Esmerlyn Valdez welcome to the show… He Broke out last season 286 with 25 doubles, 26 HR campaign & was the only player in the minors w/ 25+ HR & a wRC+ over 155. - 5 homers in his past 5 games vs LHP 2026 • .326/.383/.674 • 1.057 OPS • 6 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI

Jordan Walker having a breakout season. He has made some great adjustments that have led to a huge return. More athletic, taller, more narrow stance, he gave home self space by moving his hands away from his body. All of this is allowing him to create freedom and adjustability.

To all the seniors headed into tournament time… this is it. The last ride. The last bus trips, the last stretch with your brothers, the last time putting that jersey on with this group. So leave it all on the field. Empty the tank. Play free. Play fearless. Compete with passion and gratitude. Don’t walk off that field wishing you would’ve said more, worked harder, trusted yourself more, or enjoyed it deeper. Take in every moment…the nerves, the laughs, the dugout chatter, the dogpiles, the pressure, the crowd, the silence before first pitch. One day you’ll miss all of it more than you can imagine. The game owes you nothing, but it gives you memories, relationships, and lessons that last forever. So walk tall. Trust your preparation. Love your teammates hard. And when it’s all said and done… make sure there’s nothing left inside you. No regrets.

SKENES DAY

You gotta love baseball

Baseball is the Best!!!!

Gonzo continues to smash with his new setup. More direct & cleaner/ more consistent moves to attack the ball. Love it!!

Joey Bart starting to heat up. Creating a better rhythm into the load. Which is creating better spacing and better direction.

B Lowe doing Damage on the regular. He greats incredible separation which helps him to control his movements, maximize his power potential, create adjustability, and boogie whip the barrel.

Michael Soroka vs Pittsburgh Pirates 🏴‍☠️ 6.1 IP 7 H 1 ER 2 BB 6 SO

Pre game on Paul Skenes before his dominant performance. - 2.01 ERA through 63 career starts. *That’s the lowest mark by any pitcher in the Live Ball Era, dating back to 1920. May 6th 2026 8 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 7 K 8G - 23H

TICKETS!!! 🎟️

Henry with 2HRs last night!!! Starting in a better position therefore getting to a better position. His direction was better because of the space he created at foot down. Allowing him to work through the longer and with more athleticism. Huge fan of Hammering Hank and love the change.

Baseball is the best!!!

Effectively Wild every Saturday on SNP!!! @sportsnetpittsburgh

Baseball is really really Hard!!! #RobbedHRs

Gonzo made some significant adjustments heading into 2026—and it’s showing. He’s simplified his early movements to get loaded sooner and more consistently. He’s pre-set his hands and is more stacked in his setup, which allows him to get to his load quicker. That creates more space, more time, and ultimately puts him in a better position with greater adjustability. On top of that, he’s moving more athletically than ever. I love seeing guys like Gonzo win—he works his tail off, and it’s paying off in a big way: • .330 AVG • 8-game hitting streak • .440 AVG / .997 OPS with RISP • 4 BB This is what it looks like when preparation meets opportunity.

For a long time, I’ve felt this pull.. this calling to full-time coaching. To lead, to pour into the next generation the way so many poured into me. And the truth is… it’s about time I started listening. •We’re coming with purpose. •We’re coming with standards. •We’re coming to impact lives. Build the Person → Develop the Player → Elevate the Team! Coaching World… College Baseball… NCAA… Here we come! —Michael

Take a Chance…..Make a Choice….Then Choose to Act!!!!

Keep smashing baseballs bud!!! @layneakers

Baseball is the best!!!

Perfect throw from Mangum, Great Job by Joey with the Statue pose into the last minute movement and great tag. All around sick play.

Happy Birthday @layneakers Proud of you bro! Excited to see the plan God has for you. It’s going to be an amazing ride and it’s only getting started.

SKENES DAY!!!!

Could be a breakout game for Marcell Ozuna today. He has been inbetween most of the season but…… vs Taillon 8-19 .421AVG 1.008OPS

YINZER DAY!!!!

Effectively Wild coming your way tomorrow on the pre-game show! @sportsnetpittsburgh

Mason Miller is an absolute nightmare if you’re an opposing player. He’s faced 15 batters for the Padres this season and struck out 11 of them. HE ALSO HAS STRUCK OUT THE LAST NINE BATTERS HE HAS FACED. 👀

Tools of ignorance!! You have to absolutely love it. @andrewcostelloo and myself were made to catch!!!

5-7 3HR against Lefties Cruz is making some loud noises with the bat early on in the season!!!

O’Hearn 3-0 FB elevated to the Bushes with 2 outs then an encore of a missile to LCF on a CH again with 2 outs. Been a fan from a far and happy to see him smashing in the black and gold. Man plays the game the right way.

Series Sweep 14K & no BBs for the staff!!! 🔥💀🎟️

Henry at it again!! Great anticipation… He got him self in a strong position to start angling his body towards second while at the same time allow time and creating space to throw a dart right on the money.

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. - Matthew 28:6

Thank you Jesus!!!!

HOIST THE CONE!!!!

