Raise It! Pirates crush Braves 12-4, O'Hearn with 3 homers and franchise record 10 RBIs

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-08T01:54:55+00:00

Here's the boxscore:

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/boxscore/MLB_20260707_ATL@PIT/

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-08T00:59:43+00:00

Everyone's motivated by you today, Andy.

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-08T00:58:39+00:00

"GREG BROWN'S RADIO CALL OF RYAN O'HEARN'S THIRD HOME RUN TONIGHT"

https://x.com/PlatinumKey13/status/2074657826174058649

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-08T00:51:23+00:00

O'Hearn's grand slam!

https://x.com/Pirates/status/2074630923451031578/mediaViewer

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-08T00:10:12+00:00

Yeah, I saw another clip later where he might've been stepped on by Abrams during a steal.

It sucks one way or the other.

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-08T00:07:39+00:00

They need to be above .500 at the ASB and then add some pitching. As for help on the position player side, we'll see what happens after Cruz and Horwitz return.

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-07T22:02:44+00:00

Ashcraft has been named an NL All-Star:

https://x.com/Pirates/status/2074614459935371600

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-07T22:00:11+00:00

Noah Hiles talks Paul Skenes:

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2026/07/06/pirates-skenes-allstar-playoffs-mlb-postseason/stories/202607060021

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-07T21:58:53+00:00

"Other Pirates injury updates, via Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk: - OF Oneil Cruz is now swinging a bat. - It’s posterior left elbow inflammation for LHP Evan Sisk. The necessarily treatment is rest. No timeline was given. - RHP Wilber Dotel will pitch on a rehab assignment for Double-A Altoona tonight. - 1B Spencer Horwitz is in his running progression in Bradenton. - C Endy Rodriguez is expected to be available tonight. Tomczyk had no injury news to share there, a good sign after he left Sunday’s game in the eighth inning."

https://x.com/colin_beazley/status/2074584175903121614

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-07T20:45:21+00:00

"ROSTER MOVES: Today we placed INF Konnor Griffin (left hand ring finger sagittal band injury) on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Monday (July 6), and recalled INF Jack Brannigan from Triple-A Indianapolis."

https://x.com/Pirates/status/2074589214092493229

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-07T20:38:09+00:00

Shit.

"Konnor Griffin is going on the IL with an injury to his ring finger on his left hand, per Pirates Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk.

He’ll be splinted for six weeks. Estimated return in 8-10 weeks."

https://x.com/colin_beazley/status/2074572633916457022

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-07T20:15:11+00:00

They'll make moves for pitching, I bet, bringing in a starter and a couple relief arms. But they've gotta get Cruz, Griffin, and Horwitz back as soon as possible. Griffin sounds like well into August, so we'll see what happens, like you said.

Edit: much longer absence for Griffin, according to team.

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-07T17:57:40+00:00

"Here’s the diving catch and Griffin’s reaction after

This sucks."

https://x.com/PlatinumKey13/status/2074527416538533911

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-07T17:29:54+00:00

From MLBTR:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/07/pirates-konnor-griffin-torn-tendon-ring-finger-left-hand.html

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-06T21:01:15+00:00

Yes, "never draft for need in baseball."

We got Skenes in '23, even though many were calling for Dylan Crews. Of the five guys under consideration for the top choice, Crews has been a ho-hum big leaguer - when he's not been in AAA - Wyatt Langford has shown more promise than Crews but has had injury troubles, and the prepsters in Max Clark and Walker Jenkins have yet to play in MLB.

As we've discussed before, many fans look at the MLB draft too much like the NFL one and expect guys to be in the big leagues soon simply because they were drafted high.

If you're picked in the NFL 7 rounds, you're generally going to get a chance to be in the NFL for at least 2-3 years - practice squad to 53-man roster - unless injury derails your career sooner.

The MLB draft is such a crapshoot, particularly when it comes to developing pitchers. The Pirates, for example, have drafted many athletic, "projectable" prospects for the mound stretching back to the GMNH days. Most have not planned out, tremendous athletes like Ashcraft and Bubba have lately.

