A cancer diagnosis put Connor Joe's baseball career in jeopardy
It was also unclear for a brief time if he'd be able to have children
He and his wife have a daughter now, and they couldn't be more grateful
"She’s an absolute blessing."
Asked RB Devyn Ford today about why he's stayed at Penn State:
“What grandma instilled in me is you finish something that you start. I got that one thing on my mind. I got to do everything I can to get the best out of this school and get the school to get the best out of me.”
When Colin Holderman was little, he made his mom a promise
He would make it as a big leaguer, and always take care of his sister, Taylor, who was born with Angelman syndrome
Today, a dream of Colin’s that was inspired by Taylor will come to fruition
James Franklin has arrived via helicopter for tonight’s PIAA 5A championship game at Cumberland Valley High School between Pine-Richland and Imhotep Charter
With graduation in the rear-view mirror, I'm excited to announce I'm staying in State College.
I've accepted a full-time position with the
@PittsburghPG
as a Penn State football reporter. Thank you to all of you who have helped me kickstart my career-can't wait to get started!
Joey Bart on Mitch Keller:
“Every fifth day, sixth day, whenever he’s out there, he’s ready and throws the s**t out of it. He competes his a** off, and that’s all you can ask for. I’ve been super impressed...
"Hell yeah I feel like he’s an All-Star."
Asked Letang on what he's taken from his time with Jake Guentzel:
"He's a tremendous player on the ice, we all know that. But, he's a guy that has got so much passion and he comes to the rink with a big smile every day, works hard" (1/2)
RHP Brent Honeywell Jr. told reporters he has 13 different pitches he's comfortable throwing in games right now, including a screwball
He later changed that figure to 15
Pirates news from Derek Shelton on 93.7 The Fan:
- Henry Davis will catch tonight
- Suwinski has been recalled from Indy. Bae to the IL
- Liover Peguero is joining the team. Michael A. Taylor to the Paternity List
A quick life update: I’m excited to announce that tonight, I begin my coverage of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the
@PittsburghPG
alongside
@mattvensel
. I’ll also be helping out
@JMackeyPG
with the Pittsburgh Pirates once their season rolls around (1/4)
Source: catcher Jason Delay is en route to Denver
The team is still learning more about the status of Henry Davis, who, per the Pirates, was removed from Friday night's game due to concussion-like symptoms
I guess it’s officially official! Follow along with me at Big Ten Media days, where I’ll be covering Penn State football and the overall event for
@PGSportsNow
Source: 2019 Pirates first round pick Sammy Siani is being promoted from High-A Greensboro to Double-A Altoona
Siani, 23, is hitting .324 with four home runs in 20 games for the Grasshoppers
Connor Joe will start at first rather than Rowdy Tellez tonight, per manager Derek Shelton just now on 93.7 The Fan
Shelton said Brewers starter Joe Ross being a reverse-split right-hander factored in
Joey Bart’s got plenty of Pittsburgh ties. Family in Butler, and the town of Toronto, Ohio
Excited to be part of a team he grew up rooting for. Also a noted Steelers, Pens fan
He was back home in Atlanta and caught the quick flight up to DC to join the team after the news broke
Henry Davis is back here in Pittsburgh
He experienced recurring symptoms from the concussion during his rehab with Double-A Altoona, so it's been paused for now
He is not active for the Pirates
Source confirms Braxton Ashcraft is being promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis
Ashcraft struck out 12 across seven innings in his most recent start for Double-A Altoona. He compiled a 3.69 ERA for the Curve this season
@AlexJStumpf
had it first
Asked Tyler Glasnow if he feels like a different pitcher than when he last started at PNC Park six years ago:
“Yeah. Then, I just sucked every time. And then now, I feel like I’m better than I was then. So, definitely a stark difference for sure.”
