The Pirates have Gold Glove third basemen in Ke'Bryan Hayes and Jared Triolo. They've got another candidate in the system in power hitter Jack Brannigan.
Valentin Linarez had one of the biggest recorded velocity jumps in minor league baseball last year.
Baseball America tracked the year-over-year four-seam velocity gainers from...
At the start of the 2023 international signing period, the Pittsburgh Pirates added David Matoma as their first signing out of Uganda. The right-handed...
Isn't this what every hitter dreams about?� A grand slam in the bottom of the 9th, to win the game for your team!� The Solar Sox went into the bottom of the 9th behind by a score of 5-1.� 2B Josh Harrison led off the inning with a walk, and another walk to 3B Brandon Wood (Angels) and a single by 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies) brought in one run.� CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis grounded to third, and was safe on the fielder's choice as Wood scored.� Rizzotti was replaced by pinch-runner Ryan Flaherty (Cubs), and a single by SS Jordy Mercer loaded the bases for RF Andrew Lambo. Lambo made the dream come true with a walk-off grand slam and the win for the Solar Sox.
Nieuwenhuis gave Mesa their first run on a solo homer in the 7th.� Mercer had also singled in the 2nd inning, but was erased when Lambo bounced into a double play.
Justin Wilson made the start for the Solar Sox and pitched 3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts.� Three of the walks plus a single gave Surprise one run in the 1st inning.� Another walk, a ground out, and an RBI single brought in a run in the 3rd inning.� Aaron Pribanic relieved Wilson, pitching the next 3 innings.� He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the 4th, ending the inning with a timely strikeout.� He gave up a single in the 5th, but that runner was thrown out trying to steal second.� In the 6th, Pribanic gave up 2 more singles, but left both runners stranded.
Ryan Brasier (Angels) retired the side in order for the Solar Sox in the 7th.� BJ Rosenberg (Phillies) gave up 3 runs to the Rafters in the 8th.� He allowed a lead-off homer, then two more runs on a pair of walks, and a pair of singles.� Chris Kissock (Phillies) pitched the top of the 9th, allowing one single.� He was the pitcher of record when the Solar Sox rallied in the bottom of the inning, so he earned the win.
The Pirates have signed reliever Justin Thomas to a minor league contract for the 2011 season.� Thomas was removed from the Pirates' 40-man roster at the end of the 2010 season.� He has been pitching for Los Bravos de Margarita, where he has made 5 appearances, for 12.1 innings.� He has a 0-2 record with a 6.57 ERA.
AFL:� Scottsdale Scorpions� 8,� Mesa Solar Sox� 3
The Solar Sox scored their runs on 3B Brandon Wood's 3-run homer in the 7th inning, and that was all the scoring they managed, despite having at least one runner on base in all but one inning.� The Solar Sox threatened in the 4th inning when C Tony Sanchez walked and RF Andrew Lambo singled, but neither came around to score.�� The Scorpions did their scoring early, with 2 runs in the 2nd and 3 runs in the 3rd all off starter Robert Carson (Mets), who surrendered 8 hits.� The Scorpions added another 3 runs in the 4th inning off reliever Eric Niesen (Mets), on a homer, a walk, a single, a double, and a sacrifice fly.� David Cales (Cubs) finished the 4th and pitched a scoreless 5th for Mesa.� Nicholas Carr (Mets) threw 2 scoreless innings, and Brian Leach followed with a scoreless 8th, with one walk.� Robert Fish (Angels) wrapped things up for Mesa with a scoreless 9th.
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DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Toros del Este� 8,� Leones del Escogido� 1 -- C Jason Jaramillo singled and doubled for Los Toros, and the double drove in a run for Los Toros in the 6th inning.� SS Pedro Ciriaco was hitless in 5 trips to the plate.� He committed one of Los Toros' 4 errors, though his error did not lead to Los Leones' run.
Tigres del Licey� 7,� Aguilas Cibaenas� 5� -- C Luke Carlin and CF Starling Marte each had one hit for Los Aguilas, who could not stand up to Los Tigres' 3 runs over the final two inning of the game.� Carlin walked and Marte reached on a fielding error in the 2nd inning, and in the 4th, Carlin singled and Marte bunted him to second base, but they did not score in either of those innings.� Marte doubled to lead off the 6th inning, and he came around to score in that inning.� C Robinzon Diaz doubled to lead off the 5th inning for Los Tigres, and he scored on two singles and a ground out.
Estrellas de Oriente� 7,� Gigantes del Cibao� 5� -- Franquelis Osoria had the win for Los Estrellas, as he was the pitcher of record when his teammates scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th.� Mike Dubee pitched a total of 2 innings for Los Gigantes.� He entered the game in the 6th inning with one on and one out, then ended the inning by picking the runner of first and then striking out the next batter.� Dubee retired the side in the 7th, then began the 8th with a ground out and a hit batter, before being relieved.� (That runner did not score.)
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Gigantes de Carolina� 3,� Criollos de Caguas� 0� -- 2B Benji Gonzalez had two singles for Los Gigantes, though he was not involved with the scoring.� The only runs of the game came in the top of the 5th, on a 3-run homer for Los Gigantes.� SS Luis Figueroa had one hit, and 3B Ramon Vazquez collected 2 singles for Los Criollos.
Yesterday MLBTR released their list of the top 50 free agents, with Tim Dierkes predicting that the Pittsburgh Pirates would sign Hiroki Kuroda. Today,...
Bill Brink of the Post Gazette reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates are interested in Justin Duchscherer, the former Oakland Athletics pitcher. The same rumors...
Rob Biertempfel reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates have been granted a fourth option year for Steve Pearce, after the first baseman/right fielder spent most...
I’m a few days late on this, but Dan Szymborski released the 2011 ZiPS projections for Pirates players on Sunday. There is nothing all that earth-shattering in the projections, but there are some certainly a few interesting things to note.
Last week the Pirates outrighted several players from the 40-man roster, including Sean Gallagher. It was believed that Gallagher would be eligible for free...
According to Jennifer Langosch, the Pittsburgh Pirates have re-signed left handed reliever Justin Thomas to a minor league deal, with an invite to Spring...
MLBTR released their top 50 free agents for the 2010/2011 off-season, which always includes predictions as to where the players will go. Those predictions...