Best is the best! Join us on @sportsnetpittsburgh to watch the full version.

BLACKOUT PNC 4/3/2026 4:12PM

Costello shares a story about building trust with a pitcher by assuring him he could block any pitch, highlighting the confidence this instills. Then reflects on a recent realization about the importance of relationships in his role as a catcher, and how it has shifted his mindset…

The Future is Now!!! @pittsburghpirates

Allow time and create space for your body to move & adjust properly! My man @brendenbednarski is getting better and better at doing just that. We continue to work on feeling & understanding multiple aspects of his swing now so that we can build and adjust as he continues to grow.

Talent + Hard Work + Support = Success! Success Secrets Revealed by @andrewcostelloo aka Duece!

Plan for what it is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small. Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Oneil Cruz 3-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI 2026 against LHP: 3 for 3, 1 HR 927 OPS 1st - 111.1 MPH, 444 feet 2nd - 108.1 MPH, 403 feet - 847 FT IN HR

Bubba no hitter through 4.1 6K and some Nasty Defense!!!

A Bushes Cone in the Dugout and 3HR and 6 Runs… BOOM sign the cone

Henry CS 2026 2/2 when he throws he is quick, has a hand cannon, and is accurate!!! 2025 37% - CS 6 Runs Above AVG .65 Exchange Time 87 MPH - 7th (Best Bolt) 83 MPH Avg 1.89 Avg Pop Time - 9th

A baseball rundown, also known as a “pickle”, occurs when a baserunner is stuck between bases and at risk of being tagged out. The defensive team aims to force the runner into an undesirable position by limiting their time and space on the basepath. The goal is to get the runner out as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Brother I’m so proud of you! Hitter of the Week!! Let’s goooo!!! This past weekend… that was a glimpse of what’s coming, and Not by luck or accident but because you have been relentless and went to work on yourself and your game when life kept punching you. The maturity to trust the process… and more importantly, you owned it, and trusted yourself enough to make real changes. Then you did what you always do: You worked. You worked. You worked. Until you could feel it. Repeat it. Own it. And we’re just getting started. We’ve got big goals. Big vision. Big belief. I’m proud of you in a way that goes way beyond performance. This is about who you’re becoming. And I truly believe God has something special in store for your life, and I’ll be right here in the background… doing my part. Trust the unknowns of your future to a known God. Continue to Fall in love with your journey not the destination. And never let anything ordinary dim what is extraordinary inside of you.

Braxton Ashcraft had a great showing in 2025 how will this powerful righty show up in 2026. I know the stuff is real with a mid to upper 90s FB a New Weapon he introduced last year in the sinker and the breaking-ball combo of feel & finish. Although he has leverage traits you would often see in a bullpen arm. He has not shown he is capable but at times in a short sample size he showed he can be dominant. The 2026 jump isn’t about “more stuff” he has stuff it’s about execution and intent early and punching tickets late!!

1st Bushes of the 2026 season for Mr. @cutchtwenty2 #cantstopwontstop #jobsnotfinish

Every Saturday on @sportsnetpittsburgh we do a segment called Effectively Wild. It’s exactly how it sounds and it’s a blast and hope you tune in next week.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win Sun Tzu #bethehammer

This ‘Setback’ Could Make Konnor Griffin UNSTOPPABLE #Pirates #MLB

Blocking is a badge of honor as a Catcher! Henry was a hockey goalie on opening day with no emotion and that is going to give confidence & Conviction back to his guys. Be the leader!!! #catching #leadbyexample

Baseball is the best!!!! #openingday2026

NAILED IT!!!! 🎥: Pirates Social Media Team!!!

Anchor Down! New Look, New Line-UP, and A hungry bunch of baseball dudes!! Got to get Loud 💀

“Culture is defined and created from the top down, but it comes to life from the bottom up.” Mike Smith

I promise I will never ever grow up!!!

Opening Day is Finally here!!! #LETSGO

Some of the wild stuff that you can grub on this year at a ballpark near you.

Trey having a day for @pitt_base 2HRS and a 1B and it’s the 5th… 🎥: @swngmn_

Catch an all new episode of Bucs’ Bounty for everything going on in Pirates Spring Training + reactions seeing Paul Skenes on the international stage at the WBC 🔥

You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it. Maya Angelou

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. - John F. Kennedy

Hard to believe year 9 is right around the corner. Nonetheless I’m super excited to get back in the studio with my great team @sportsnetpittsburgh

People without standards work toward an ocean — they’ll land somewhere. But people with clarity build cities.

The Bible emphasizes that giving back is an act of worship, trust, and love, encouraging believers to give cheerfully, generously, and without compulsion. It teaches that God is the owner of all things, and we are stewards who should share resources with the needy, the church, and the community. Facebook Facebook +4 Key biblical principles on giving back include: Cheerful Giving: God desires that giving comes from a willing heart, not out of obligation or reluctance (2 Corinthians 9:7). Generosity Reaps Blessings: The Bible teaches that “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6). Helping the Needy and Weak: Scripture highlights the duty to support the poor, widows, orphans, and the weak (Proverbs 19:17, Acts 20:35). It is More Blessed to Give: Jesus stated”It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Trusting God’s Provision: Giving, even when resources are scarce (like the widow’s mite), is an act of faith that God will provide (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 6:38).

