Talking Pirates' success with Tone Digz of the Pat McAfee Show at Wrigley

CHICAGO — In a sea of blue, red and white, Tone Digz stood out at Wrigley Field on Saturday, rocking Pirates gear while seated near the visitors' dugout.

For the Plum native who’s a regular on "The Pat McAfee Show" (real name Anthony DiGuilio), Digz has been ... well, digging the team’s hot start, as well as how his hometown has rallied around the Pirates' success.

“It’s been awesome,” Digz told me between innings. “The expectations were a lot higher than they were before. Them living up to it has been awesome.”

Digz played baseball through high school at Plum, where he grew up with McAfee.

Like his favorite player, Jason Kendall, Digz had no regard for batting gloves. To this day, Kendall remains his favorite Pirates player past or present. Jason Bay, Jay Bell and Brian Giles are a few more he mentioned.

It’s one of several reasons why Digz has appreciated the McAfee Show’s growing Pirates presence. Because his hometown baseball team is having success, yes. And also a relationship that has been built with Paul Skenes.

“This has been the most baseball that we’ve done so far, and it’s awesome,” Digz said. “One because we did the WBC. That was awesome. The Pirates good start certainly helps.

“It’s surreal to think we had Skenes on when he was in Indy. Now, he’s become a friend of the show. It’s been really cool.”

While Skenes has become something of a regular on Pat McAfee, he soon could have company.

“I’d love for us to get Konnor Griffin,” Digz said. “He’s next on the list.”

In the meantime, Digz is content to celebrate his favorite baseball team’s strong start, heightened expectations and all.

“With the cone, it’s awesome,” Digz said. “I feel like Bucco Fever and hoisting the cone, it encapsulates how everyone feel about Pirates baseball.

"When they win, the whole city’s in. I love it.”

Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@Pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH.