Skenes eyes Classic glory, but leaving something special behind
BRADENTON, Fla. -- It takes long enough to drive from LECOM Park to West Palm Beach that many players draw upon their veteran status to avoid the trip. A 3 1/2-hour slog on a bus across the state during the already-demanding Spring Training grind is something even the Pirates as
Skenes once caught PCA & Winn's combined no-no as preteens in 2014
Pete Crow-Armstrong and Masyn Winn on the mound. A combined no-hitter. And Paul Skenes … catching?! No, it's not some alternate reality. Long before they were Major Leaguers -- Crow-Armstrong as a center fielder for the Cubs, Winn as a shortstop for the Cardinals and Skenes as a pitcher for
Griffin could be a teenage big leaguer. Here's how history says that might go
When MLB Pipeline's No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin launched not one, but two home runs over the replica Green Monster and out of JetBlue Park on Tuesday, social media servers seemed at risk of overheating. Enthusiasm was already elevated for the 19-year-old Pirates shortstop, and performances like that will continue
2 repeat Cy winners? It hasn't happened in 26 years
Every era has its defining starting pitchers -- the aces who transcend their peers and become synonymous with a generation. Right now, we’re in the epilogue of the era defined by Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. A new crop of dominant arms has emerged, but we’re still waiting
In MLB and the NFL, strength runs in the Mangum family
BRADENTON, Fla. -- If the family bloodline had any say, Jake Mangum would be studying routes instead of spray charts right now. His father, John, spent nine seasons in the NFL. His grandfather and uncle also played professionally, proving that the football pedigree runs strong among Mangum men. But Jake
Shelton returns, praises Skenes and 'superstar' Griffin
BRADENTON, Fla. -- It was a bit odd to see manager Derek Shelton in the visitors' dugout shortly before the Pirates beat the Twins, 6-4, at LECOM Park. Stranger still to see the Bucs' former skipper in red and blue and not black and gold. Yet as Shelton looked out
Latest Pirates injuries & transactions
This page will be updated throughout the year with the latest Pirates injury news and transactions.
That time MLB's No. 1 prospect got a shoutout from Randy Moss -- in ninth grade!
Konnor Griffin is only 19 years old and already turning heads as MLB's top prospect, flexing his muscle by launching spring dingers out of stadiums. But the Pirates phenom is no stranger to jaw-dropping feats of athleticism. In fact, he's been doing so since the ninth grade (that's only something
Who is the Ultimate Bandwagon Team for 2026? We investigate
A year ago, we conducted an exercise to identify the Ultimate Bandwagon Team for 2025 – a team for those without a specific rooting interest to coalesce behind for the season. What does it take to be an Ultimate Bandwagon Team? As I put it then, you want a team
Pirates name 3 new managers at Minor League affiliates
BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates announced their 2026 Minor League coaching assignments on Thursday, a list that includes new skippers at three levels. Eric Patterson, Triple-A Indianapolis’ bench coach in 2025, was promoted to manager for the upcoming season. He replaces Shawn Bowman, who was promoted to Major League field
Juuuuust a bit outside: Olson challenges Skenes pitch that missed by how much?
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Baseball has long been a game of inches. Now, it seems, baseball might become a game of tenths of inches. At least it was that way on Wednesday, when the Braves beat the Pirates, 3-1, at CoolToday Park. For reference, one-tenth of an inch is roughly
2 for 1! MLB's top prospect clears Monster twice for 1st spring HRs
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The swing was smooth and true. The curveball caught a little too much of the plate. And just like countless other baseballs Konnor Griffin has seen this spring, this one landed pretty far from home. There was one main difference between Tuesday and all the days
Skenes looking to make 2 starts for US at Classic
You can expect to see Paul Skenes pitch on multiple occasions for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. In an interview for Fox Sports with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Skenes said he expects to make two starts in the WBC, assuming that the U.S. advances beyond pool play.
Here is each team's best power-hitting prospect
Power wins games. As MLB Network insider Tom Verducci has noted, the last six World Series champions have ranked first, third, fourth, third, third and second in regular-season home runs.
What other bold goals can Skenes & Griffin shoot for?
Jazz Chisholm Jr. raised eyebrows when he told the media last week that he’s aiming to join Shohei Ohtani in the 50-50 club. While it’s rare to hear players be this vocal about specific goals in a season, it’s also the time of year when media members and fans alike
Plus stuff, good health add up to satisfying spring debut for Chandler
BRADENTON, Fla. -- A year ago, Bubba Chandler might have reacted to a rough outing a little differently, with his frustration resulting in a handful of colorful words or perhaps a less-than-gentle interaction with a dugout object. These days, though, MLB’s No. 11 prospect has the benefit of hindsight and
'He’s gonna be a stud, man': Harper dishes on MLB's No. 1 prospect
Konnor Griffin's long list of admirers now includes a two-time MVP. In the Pirates' 4-3 Grapefruit League victory over the Phillies on Sunday, MLB's No. 1 prospect laced a 109.1 mph line drive to right field in the top of the sixth inning, and Bryce Harper -- who was doing
Get a sneak peek at 10 prospects who will debut on upcoming Top 30 lists
Can you feel it? Baseball is in the air! Spring Training games are in full swing, the calendar is about to flip to March and a pair of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects are already grabbing headlines -- Konnor Griffin (No. 1) and Travis Bazzana (No. 20) -- for launching
Pirates' haul among the best from 2026 international signing class
It’s been over a month since the 2026 international signing period opened, giving the proverbial ink on contracts time to dry. It’s also given MLB Pipeline a chance to take stock of which organizations have pulled in the best overall hauls.
Inspired by USA hockey, Skenes has another gold in mind
BRADENTON, Fla. -- The images on the TV screen in the Pirates’ clubhouse at LECOM Park were instantly iconic. In the aftermath of one of the greatest gold medal hockey games ever played Sunday, there were the members of Team USA, draped in American flags and forever bonded by what
1 dark horse candidate for each team's Opening Day roster
Spring Training is not just a time for players to get back into game shape. It's also a time of opportunity. Though teams already have a good idea about their Opening Day lineups, the full rosters usually aren't completely set when players report to camp in Florida or Arizona. That
'What an icon': Pirates mourn the loss of the legendary Mazeroski
BRADENTON, Fla. -- The morning meetings down here are ordinarily oriented around the future -- what’s ahead that day, that week, that season. The goal of Spring Training is to propel yourself and your team forward. But when Pirates manager Don Kelly convened his club Saturday morning at LECOM Park,