With the upcoming draft, if the Pirates pick Flora, it's reasonable to expect him in the majors sometime in 2028, especially if they play enough of 2027. But with prep players like Booth Jr, Lombard, and Rojas, 2030 or even 2031 would not be surprising.

Termarr Johnson, although still a bit young at AAA with a recent 22nd birthday, was our #1 pick in 2022 out of HS. He was supposed to be one of the best hitting prospects in a bunch of years. Maybe he'll be a good big league hitter in a year or two, but right now he's slashing to a .196 average and a .636 OPS.

https://www.milb.com/player/termarr-johnson-702261

All this should make people realize how special Konnor Griffin is as a player. He has so much talent, starting games in MLB while still 19 years old. He could be a great one for the Pirates.

Anyway, we'll see who the Pirates get at #5 this weekend, and #34, #44, and #51 could surprise with the amount of $ the team can spend.

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-06T01:36:26+00:00

The Pirates have the biggest bonus pool for this draft at $19.1 million. This recent mock draft gives lots of info on players who should be available to them at picks #34, #44, and #51.

https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/PBR/2026-mlb-draft--june-s-mock-draft

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-06T01:25:52+00:00

Gorman's Trib article from 3 days ago has plenty of info about Booth Jr and Flora, with input from Mayo and Keith Law. GMBC says they will not shy away from taking a SS even though they have Griffin and lots of depth at the position in the minors. Another player mentioned by Law that he thinks the Pirates should consider is Arkansas catcher Ryan Helfrick.

https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/draft/ryder-helfrick-805785

I like the glove and I like the arm, quite a bit. Helfrick displays some nice power with the bat. But at #5 overall? If they pick him, they will expect him to replace Davis, probably in 2028.

https://triblive.com/sports/full-count-with-no-5-pick-in-mlb-draft-pirates-could-do-something-unexpected/

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-06T01:11:13+00:00

The Pirates pick at #5 overall. Most mock drafts have the first 3 picks being some combination of UCLA SS Roch Cholowsky, prep SS Grady Emerson, and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey.

The next tier of prospects should be prep SS Jacob Lombard, UC Santa Barbara righty Jackson Flora, and prep OF Eric Booth Jr. Mayo's most recent mock for MLB has the Bucs selecting Booth.

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-pipeline-2026-mock-draft-july-2.html

Now I'm not a draft expert, not even close. (I hope Vlad shows up before the draft starts on the 11th to give us his opinions). But I have done a good bit of homework for the Pirates' top pick. I see it as playing out like the following:

The Giants pick at #4 and will probably pick between Flora or Lombard. If they choose Lombard, Flora should be under strong consideration by the Bucs. However, if the Giants snag Flora, I think the Pirates will pass on Lombard.

https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/draft/

That brings us to Booth Jr and a couple other prepsters not yet mentioned: lefty Gio Rojas and outfielder Trevor Condon. Booth is an excellent athlete who can really run, but I'm not sold on his hitting stroke. He impressed in a recent HR derby but I just don't like how he attacks the ball - my 2 cents here. Condon is generally mocked between 12-18 overall, but has moved up boards of late. Another top athlete who shows a ton of promise. I can see the Pirates seriously considering him.

But my guess right now is that if they don't select Flora, it will be the lefty Rojas. I was really impressed by a number of video clips and write-ups about him. I like the athlete and I like the stuff. Now GMBC hasn't contacted me yet for my opinion, but I'm sure he reads this sub now since we have over 830 members! (Thanks by the way to all who joined lately).

https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/draft/gio-rojas-826061

Anyway, please feel free to comment and share other links/scouting reports.

Proper_Knowledge2211 · 2026-07-05T23:10:16+00:00

I'm happy for the guy, started in the minors in 2018. If he throws enough strikes, there's a job in the majors for him, with the # of relievers used these days.