WBC started that it was only fitting. USA in the Gold Metal business. #ForGlory

Pressure isn’t the moment — it’s the meaning we assign to it.”

The best coaches evolve without losing their identity.

My dude has been the Franchise Cornerstone for nearly two decades. He was the Face of the Pirates’ modern resurgence. The absolute Central figure in ending the 20-year losing streak. He is Culture-changer. He brings presences with real accountability, persistent preparation, and enthusiasm. 2013 NL MVP 5× All-Star 4× Silver Slugger Gold Glove (OF) 2018 Gold Metalist Top 5–10 all-time Pirate in: Hits Home Runs RBIs Runs Scored Extra-Base Hits Walks @cutchtwenty2 didn’t just put up numbers… He revived a franchise, energized a city, and though he has already earned his place next to the greatest names in Pirates history!! His story is still being written. Thank you for being you and all you have done in the Burgh. Time to Ranger up brother. #Jobsnotfinished YA DIGG!!!!

True achievement is measured not by applause, but by the impact left long after the stage is silent. Wayne Chirisa

You will have a variety of days small wins, big wins, fails, and days it’s going to be a bar fight. The goal is to narrow the gap between what you want, what you think, and how to get it. You have to come up with an adaptable plan that allows you to have days where you work through something or even fail forward. Especially when your teammates are looking at you as the leader..

We won’t grow and learn, doing what we’ve always done, and thinking what we’ve always thought. We need to move beyond our comfort zones. We need to engage with new and different if we want to expand ourselves. Akiroq Brost

Either you must control your thoughts or the outside forces will control them and be warned that the outside forces usually consist of fears, worries and doubts. Maddy Malhotra,

There are only patterns, patterns on top of patterns, patterns that affect other patterns. Patterns hidden by patterns. Patterns within patterns. If you watch close, history does nothing but repeat itself. What we call chaos is just patterns we haven’t recognized. What we call random is just patterns we can’t decipher. what we can’t understand we call nonsense. What we can’t read we call gibberish. There is no free will. There are no variables. Chuck Palahniuk

The @ryan_douglass_field_of_dreams camp is a must.

The uncertainties in life are so uncertain for us to determine the kind woe we shall be entangled in in the next future. When you stay dormant, your life is at risk; when you dare to take a step, you take a step to take a risk. We have a choice. Yes! a choice to choose to dare to get to our real reasons on earth or to choose to live in mediocrity and conformity, but, we ought to note that, it is riskier to risk nothing when the life we live is always at risk. Ernest Agyemang Yeboah

“Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength.” – Sun Tzu

Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in installments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day’s success. Israelmore Ayivor

Everything matters. Let’s treat the so called little things with importance just as we do the so called big things. Because the little things have a way of being connected and interdependent in such a way as to often be just as big as the big things. Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr

Utilizing ground reaction forces (GRF) to create, transfer, and amplify energy through the kinetic chain (legs, hips, core, arms) to the bat. Hitters generate force by pressing into the ground, leading to a rotational, powerful swing, often maximized by torque, hip-shoulder separation, and a stable, balanced foundation. Staying Grounded: Maintain ground connection throughout the swing for better balance and adjustability.

Time is the wisest counselor of all. Pericles

You have the freedom to choose, but you’re not free from the consequences of those choices. Frank Sonnenberg

Focus on what you are and what you can rather than what others aren’t & can’t. You have to win; they don’t necessarily have to lose for you! Alok Mishra

“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and whose confidence is in God. They will be like trees planted by the living streams of water, which send down their roots beneath the stream. They will not fear when the heat comes, nor despair in the year of drought. Their leaves will always be green, and they will never fail to produce fruit in season.” –Jeremiah 17:7-8

Complacency is a quiet threat to every high performer. With or without a trophy in hand, it whispers: “You’ve done enough.” But the truth is, excellence and mastery have no expiration date. Each day demands a renewed pursuit. Excellence isn’t inherited. It’s rented, and rent is due every day. Yesterday’s wins don’t secure tomorrow’s opportunities and victories. The standard is personal. Set it, uphold it, and refuse to negotiate it. Don’t allow your standard to be compromised by outside noise, circumstances, or uncontrollable events. #jobsnotfinished

Coaching works because it creates real, lasting change. It helps you see new perspectives, understand your strengths, and move toward your goals with clarity and confidence. They themselves are coachable: This is driven by humility. You need to be humble to know you don’t have all the answers.

Ticket Time (Week 1/3 games 24 Punches for the Buccos)

Baseball is back! That means some bushes and barrels. Here is some good ones from the first week of ball…

Learn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone’s life. Be the light that helps others see; it is what gives life its deepest significance.” (Roy T. Bennett)

To persist with a goal, you must treasure the dream more than the costs of sacrifice to attain it. Richelle E. Goodrich

Coaching Clinic Tonight!! Catching Clinic Next Week @clubhousepgh Hope to see you there.