Penn State's 2023 schedule:
Sept. 2 vs. WVU
Sept. 9 vs. Delaware
Sept. 16 at Illinois
Sept. 23 vs. Iowa
Sept. 30 at Northwestern
Bye
Oct. 14 vs. UMass
Oct. 21 at Ohio State
Oct. 28 vs. Indiana
Nov. 4 at Maryland
Nov. 11 vs. Michigan
Nov. 18 vs. Rutgers
Nov. 25 at Michigan State
GM Ben Cherington noted on 93.7 The Fan that Mike Burrows, a top-10 prospect in the franchise per MLB Pipeline, is throwing sim games
Cherington anticipates Burrows (Tommy John surgery) returning to game competition as soon as July
I was extremely fortunate to chat with Franco Harris about his time at Penn State three weeks before he passed away. If you have the time today, please, give this one a read
Based on its trajectory, Oneil Cruz's home run landed in the Allegheny River on the fly
Assuming it did, it would be the sixth home run in PNC Park history to land in the Allegheny on the fly
Ke'Bryan Hayes will resume baseball activities on Monday, per Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomcyzk.
The plan is for Hayes to play catch and field ground balls Monday, and swing the bat on Tuesday
Manager Derek Shelton said David Bednar was unavailable due to some "left side tightness"
The Pirates knew Bednar would be unavailable today after he went through his throwing program
Doesn't sound like the club thinks it's serious
More updates from Todd Tomczyk:
-David Bednar is playing catch out to 120 feet. He'll throw from a slope in the coming days
-Hunter Stratton will also throw off a slope in the coming days
-Endy Rodriguez is now hitting live BP from the left side
Pirates lineup today with Jones on the mound as they go for a sweep:
McCutchen 9
Reynolds DH
Joe 7
Cruz 6
Gonzales 4
Tellez 3
Triolo 5
Suwinski 8
Davis 2
GMBC on Henry Davis, who has caught one inning this season, getting back behind the dish later this year:
“We expect Henry to catch Major League games this season…we’ll leave that to the staff.”
Jim Leyland said he’ll throw from the mound for his first pitch
“I’m bull-headed”
Said he threw a few warmups against the garage door earlier today, and will needed rotator cuff surgery in a couple hours
Source confirms to
@PittsburghPG
that former Pirates infielder Tucupita Marcano is under investigation by MLB for betting baseball while a member of the Pirates
@jareddiamond
and
@lindseyadler
were first to report the news for
@WSJ
Source: Pirates have signed RHP Luis Cessa to a minor-league deal. He will report to Triple-A Indianapolis
Cessa, 32, had a 3.89 ERA in 11 Triple-A appearances (10 starts) in the Royals’ system this season
Today marks my first day interning for the
@PittsburghPG
. I can't wait to get back to reporting, and I am thrilled to be in Pennsylvania for the summer! You can reach me at adestin
@post
-gazette.com for tips and story ideas
Pirates notes:
-C Henry Davis' rehab assignment is over, and he's been optioned to Indianapolis
-LHP Bailey Falter placed on the 15-day IL with left triceps tendonitis
-RHP Brent Honeywell Jr. promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis
-LHP Justin Bruihl DFA'd
Nothing to fear here. Bubba Chandler’s evening - as expected - is a short one and done after 19 pitches
Chandler is in line to pitch during Saturday’s Futures Game in Texas
Pirates asst. GM Steve Sanders speaking now on 93.7 The Fan about Ji Hwan Bae, who has played CF, LF and 2B for Triple-A Indianapolis while hitting .366 with four home runs this season:
“Bae’s putting himself in a good spot to help us.”
Pirates have claimed INF/OF Niko Goodrum off waivers from the Angels and optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis
To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Ben Heller has been designated for assignment
The Pirates have recalled OF Joshua Palacios from Triple-A Indianapolis
RHP Jared Jones has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a right lat strain
Martin Perez on Paul Skenes:
“He’s awesome. He’s going to have a great career, and I think he’s going to be one of the best pitchers in the history of baseball.”
