Southern Yinzer

Born & Raised in the 412, #LetsGoPens #LetsGoBucs Faithful #SkenesDay observer, #HereWeGo 🖤💛 Happily married, Christian Conservative, 🚫DMs

[Southern Yinzer @SouthernYinzer]

@DanZangrilli @rawoods24 Great news!

[Southern Yinzer @SouthernYinzer]

This is so wholesome! 🖤💛🖤💛 #LetsGoBucs

[Shelby Cassesse @ShelbyCassesse]

Pretty cool moment last night in McCandless!

On a whim, Paul Skenes decided to stop at an Ingomar Franklin Park Little League practice.

A parent tells @WPXI Skenes spent two hours signing gear, playing catch and giving advice.

[Aiden Stepansky @AidenStepansky]

“To the kids here in Pittsburgh, he's the biggest thing in baseball by far. He is baseball,” Ingomar Franklin Park Little League President Chris Greco said.

READ:
https://t.co/uhwxbS8c0D

[Greg Brown @gbrowniepoints]

Thanks to Ben Susco for the message & the photos! Good stuff @Paul_Skenes

[The Early Shift @The_EarlyShift]

Reinold Navarro Has to Be Seen to Be Believed

It’s been a while since I did a prospect report. In truth, the narratives at the ML level have become far more interesting to me and where I like to spend my time. But since I spent so much of February and March digging into the system, I still feel called back to the farm.

Today we’re revisiting Bradenton, which has been pretty quiet since Murf Gray, Seth Hernandez and Edward Florentino moved up to Greensboro.

But there is one pitcher there that frankly defies a traditional profile.

Before I go further, I want to lift up the excellent work done by Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) with Bucs on Deck, (https://t.co/clYahtVwpD), which should really be your go-to for coverage of the Pirates’ minor league system. Just a ton of great resources and well worth the premium subscription.

While I only occasionally highlight our minor league system, the team at Bucs on Deck finds all the best angles on our affiliates.

It was while checking out Anthony’s YouTube page that I caught some video of Reinold Navarro, and it is truly bizarre.

What the Hell Am I Watching?

Study some film of Navarro and the first thing that jumps out isn’t the velocity, or the violent way he whips the ball toward the plate. It isn’t even the copious strikeouts. It’s the complete lack of certainty regarding where the baseball is going.

One pitch will start at a hitter’s hip before screaming back across the plate at 98 mph. The next will miss by three feet. Then he’ll snap off a slider that looks unhittable. Then he’ll throw another pitch that leaves everyone briefly concerned for the backstop’s well-being.

If Ricky ‘Wild Thing’ Vaughn at the beginning of the movie Major League was a 19-year old kid from the Dominican Republic, you’d get the idea of what we’re dealing with.

It’s pretty remarkable and definitely worth your time to check out:

https://t.co/MslcnBaDpI

Calling Him a Live Arm Undersells It

The Pirates signed Navarro out of the Dominican Republic for $270,000 during the 2024 international signing period. At the time, he was an interesting arm touching the mid-90s. Once he entered the organization, the velocity took off. By 2025 he was sitting in the upper-90s and touching 99 mph while generating absurd swing-and-miss numbers.

Baseball America ranked him among the Pirates’ top prospects and described his fastball as “one of the best pure offerings in the minor leagues.” The pitch features more than 20 inches of induced vertical break, and generates whiffs nearly half the time hitters swung at it.

He also has a filthy slider thrown in the mid-80s that misses a lot of bats. Coupled with the fastball, Navarro already owns two pitches that would play in a major league bullpen tomorrow.

Just Call Him ‘Wild Thing’

Last season between the Florida Complex League and Bradenton, Navarro struck out 61 batters in just 32 innings.

But he also walked 40. And no, that isn’t a typo.

Think about that for a moment. He averaged nearly two strikeouts per inning while simultaneously issuing more than a walk per inning. Normally those kinds of numbers don’t coexist.

Through his first 86.1 professional innings, Navarro has walked 93 batters. Baseball America slapped a 30 grade on the command. MLB Pipeline isn’t much more optimistic.

