Tag: Pittsburgh Pirates

Former LSU pitcher named Rookie of the Year candidate

Jim Callis has listed a former Tiger as a potential favorite.

MLB Pipeline has just released its favorites for the 2024 MLB Rookie of the Year award, and senior writer Jim Callis has listed a former Tiger as a potential favorite.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft, [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag], is the man that Callis has tabbed as the next possible MLB Rookie of the Year. Skenes was the ace for the LSU Tigers on their run to the first National Championship under [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag].

Skenes transferred to LSU after spending a couple of years pitching for the Air Force in a move he chose to make to “bet on himself.” That decision paid off as Skenes finished the season with a 12-2 record and a 1.69 ERA. He started in 19 games for the Tigers and pitched 122.2 innings while striking out 209 hitters and only walking 20.

Those numbers led to him being selected with the No. 1 overall pick of the Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Skenes will try to crack the big league roster this year and possibly win the Rookie of the Year award.

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A Phillies fan tried to bring his emotional support alligator into a game

Well, this is different.

Baseball can make people do many things — yell, scream, and even cry. It can also make a Philadelphia Phillies fan attempt to bring their emotional support alligator to a game.

Fans can sometimes their animal best friends to baseball games. It’s not unusual to look over and see a dog taking in the sights or a special day dedicated to cats. However, there isn’t a precise space for alligators to join the fun. Joie Henney, a Phillies fan, decided they would lead the charge.

Henney owns an emotional support alligator named WallyGator. According to Maria McIlwain of The Philadelphia Inquirer, WallyGator helps Henny battle depression. The gator is very affectionate and “likes to give hugs” and doesn’t bite people who pet it.

Unfortunately, Henney was told Wednesday that the alligator could not enter Citizens Bank Park. WallyGator would have to watch the Phillies versus the Pittsburgh Pirates at home.

Maybe one day, they’ll be a reptile zone. For now, see you later, alligator.

The Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes called out umpire Bill Miller after a horrific call led to a strikeout

This was a terrible call and Ke’Bryan Hayes had every right to be upset.

There have been a lot of bad calls in baseball this year, from terrible strikeouts to umpires forgetting to reset the pitch clock and misremembering the count. And now, add this 3-1 strike call from umpire Bill Miller to the running tally of dreadful missteps this season.

On Sunday, Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes was facing Atlanta Braves pitcher A.J. Minter in the top of the eighth inning, with the home team holding a 5-2 lead. On the 3-1 count, it seemed as if Hayes was set to go to first on a walk thanks to a ball outside the zone. However, Miller called it a strike, keeping Hayes in the batter’s box on a pitch that was definitely not a strike.

See for yourself!

Not only that, the missed 3-1 strike call led to Hayes striking out mere moments later, ending the inning for the Pirates and cutting off any chance of an eighth inning comeback.

After the game, Hayes took to Twitter to express his frustrations with Miller’s call, even stating that the umpire brushed off his attempts to hold him accountable.

We wouldn’t be surprised to see a fine tossed Hayes’ way for his candid comments about Miller’s call and umpires as a whole. MLB fans, on the other hand, appreciated how honest Hayes was in his assessment of Miller’s call.

Braves manager Brian Snitker chewed out an umpire after he got ejected

Braves manager Brian Snitker got absolutely HEATED on this umpire.

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker absolutely let an umpire have it after Braves third baseman Austin Riley got hit by a pitch in the fourth inning of Atlanta’s Saturday evening tilt with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After the hit, Snitker left the dugout to have a heated conversation with the ump and got ejected for the gesture. Even after that, Snitker stayed out on the baseball diamond to yell at the umpire for what went down with Riley.

Snitker isn’t necessarily known for his temper, but he absolutely chewed out the umpire for Riley being pegged by the pitcher.

You can bet this umpire won’t ever forget this blistering response from Snitker, even if the latter got ejected.

If you’re a Brave fan, you’re probably ready to run through a wall for Snitker right now.

This is the kind of backing that fans want from their managers for their players, and Snitker will likely be hailed as a hero in the Braves locker room for standing up for his guy.

Pirates put Paul Skenes on the shelf for rest of the season

Paul Skenes’ 2023 season is over, but it was a season to remember.

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed No. 1 overall pick [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] on the development list Tuesday, meaning that he is done pitching for the season.

Skenes showed last season why he was the best pitcher in the country as he finished the year with a 12-2 record and a 1.69 ERA. He struck out 209 hitters and only walked 20 as he led the Tigers to a National Championship. The biggest question facing all MLB teams heading into the draft was, “Would you take Skenes or [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] with the first pick of the draft?”

