When Rafael Cruz brought his son home from the local hospital in Nizao, D.R., the former Minor League infielder put an old leather baseball glove by the newborn’s crib. The son was going to be a ballplayer, just like his father, Rafael said. It was his destiny. And it didn’t

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates may be looking toward next year as a result of their brutal second-half slump, but that doesn’t mean they’re due for a full youth movement at the Major League level over the next two months. The main reason? Most of the current roster is under club

CLEVELAND -- Shortly after Will Craig learned that he had been invited to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, he shared the news with his wife, Morgan. She knew of the annual prospect showcase, and she’d seen Craig’s younger teammates -- like Mitch Keller, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Luis Escobar -- represent

The Pirates are making a strong pitch on the international market, and their hope is that it results in the addition of a few talented arms in their farm system. The Pirates officially signed right-handed pitcher Christopher Cruz, No. 20 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 International Prospects list, the club

PITTSBURGH -- With Trevor Williams rejoining the rotation on Wednesday, the Pirates optioned top prospect Mitch Keller back to Triple-A Indianapolis. Keller’s outing in the Pirates’ 5-4 loss to the Tigers on Tuesday night was encouraging in some ways, but he still showed that there is room to improve in

PITTSBURGH -- The first three weeks of the season, a shutdown pitching staff kept the Pirates close in nearly every game they played. Lately, a hot-hitting offense has made them competitive amid a brutal stretch for their rotation and bullpen. The Bucs pitched well enough to keep it close and

ATLANTA – Right-hander Mitch Keller, the Pirates’ top prospect, is back in the big leagues. After setting a career-high with 13 strikeouts in his last start for Triple-A Indianapolis, Keller was recalled for his second Major League start against the Braves on Wednesday night at SunTrust Park. Righty Montana DuRapau

PITTSBURGH -- Quinn Priester wrote it on his mirror with a dry erase marker, and the message sat there every day to remind himself of what his potential was, what his goal was: “First-round Draft pick.” That goal was accomplished on Monday, when Priester, the No. 18 overall pick in

ATLANTA -- One week after drafting him, the Pirates on Monday announced the signing of first-round pick Quinn Priester. Pittsburgh selected Priester, an 18-year-old right-hander, with the 18th overall pick in the MLB Draft. He will be introduced at a press conference on Tuesday morning at PNC Park before beginning

MILWAUKEE -- It was almost lost in the shuffle amid the flurry of moves they made on Saturday, but seeing the letters T-B-A in place of a starter for Wednesday in Atlanta serves as a reminder: The Pirates have a hole in their rotation. It might be filled by top

Pirates No. 1 prospect Mitch Keller had a night to remember Friday, when each of the first 12 outs he recorded for Triple-A Indianapolis against Toledo came via strikeout. The No. 18 overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, Keller finished with 13 strikeouts over five innings. The 23-year-old

PITTSBURGH -- After getting the MLB Draft started Monday night with a pair of high-upside high schoolers, pitcher Quinn Priester and outfielder Sammy Siani, the Pirates dipped into the college ranks on Day 2. “The pool system sets it up so that it is challenging to get a high school

PITTSBURGH – Right-hander Quinn Priester possesses just about every trait the Pirates look for in a young player. Pittsburgh selected Priester, a starting pitcher from Cary-Grove (Ill.) High School, with the 18th overall pick in the MLB Draft on Monday night. The 18-year-old is an athletic pitcher with a big

PITTSBURGH -- With injuries plaguing just about every part of the roster throughout the first third of the season, the Pirates had to turn to their organizational depth more often than expected. Their callups have ranged from former first-round Draft pick Cole Tucker and second-rounder Mitch Keller, to 29th-round reliever

PITTSBURGH -- Ready or not, here comes Mitch Keller. Keller, the Pirates' No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will make his Major League debut in the second game of Pittsburgh's doubleheader against the Reds on Monday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, the club announced Sunday morning. “Perfect world,

While it’s been a great year for top prospects getting called up to make their Major League debuts, it’s been very hitter-heavy. That’s not surprising, given that seven of the top 10 prospects right now are of the offensive variety. So it’s a nice change of pace to have an

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finally started crushing home runs, and his big week earned him the first Player of the Week Award presented by W.B. Mason of his young career. He also becomes the Blue Jays' youngest POTW Award winner, breaking the record held by Junior Felix. Vlad Jr. was named

ARLINGTON -- Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was Vladimir Guerrero’s hitting coach for one season in Texas, but to hear him tell it, he might have spent more time working with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. -- as a 10-year-old. Hurdle spent a few minutes Tuesday afternoon looking back on his time as

PITTSBURGH -- Pirates reliever Nick Burdi said he is “praying for the best” as he awaits the second opinion on his injured right arm next week. Speaking to the media for the first time since he walked off the mound clutching his right biceps Monday night at PNC Park, Burdi

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates’ clubhouse was quieter than usual after Monday night’s 12-4 loss to the D-backs at PNC Park. The somber mood had nothing to do with the final score. Reliever Nick Burdi exited Monday’s game in the eighth inning, clutching his right biceps and elbow in obvious pain

PITTSBURGH -- Cole Tucker was in bed on Friday night when he got the call that he has been waiting for since the second grade. It was Triple-A Indianapolis manager Brian Esposito, and he told Tucker that the Pirates were promoting him to Pittsburgh. Tucker’s reaction, perhaps censored for the

PITTSBURGH -- Cole Tucker arrived at PNC Park on Saturday morning to find a No. 3 jersey hanging in his new locker in the Pirates’ clubhouse. That uniform was last worn by veteran utility man Sean Rodriguez, who sent a message to Tucker when word surfaced that the 22-year-old shortstop

PITTSBURGH -- As the Pirates get healthier, their Triple-A lineup is loading up with talent. Lonnie Chisenhall began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, starting in left field and going 0-for-3 at the plate. Indianapolis’ lineup also included rehabbing right fielder Gregory Polanco, rehabbing catcher Elias Diaz and

For many prospects, Spring Training offered the opportunity to make an impression in front of Major League staff. Now, with Minor League seasons in full swing, their challenge is to remain on those radars. While this may not be a time when clubs are seeking to make wholesale roster changes,

PITTSBURGH -- They may not have shown it much before Saturday, but the Pirates believed there was more power in their lineup this season. They’ve come to expect more out of Josh Bell, for instance, and Kevin Newman has come to expect more of himself. Their faith was rewarded on