If only this were solved by giving him a pair of glasses, like it did for Charlie Sheen’s character in the film.

Wait, has anyone tried that? It worked for Tommy Pham

2026 Outlook and Beyond

Noah Wright (@NoahW_25) wrote a great piece on Navarro for Bucco Bantr earlier this year where he mentioned some tinkering they were doing in Bradenton to help him harness his stuff:

https://t.co/FdGP7Qt1BO

It seems to be moving in the right direction. In May he put up a 1.65 ERA in 16.1 IP with ‘only’ 12 BB and 32 K.

If he can minimize walks even further, he could be next to Seth Hernandez as an elite arm in our system. But that’s a big if.

For now, it’s fun just to watch.

[PNC Park’s Giant Balls @PNCsGiantBalls]

Paul Skenes was driving by a little league field tonight when he decided to stop and play catch with the kids. He signed and hung out for over two hours.

What a guy. That’s my ace 🏴‍☠️

(📸 Mikey & Big Bob on FB)

[The Early Shift @The_EarlyShift]

The Pirates Need a Real 3B

Ah, the feeling of elation at knowing that Brandon Lowe is alright. I was convinced Saturday night that our season was well on the ropes, and instead Lowe gets a pinch hit double on Sunday and Bubba Chandler largely shuts down the Braves over 5+ innings.

Baseball is inherently an up-and-down sport, but the last 24 hours have been a real doozy. Add in another blown save to boot.

It got me thinking -- if Lowe were to go out, what would the left side of the infield look like going forward?

Continued Delay on KG

Part of the answer to that question rests on the recovery of our talented rookie still on the IL.

On the Sunday edition of The Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan, GM Ben Cherington revealed to Jason Mackey that Konnor Griffin has been diagnosed with a low-grade flexor mass muscle strain in his right forearm. The Pirates are projecting a pretty conservative plan for recovery, deciding to wait a few more days before starting him on a throwing program.

Barring a recurrence of symptoms, a return sometime over the next 10-15 days appears most likely, though he could theoretically be in the lineup a week from now.

As we’ve experienced to-date, injuries are going to be a big challenge for the Pirates to overcome, with the absence of Ryan O’Hearn, Griffin and Lowe of late exposing the team’s depth issues. We don’t have ready-made solutions when starters need significant time off.

The Infield Mess

One could argue that the left side of the infield has been a mess since the start of the season. With a desire to get Nick Gonzalez’s bat in the lineup, he was made starting 3B after Jared Triolo went on the IL early in the season. That either player was considered a legitimate option followed an offseason where the team failed in its attempts to secure an upgrade.

Between Gonzalez, Tyler Callihan, Nick Yorke and recent call-up Davis Wendzel, we have guys who either don’t naturally play 3B but can hit a little, or who are just unproven at the ML level. The one true 3B on the team, Triolo, is totally ineffective as a hitter and should only be a defensive replacement.

When either Griffin or Lowe are out (or God forbid both), the unpreparedness to cover in their absence shines through. This hodgepodge of players aren’t options to run out there either defensively, offensively, or both. Not when we're competing for the playoffs.

A Theoretical Trade

The loss of a major run producer (or two!) would be devastating to a Pirates team that is already wrestling with rotation and bullpen issues. The team has thrived because it has scored a little over 5 runs per game. They need to be stoking those fires, not watching the embers burn out.

With a dearth of solid options at the hot corner league-wide, the opportunity to acquire an expensive player at the end of a contract holds some appeal. I offer the following more as a thought exercise, to show how it could get done despite the challenge of so many teams in the wild card race.

Nolan Arenado was acquired by the D-backs before the 2026 season, receiving $31 million from the Cardinals to cover part of the $42 million he was owed for 2026 and 2027. He has a .772 OPS with a +4 DRS in 56 starts at 3B, where he remains above average defensively. He also has a tight no-trade clause, which is part of what makes this trade theoretical.