The Pirates went with Skenes, and the Nationals picked Crews with the second pick. Skenes was then sent to rookie ball where he made one appearance as he struck out one hitter in one inning. He was then called up to Single-A Bradenton where he pitched three innings over two starts. Then he was called up to Double-A Altoona. He pitched 2.2 innings for them before the Pirates had seen all they needed to see.

“We’re excited and encouraged by the positive things Paul has been able to accomplish in his short time in the Pirates organization,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said in a release. “He’s checked all of the boxes we aimed for him to check during the 2023 season. The goal now is to focus on a complete off-season in preparation for his first full professional year in 2024.”

Skenes’ 2023 season is over, but it was a season to remember.

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WATCH: Paul Skenes much sharper in 2nd Double-A appearance with Altoona

Paul Skenes was much better in his second Double-A appearance on Friday night.

It wasn’t the best debut for [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] at the Double-A level with the Altoona Curve of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

But in his second start on the bump with the Curve, the 2023 MLB draft’s first overall pick was much sharper. After not even making it a full inning in his debut, he pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three batters with no walks while allowing just one hit against the Erie SeaWolves.

It’s clear the Pirates are limiting Skenes down the stretch this season after an eventful year in which he’s already thrown a lot of pitches. But he’s giving the organization a taste of what he brings to the table, and his run through the minor leagues has been impressive so far.

We’ll continue to keep you posted on Skenes’ progress at the professional ranks as the minor league season winds to a close.

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Former LSU stars Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes could face off in minors next month

Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews could face-off next month.

[autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] and [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] are continuing their rapid ascension through the minor leagues.

Both were promoted to their respective Double-A teams this week. It just so happens they won’t be that far from each other either.

Skenes heads to Altoona, Pennsylvania, while Crews takes his talents to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The stadiums are separated by just a two-hour drive.

The Altoona Curve are set to host the Harrisburg Senators next month. That means we could see a Skenes vs. Crews at-bat.

It wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened. When Skenes was at Air Force, he pitched in Baton Rouge. Crews turned on a pitch to put it over the left field wall.

It’s not clear how much more the Pirates organization wants to get out of Skenes this year. He’s thrown plenty of pitches in 2023 thanks to LSU’s CWS run.

But if Skenes is still active and throwing when that series rolls around, there’s a good chance he’ll face Crews. It’s a six game series, spanning from Sep. 5 to Sep. 10. His spot will come up in the rotation.

Crews and Skenes are both considered top five prospects and based off the recent promotions, they could appear in the big leagues sooner than anyone thought.

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WATCH: Paul Skenes turns in first multi-inning minor league appearance

Paul Skenes pitched two scoreless innings on Sunday for the Single-A Bradenton Marauders, striking out a pair of batters.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are being understandably cautious with No. 1 overall pick [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag].

The former LSU star is expected to make an impact in the big leagues sooner rather than later, and he just pitched a full season with the Tigers in which he led the team to its seventh national title.

Skenes has made two appearances so far since being drafted, going just one inning in each. But on Sunday, he made his third appearance (and second with the Single-A Bradenton Marauders), and it was his first multi-inning outing.

He pitched two full innings in total, striking out two while allowing no hits or earned runs.

 

Skenes will likely be limited in his action down the stretch, but it seems the Pirates have been eager to see what he can do against minor league competition.

The early results have to be encouraging.

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WATCH: Paul Skenes makes Single-A debut with Livvy Dunne in attendance

Paul Skenes issued two strikeouts in a scoreless inning during his Single-A debut.

[autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] made his Low-A debut in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system on Tuesday night.

After being called up following just one inning of work at the rookie level, Skenes tossed just one inning again on Tuesday night for the Bradenton Marauders. But it was a good one.

Skenes allowed one hit, but he also issued a pair of strikeouts while giving up no runs or walks. Having pitched an entire college season, we’re likely only to see limited work from Skenes down the stretch in the minor league season, but the No. 1 2023 MLB draft pick impressing early on in his time with the Pirates organization.

In attendance for Skenes’ Single-A debut was LSU gymnast [autotag]Livvy Dunne[/autotag], who is rumored to be dating the former Tigers pitcher.

Skenes and teammate [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] became the first college teammates to go first and second overall in the same draft, and the former signed a record-setting signing bonus for a drafted player worth $9.2 million.

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