So thankful for everything
@PSUCommRadio
has provided me with the last 4 years. As I make my final trek toward Beaver Stadium as a student reporter, I wanted to share this moment with all of you. Cheers
A couple notes from Indianapolis:
RHP Braxton Ashcraft placed on 7-day injured list (retroactive to 6/27)
INF Jake Lamb was signed as a minor league free agent. He has been assigned to Indianapolis
Pirates' lineup today with Keller on the mound. McCutchen gets his first start of the season in the outfield:
McCutchen RF
Reynolds DH
Cruz 6
Joe 7
Gonzales 4
Suwinski 8
Grandal 2
Tellez 3
Triolo 5
Aroldis Chapman threw a 104 mph pitch tonight
That's the hardest thrown ball by a Pirates pitcher in the Statcast Era (since 2008) and the hardest thrown ball in MLB this season
General manager Ben Cherington on RHP prospect Braxton Ashcraft:
"Certainly we project him as a starter. We believe he has the build, the physical build, the delivery, the pitches, certainly the strike throwing delivery and the overall stuff to do that."
Greetings from Washington, D.C.
Today marks the beginning of my second year covering the Pirates for
@PittsburghPG
Be sure to follow along to my and
@_NoahHiles
’ coverage throughout the season
"He's contagious around our dressing room. So, whatever happens, he's gonna be a big part of our team. But, we have to regroup and some people will have opportunit[ies] to show up."
Pirates’ lineup today with Skenes on the mound vs. Los Angeles:
McCutchen DH
Reynolds 7
Joe 3
Olivares 9
Hayes 5
Gonzales 6
Grandal 2
Triolo 4
Suwinski 8
Heading home to see my family this weekend. An exchange this AM between a TSA agent and myself:
“Sir, our scanner picked something up, could you identify this for us?” “Yes ma’am, that would be a grilled stickie”
GMBC said the decision to keep Henry Davis (concussion) in Indianapolis after being activated was two-fold
Davis can play every day in Indianapolis, and Cherington expressed confidence in what both Grandal and Bart are providing
Pirates' lineup today against the Cardinals with Skenes on the mound:
McCutchen DH
Reynolds 7
Joe 9
Cruz 6
Hayes 5
Gonzales 4
Tellez 3
Grandal 2
Suwinski 8
Oneil Cruz's hamstring tightened up while rounding the bases in the sixth inning, manager Derek Shelton said
Putting Ke'Bryan Hayes in for Cruz was out of an "abundance of caution"
Curt was my first professor in the Comm and somebody who immediately left an impact on me. From introducing me to my first journalism friends at Penn State to liking every one of my Post-Gazette stories, Curt has been with me every step of my college journey. RIP, Curt❤️
We’re heartbroken at the loss of faculty member Curt Chandler.
“He changed lives with his absolute belief in students and his dedication to helping them achieve their potential.” —
@mariehardinpsu
This newspaper has meant the world to me over these last four years and I was so honored to be a part of its vital reporting. Support student journalists and of course, support the work the
@DailyCollegian
is doing. I’ll never forget you, TDC
SENIOR COLUMN: "In my heart, I knew I needed to come to Penn State, and The Daily Collegian is what took me over the top." writes our friend
@AndrewDestin1
Injury notes from Pirates' director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk:
-Ji Hwan Bae is in a walking boot for his left ankle. He'll be in the boot until Monday and then transition out
-Oneil Cruz is now walking without a limp and putting normal weight on the fractured left ankle
GMBC said he thinks Paul Skenes “absolutely” deserves consideration for the All-Star Game
Added Mitch Keller, Bryan Reynolds and Colin Holderman as other Pirates candidates
GM Ben Cherington said he would "probably bet" on Martin Perez to be the first of the injured starters to return to the rotation
Noted that Perez's injury not being arm-related factors into that evaluation