The Diamondbacks recently called up 3B LuJames Groover from AAA where he had an .873 OPS. A 2nd round draft pick in 2023 out of NC State, he appears ready for his shot but is blocked by the 35-year old Arenado. Teammate Jose Fernandez is also in that mix.

Something’s got to give, even as the 34-31 Diamondbacks are in the thick of the wild card hunt. While I’d much prefer to try and get Groover, the prospect capital required would likely be too steep, and we already have a slightly younger version in Murf Gray coming up strong. A 1.5 year vet rental would be ideal.

The Diamondbacks need rotation help with Corbin Burnes out until September. I could envision a scenario where Carmen Mlodzinski and newly-promoted AAA starter Khristian Curtis gets it done. It’s expensive, but it plugs a critical hole.

So what about Nicky G? For now, he replaces Triolo at SS, getting him away from 3B where his -4 DRS has hurt of late. When Griffin is back, Gonzalez can spell Lowe who is hitting .197 in 73 PA against lefties. Injuries and the DH spot create additional ways to make sure Gonzo gets plate appearances.

The Bottom Line 📌

The failure to acquire a 3B is among the biggest misses of Cherington’s offseason (along with the bullpen). The list of needs was too great, but the acquisition of Marcell Ozuna appears to have been wasted capital.

It isn’t too late for the Pirates to acquire a talented 3B to steady the ship. The Diamondbacks offer an example of an aging vet vs. up-and-comers position battle that is all-too-common during this part of the season. We have the prospects to swing a trade like this, even with a contending team.

The bigger question is: does Cherington even think 3B is an Issue? There seems to be more confidence in the current roster than seems sensical from the outside looking in. And as evidenced by Lowe’s close call, anything can happen.

We need bold, decisive action to keep us in the hunt for the playoffs. 3B and RP are holes that need filled. I hope something gets done.

[Southern Yinzer @SouthernYinzer]

@burghbulletin Several opportunities missed with RISP.

[The Early Shift @The_EarlyShift]

Brandon Lowe: How Long Will He Be Out?

Well, that sucked.

I’m waking up this morning on the 7th floor of the Omni at the Battery, overlooking Truist Park where the Pirates lost (again) yesterday 6-3. It was the sort of game you knew was heading to a loss almost immediately after it started.

As people who like to avoid masses of people, my wife and I normally would have left after we stranded runners in the 7th inning, but instead stuck around to the bitter end full of chanting and tomahawk chops.

With two strikes on him, Brandon Lowe was about to be the third out in the 9th when he fouled a ball directly off his right knee and collapsed in pain.

I stood up and shouted expletives. I took the Lord’s name in vain. This can’t be happening,

Kneecap Injuries Are No Joke

From where I was sitting, the injury looked pretty bad. There was a bit of a popping sound as it bounced off his knee, and his reaction looked an awful lot like when Christian Yelich fractured his right kneecap in September 2019:

https://t.co/DkE6NC7KaC

In fact, Lowe had fouled a pitch off his kneecap just like this in 2023 and it resulted in a right patella fracture with a week left in the season:

https://t.co/25bpVJZ1AN

If Lowe’s injury was a kneecap fracture, his season is likely done. They take 4-6 weeks of recovery time with an immobilized leg, and then at least another 4-6 of physical therapy. The total recovery time is typically 3-6 months.

Of course, we’re all hoping for just a bruise and a two week recovery, but I’m preparing for the worst.

The Infield Shuffle

Lowe has been among the best hitting second basemen in baseball, with the most home runs (15) and RBI (41) in the MLB and third in OPS (.848). Ask most Pirates fans, and they would point to him as the leading reason the team sits at 34-31.

With this presumed injury, the Pirates’ infield is starting to look a bit worse for the wear. Konnor Griffin had already gone out on the 10-day IL on May 31 with a right forearm and elbow strain. We haven’t heard much about his recovery in the last few days, which makes me a touch nervous.

Tyler Callihan was called up from AAA to serve as backup to Nick Gonzalez at 3B and Jared Triolo at SS. In the near term, Gonzo would move back to 2B and Callihan would take over 3B, with Enmanuel Valdez likely called up from Indy to serve as backup.

