chicago traded Jacob Gonzalez (and Brandon Eisert) to Pittsburgh for the 34th overall pick in the 2026 draft and lefty reliever Jaden Woods, swelling the White Sox’ draft pool to a league-high figure and signaling an all-in draft strategy. The move injects upside and flexibility for future selections but comes with depth risk, since Gonzalez had become a useful depth option and Charlotte’s immediate bench options are thinner. The Pirates plan to deploy Gonzalez at short, while Chicago weighs how many futures it’s willing to sacrifice for a chance at multiple impact players via the draft.
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for left-hander Jaden Woods and the No. 34 overall pick (Competitive Balance Round A), boosting Pittsburgh’s left-side infield depth and bullpen while Chicago adds a valuable draft asset; Gonzalez showed offensive upside this season and Eisert has been a strikeout-oriented bullpen arm, whereas Woods is a young reliever with control questions.
Hurston Waldrep struggled in his second start as the Pirates pounced early, using a first-inning grand slam by Ryan O’Hearn to seize control and never look back in a 12-4 win over the Braves in Pittsburgh. Waldrep lasted 3.1 innings with seven earned runs, five walks and two homers allowed, while Atlanta’s offense managed only a few late runs. The result extends the Braves’ losing streak heading into the All-Star break.
Jake McCarthy’s inside-the-park leadoff homer off Paul Skenes and Tomoyuki Sugano’s six innings of one-run ball led the Colorado Rockies to a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field, clinching the series; the night also featured a bizarre ending as a grounder led to an interference call that ended the game with Kyle Karros unable to throw, despite Skenes’ eight strikeouts.
In a midseason swap, the Atlanta Braves traded reliever Hunter Stratton to the Pittsburgh Pirates for catcher Joey Bart. Atlanta designated Sandy León to clear a 40-man spot; Stratton will report to Triple-A Indianapolis and won’t join the Pirates’ MLB club for now. Bart, on the 10-day injured list with a left-foot infection, is expected to be activated by Atlanta, which will take on Bart’s $2.53 million salary (about $1.3 million remaining) and a 20% luxury-tax overage. The Pirates already rely on Endy Rodríguez as their catcher, with Henry Davis on the roster, while the Braves hope Bart can provide a capable backup behind the dish.
Shohei Ohtani hit a solo homer and reached base in all four plate appearances before leaving with left knee inflammation, powering the Dodgers to an 8-6 win over the Pirates; Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski left with a hamstring contusion, and Pirates rookie Rafael Flores Jr. homered.
The Pirates placed outfielder Oneil Cruz on the 10-day injured list retroactive to June 8 with non-displaced fractures in his left hand (fourth and fifth metacarpals), expecting him to miss about a month; Billy Cook was recalled, and Jake Mangum is likely to handle center field while Cruz is sidelined. Pittsburgh sits at 34-33 and aims to climb back without Cruz, who has 14 homers, 21 stolen bases, and a .264/.350/.472 line this season (128 wRC+).
Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes pulled over near Ingomar Franklin Park Little League in Wexford, PA, spending more than two hours signing autographs, posing for photos, and playing catch with local players; his visit sparked social-media buzz from girlfriend Olivia Dunne as he readies to pitch against the Dodgers.
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski on the restricted list, promoted Cam Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis to take his roster spot, and opened a spot on the 40-man roster. The move follows Mlodzinski being pulled from the rotation after Jared Jones's return, with the team shifting him to a relief role for now while keeping him under team control through 2029 and hoping he can return to starting duties later as part of a playoff-push rotation strategy.
The Pittsburgh Pirates designated right-hander Justin Lawrence for assignment to create active and 40-man roster space for Jared Jones, who is expected to start tonight after being activated from the 60-day injured list. Lawrence, 31, has struggled this season (22 innings, 5.32 ERA) with control issues and a spike in home runs; as he is out of options, he’ll likely pass through waivers or head to the minors if unclaimed.
Pirates manager Don Kelly said right-hander Jared Jones will start Friday, moving Paul Skenes into the rotation and sending Carmen Mlodzinski to the bullpen. Jones, on the 60-day IL after an elbow internal-brace surgery on May 21, will make his first big-league start since 2024 following five rehab starts this year. He joins Skenes, Ashcraft, Keller and Chandler to form Pittsburgh’s rotation core as the team pursues a playoff spot in a tight NL Central race, with Mlodzinski providing bullpen/long-relief in the interim.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will promote first base/outfield prospect Esmerlyn Valdez to the majors, optioning Billy Cook; Valdez is already on the 40-man roster and has posted strong numbers in Triple-A this season (10 home runs in 194 plate appearances with a .253/.381/.506 line and 131 wRC+), following a 2025 season with 26 homers across High-A/Double-A. The move further enriches the Pirates’ right-handed bat options at first base/outfield, with potential platoon or flexible playing-time scenarios as Valdez makes his MLB debut.
Konnor Griffin, 20, has swiftly become a centerpiece for the Pirates: a 6-foot-3, 225-pound shortstop with elite bat speed, blazing baserunning, and a maturity beyond his years. Drafted ninth in 2024 and signed for a 6.3 million bonus, the Flowood, Mississippi native married his longtime sweetheart in January, relies on daily family support, and works with a mental-skills coach to sharpen his approach. After a slow start, he erupted for a 12-game stretch with a .395/.458/.651 line and is viewed as a potential long-term face of Pittsburgh as the Pirates contend this season.
Paul Skenes dominated the Rockies with eight scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts as the Pirates beat Colorado 3-1. After striking out six straight, Willi Castro bunted, and Skenes was seen joking “nice bunt.” He says he didn’t say it to Castro, only to himself, and credits reporters with being good lip readers. The performance continues his string of dominance (no runs in his last 16 innings) as Pittsburgh sits in the NL Central race.