Ryan O’Hearn doesn’t live in a hypothetical world. But he's definitely one of the Pirates' leaders and has been part of the ongoing discussions centered around remaining goals in 2026. Things like building momentum toward next season, proving there’s a strong foundation when everyone is healthy and, yes, finishing over

Ben Cherington believes the Pirates made important progress in 2026. But he also knows more will be required for a postseason return. Speaking Sunday on the Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan, Cherington discussed feeling encouraged by some of what he's seen this season ... but also Pittsburgh missing

When Brandon Lowe got his first look at the Pirates’ celebratory welder’s hood during Spring Training, one of his initial thoughts was that it looked well used, like it “had been through the test of it.” Along with his teammates, Lowe has ensured the hood — which belonged to a

With his team beginning a series with the Kansas City Royals on Friday, manager Don Kelly was aware of the Pirates’ precarious playoff position. Yet there was no need to emphasize the goals for that day. Those have been established. “Going out there every night, it’s still the same mindset

As Khristian Curtis stood on the Wrigley Field mound last Friday, there was little he could do to stop the game from spinning. The rookie right-hander was sped up in his delivery and thought process, the Cubs tagging Curtis for six earned runs over three innings as a result. Fast-forward

When Rafael Flores Jr. made his MLB debut exactly a year ago Thursday, things were certainly different. It was a cup of coffee, first off. Just 17 plate appearances. But Flores was also a bit of a mystery, acquired in the David Bednar trade but also a Yankees farmhand who

The setting could not have been any better. As Paul Skenes and Konnor Griffin chatted with members of the Clemente family on Tuesday morning, they stood next to the statue of the Great One, steps from the Roberto Clemente Bridge. It’s getting harder and harder to top Clemente Day, an

As Denny Heindl and Stephen Wong walked around Legacy Hall on Monday night, they couldn’t help but get lost in the “visual feast” that exists for Pirates fans — incredible baseball artifacts everywhere. But more so than Willie Stargell’s bat, Roberto Clemente’s jacket or Chuck Tanner’s hand-written notes, Heindl and

CHICAGO — There are plenty of words to describe Brandon Lowe. Professional, productive and calm are a few of the first ones that come to mind. But Bubba Chandler went a different direction after Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, essentially saying the Pirates second baseman is

CHICAGO — As Ryan O’Hearn pushed himself slowly on a pair of crutches to the visitors’ clubhouse at Great American Ball Park back on Aug. 1, hours after suffering a gruesome quad injury, his face lit up when discussing the prospect of what was then an eight-week return. If O’Hearn

CHICAGO — Billy Cook has seen cone earrings, peddled an orange ice cream cone and even spotted a balloon animal depicting the Pirates’ unique rallying cry this season at a recent fan event. On Thursday at Rate Field, Cook and his teammates enjoyed more evidence of the cone's reach when

CHICAGO — Oneil Cruz unfurled his long, powerful limbs and stared. He knew it was gone. Everyone knew it was gone. A Statcast recalculation would cost Cruz 34 feet in home run distance, but let’s be honest: There’s usually plenty to spare. The Cruz missile traveling toward center field in

CHICAGO — Another successful bullpen game. Two clutch double plays. Rookies supplying the offense. Tempers flaring and benches emptying. The Pirates' 4-2 victory over the White Sox on Wednesday at Rate Field had a little bit of everything. But more important than any of that other stuff, it delivered another

CHICAGO — While there’s been much discussed regarding Paul Skenes, Braxton Ashcraft, Jared Jones and Bubba Chandler, TBA doesn’t get nearly enough attention. To be announced, of course. It’s what the Pirates will sometimes use as a placeholder until the prior game is completed, allowing them to determine who’s available

CHICAGO — As the Pirates grinded through three one-run outputs over the weekend, they remained confident that a breakout was near. If they stuck to their approach, if they didn’t try to do too much, if they took what was given, their offense would rediscover its previous form. The timing

They’re separated by thousands of miles. They also feature climates on extreme ends of the weather spectrum. So, why in the world is Jared Jones, a Southern California kid who grew up going to Dodgers games, an ardent Buffalo Bills fan? Easy: fantasy football. Six years ago, Jones tried it

At the beginning of this homestand, Don Kelly implored his team to focus on going 1-0 every day. The Pirates ended it with a literal interpretation of their manager's words. They notched another 1-0 win over the Angels on Sunday, the second in three games to secure a series win

The hope was for the Pirates to head to Chicago next week at .500, which would’ve required a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels at PNC Park this weekend. Those plans were complicated on Saturday thanks to a 6-1 loss, one that featured more struggles against a left-handed starter and

Seated at a coffee shop minutes from his offseason workout facility in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Paul Skenes’ face lit up when discussing another pitcher from the Pirates’ 2023 draft class, Khristian Curtis. Skenes was the marquee selection, Curtis a project — though one Skenes was warning would help the

Now this looked familiar, the pitching, aggressive baserunning and the swagger. The Pirates are nearly whole again, and they might yet have a run in them. We'll get there. But first, the Pirates' 1-0 victory over the Angels on Friday at PNC Park was primarily centered around Konnor Griffin's legs

Singing has always been an important part of Tony Beasley’s life. The Pirates' third-base coach started when he was 10 or 11. He used to be in a traveling choir and sings every Sunday in church throughout the offseason. Another unavoidable part of Beasley’s story is cancer. The 59-year-old overcame

John Candelaria threw a no-hitter and won a World Series in Pittsburgh. The left-hander might be soft-spoken, but he knows the organization's rich history and grasps the magnitude of being enshrined in the Pirates Hall of Fame. “It's a wonderful honor,” Candelaria said. “I think of all the great Pirates

It wasn’t pretty. But style points don’t matter at this point. The Pirates won another series with a 5-2 victory over the Giants on Thursday afternoon at PNC Park, keeping hope alive for a potential playoff push. Mario Lemieux would’ve been proud of this one. Just look at the ways

Brandon Lowe has appeared in 874 MLB games throughout his nine-year career. Most, if we’re being honest, were probably more aesthetically pleasing or crisp than the Pirates’ 13-12 victory over the Giants at PNC Park on Tuesday. But that perspective has allowed Lowe to see some things, especially when it

When Roman Senft grabs the microphone and yells “Play Ball!” prior to Tuesday’s Pirates game against the Giants are PNC Park, there will undoubtedly be plenty of excitement. But for 10-year-old Roman and his family, the moment will represent so much more considering everything the baseball-loving bunch from Cranberry has