An alternative alignment offered yesterday on X by several people suggested Spencer Horwitz shift to 2B (a position where he’s played 39 games in MLB), Ryan O’Hearn take over 1B, and Esmerlyn Valdez be recalled to serve as DH.

Both would be a bridge until Griffin returns, and none of them would fully make up for Lowe’s significant offense out of the #2 spot in the lineup.

Why Us? Why Can’t We Have Nice Things?

Being in Atlanta for these first two games of the start to this six-game run that has the Dodgers coming to PNC on Tuesday, I am struck by how incomplete the Pirates feel.

The narrative coming in to June was about how awful the bullpen had been. Now we’re contending with a rotation of underperformers and a lineup that might have just lost our best hitter for a significant amount of time.

It begs the oft-asked question: why does God hate Pirates’ fans? Want did we do, or who did we offend, to deserve such a crappy run of luck? Who can we shake our fist at?

The Bottom Line📌

I assume we’ll hear today about the results of Lowe’s X-rays/MRI, and I am certainly hoping for the best. A two-week recovery would not be fun in the near term, but at least we’d get back to full strength before the ASB.

But if he is out for a longer period of time, this team is going to need to tighten up to stay competitive. We still have a strong core of the lineup, and with Jared Jones back, the rotation has potential to be a strength.

One hopes GM Ben Cherington is working the phones. There is still a long way to go on the season, and it remains the best team we’ve seen in a long time. Let’s not squander the opportunity.

[Southern Yinzer @SouthernYinzer]

@JennMGreenberg My niece would mix up her consonants. So, Uncle was Knuckle and Ketchup was Checkup, etc. It was adorable!

[Shmoe @ShmoeDad]

@BlackBlessedLDS People don’t just want agency. They want total freedom from the consequences of their choices and actions.

Complete degeneracy.

[Troy Sariah @BlackBlessedLDS]

Don’t have sex. Consenting to sex is consenting to pregnancy. You know the risk of sex. Grown activities have grown consequences (good and bad).

Using abortion as a form of birth control is reprehensible.

[Southern Yinzer @SouthernYinzer]

I don’t like this…please be ok BLowe!

[Aiden Stepansky @AidenStepansky]

Brandon Lowe exits the game after fouling a ball off himself. Would be a tough loss for the Pirates to lose one of their best hitters.

[Southern Yinzer @SouthernYinzer]

@PlatinumKey13 😆

[Southern Yinzer @SouthernYinzer]

Same for me when the Buccos play the Braves. Makes no sense. Well…MLB TV tells me I can UPGRADE to Braves TV to get all in-market Braves games, which is ridiculous because I only want to watch the Braves when they play the team I’M ALREADY PAYING FOR!

[David Jones @iPopEditor]

I pay for MLB TV. I pay for YouTube TV. I can’t watch the Cardinals-Reds game on either because MLB blacks out the game because I’m 4 hours from Cincinnati, and YouTube TV doesn’t carry the stations that show the game. It’s a bit ridiculous!

[Southern Yinzer @SouthernYinzer]

@PlatinumKey13 Haven’t tried that yet!

[Southern Yinzer @SouthernYinzer]

@GMBCSuperfan Literally want to scream. Ugh!

[Southern Yinzer @SouthernYinzer]

@BrentEff I’d watch the Braves broadcast. I’m relegated to listening to the Pirates radio call, which is better than nothing, but I’d prefer to watch.

[Southern Yinzer @SouthernYinzer]

@The_EarlyShift @PlatinumKey13 @GMBCSuperfan Have fun today! Hopefully we’ll all be celebrating another Ashcraft W.

[The Early Shift @The_EarlyShift]

Today is Braxton Ashcraft’s first start in June. In May, he was… alright I guess…

#letsgobucs

[Lu for Alaska @luinalaska]

Half the people sneering at the existence of disabled children with medical needs have a “hate has no home here” sign in their yard. Half the people fighting for a woman’s right to choose don’t even believe women exist as a distinct objective reality. Frauds.