Alex Stumpf
@alexjstumpf
Let me show you why they call me the velour fog.
Players since 2000 with at least 11 home runs and 30 RBI in their first 30 MLB games. Add Esmerlyn Valdéz to the list:
Esmerlyn Valdez is the sixth player in the Modern Era to go on a four-game homer streak within his first 16 MLB games (and the first Pirate). The list, via Stathead:
Trade: The Pirates have acquired High-A RHP Kyle Robinson from the Athletics for INF Alika Williams
There was plenty of speculation around a Konnor Griffin deal for weeks/months before today’s news. I asked Konnor when did he think a long-term deal could come together:
Ben Cherington was asked about a potential Konnor Griffin contract extension. Here is what he had to say:
Happy home opener, Pittsburgh. If you haven’t subscribed yet, I’m doing a new newsletter on Substack called Book-Rule Bucs. It’s still free to sign up now, if you haven’t yet: bookrulebucs.substack.com
Players on the line. Flag unfurled. Some of the lyrics to the National Anthem were sung correctly. It’s time to play ball.
Traditional start of season selfie. Year 7. It’s gonna be different. Bring it on.
Konnor Griffin will be a great player one day, but when you consider that he slugged under .100 against fastballs this spring and these were his fastball whiffs… I can see why he didn’t make the Opening Day team. I talked about it for today’s OffBeat: northshorenine.com/the-pirates-...
The Pirates have agreed to contracts with the following pre-arbitration eligible players:
Spring Training No. 7 is in the books. Year No. 7 of coverage is just getting started. See yinz soon.
Bryan Reynolds said he was excited for Andrew McCutchen after he signed today with the Rangers. Here’s what he had to say about the organization moving on without Cutch.
It’s not a trip to spring training without some BP videos. Esmerlyn Valdez and Jhostynxon Garcia with some cuts today
I don’t know if José Urquidy was that satisfied with his strikeout pitch to Gio Urshela, but it was sequenced well and got the whiff. Fastball low in the zone, follows it up with a sinker. Sinker has been getting some solid dive.
A year ago, Spencer Horwitz felt the pressure of being the Pirates only big offseason addition. This time around, he’s healthy and part of a deeper lineup. “We're just super excited to be able to lean on each other.” More in the Pirates Beat newsletter, now in your inbox.
The Pirates have announced seven more non-roster invites to Spring Training, including Konnor Griffin
The Pirates have announced their 2026 coaching staff. Additions we didn’t know about yet: Thomas Whitsett is the assistant pitching coach, Shawn Bowman the Major League field coordinator and Chris Truby as infield coach.
New Pirates Beat newsletter is waiting in your inbox, all on what I heard at the Winter Meetings and how the Pirates could proceed the rest of the offseason.