Bucco Bantr

We sit down with Pirates infield prospect Ethan Lege, who was the Pirates 15th round pick in 2024. Ethan talks about his journey from high school ball to the professional ranks, how he has evolved over the years, and the lessons learned along the way. Tune in for an inside look at one of the Pirates’ rising position players and what’s next as he prepares for the next season. Follow us on Instagram...

Have you ever wanted your team to win? Have you ever had a team that didn't want to throw money at the roster and hope for the best? Have you ever been so desperate for wins that you recruited the baseball world's top nerd? Have you ever exclusively worn chinos with a HEAVY front pleat? Then, boy, do we have a movie for you! Hope you don't like Barry Zito, because he's not in it. S...

BUCCO BANTR | PITTSBURGH PIRATES NON-TENDER DEADLINE REACTIONS, JACK SUWINSKI DEAL BREAKDOWN, KAZUMA OKAMOTO RUMORS, EDMUNDO SOSA TRADE TALK + WINTER MEETINGS PREVIEW Welcome back to Bucco Bantr, your home for Pittsburgh Pirates news, rumors, reactions, and in-depth analysis.  In this episode, we dive into one of the most important stretches of the MLB offseason and break down how every move impac...

🎙️ THE ALEX STUMPF SHOW — EPISODE 1 | Pittsburgh Pirates Offseason Rumors, Kyle Schwarber Buzz, Rule 5 Draft Moves & Don Kelly’s Staff Review Welcome to the first-ever episode of The Alex Stumpf Show, our brand-new every-other-Thursday podcast seriesfeaturing MLB.com’s Pittsburgh Pirates beat writer, Alex Stumpf! If you're a Pirates fan, an MLB news junkie, or someone who wants insider-lev...

We sit down with Pirates pitching prospect David Matoma, one of the most intriguing young arms in the system and a player with the chance to become the first Ugandan-born Major Leaguer. Matoma opens up about his journey from Uganda to professional baseball, the challenges and pride that come with representing his home country, and the development path that has turned him into one of the Pirates’ m...

Adam and Chris watch The Scout, a 1994 comedy starring Albert Brooks at the height of his comedic prowess and a young pre-hunk Brendan Fraiser navigating the world of baseball, arbitration, and arrested development. Panned by critics and snubbed at the box office, does this comedy finally find legs three decades after its release? Take some time to stretch out on the therapist's couch and enjo...

Paul Skenes makes history as the first unanimous Cy Young Award winner in Pirates history, and we break down what this milestone means for the future of the franchise and its emerging core. We also preview a pivotal stretch of roster management ahead — including key decisions on protecting prospects from the Rule 5 Draft and the upcoming Non-Tender Deadline. Plus, we recap the Pirates’ newest coac...

We sit down with Pirates pitching prospect Ryan Harbin, who’s coming off his best season yet and was recently added to the 40-man roster. Ryan talks about his journey from high school ball to the professional ranks, how his pitch mix has evolved over the years, and the lessons learned along the way. Tune in for an inside look at one of the Pirates’ rising arms and what’s next as he prepares for th...

In this week's episode, Adam and Chris rewatch the 2004 baseball classic, Mr. 3000. Bernie Mac's first leading role in a comedy is a testament to why baseball writers are a menace and are never to be trusted. Destined for the Baseball Hall of Fame, post his early and dramatic retirement, Stan Ross is forced to return to baseball after nearly a decade of being a successful businessman becau...

In this week’s episode of Bucco Bantr, we recap the past week of Arizona Fall League action and the Fall Stars weekend, highlighting standout performances from Pirates prospects. We also dive into some early offseason transactions, the official opening of free agency, and discuss a few intriguing early trade targets the Pirates could explore this winter. Join us on Discord: https://dubclub.win/af/...

We sit down with Pirates pitching prospect  Levi Sterling  for an in-depth conversation about his baseball journey — from growing up in the competitive baseball hotbed of Southern California and starring at a powerhouse high school, to representing  Team USA  alongside future teammate  Konnor Griffin , hearing his name called on  draft day , and adjusting to life in  pro ball . Levi shares insight...

JABO Episode 2 takes a dive into a world of long-billed hats, fireworks, murderous dogs, and problematic kissing scenes as Adam and Chris look at the coming of age classic THE SANDLOT. The heartwarming, nostalgia-filled coming-of-age romp that looks at growing up through the lens of baseball and bullying. Get your popcorn ready, toast your mallows, and get ready for the Babe Ruth suckfest that def...

The MLB Offseason is officially here. We dive into an action-packed week across baseball by starting off with the thrilling conclusion to the World Series. Then, we break down the big coaching news — Derek Shelton heading to Minnesota as their new manager and Bill Murphy being named the Pirates’ new pitching coach. We’ll also recap the latest Arizona Fall League action, highlighting standout perfo...

We sit down with newly acquired Pirates prospect  Callan Moss , who shares his remarkable journey from New York City  to becoming one of the organization’s  breakout hitters . Moss reflects on what it was like developing as a player in a city not known for producing baseball talent, the challenges of going  undrafted , and the mindset that helped him carve out a path to professional success. We al...

In the inaugural episode of Just a Bit Outside, Adam and Chris take a look at the 1989 classic, "Field of Dreams". What's more American than finger guns, hot dogs, an army of steam rollers, time-traveling ghosts, baseball, and corn? Adam got to see this movie for the first time, so listen along and enjoy the childlike wonder of experiencing a very weird movie for the first time. Join u...

This week on  Bucco Bantr , we break down all the latest action from the Arizona Fall League, where several Pirates prospects continue to make noise. We also dive into the surprising news of Amateur Scouting Director Justin Horowitz’s departure — what it means for the organization heading into another crucial offseason. Plus, we highlight a few more early trade targets the Pirates could pursue to...

We sit down with Pirates 2025 first-round pick Seth Hernandez , one of the most exciting young arms in the organization. We dive into Seth’s draft day experience, his transition into professional baseball, and the mindset that drives him on the mound. He shares insight into his pitch arsenal, preparation routines, and how he’s adapting to the challenges of pro ball. Plus, we get his thoughts on jo...

We’re back with another week of Arizona Fall League action — and Esmerlyn Valdez is on fire. We break down his torrid stretch at the plate and what it could mean for his development heading into 2026. Plus, we continue exploring potential offseason trade targets and take an early look at the free agent market as the Hot Stove starts to heat up. Join us on Discord: https://dubclub.win/af/afl-rep3z/...

In this episode of  Bucco Bantr , we sit down with Pirates reliever  Isaac Mattson  to recap his stellar 2025 season. We talk about his dominant stretch on the mound, the confidence behind throwing his fastball nearly 80% of the time, and how his mentality and emotion fuel his success in high-leverage spots. Isaac reflects on the growth he’s made this year, the trust he’s earned in the bullpen, an...

In this week's episode, we recap the past week of action in the Arizona Fall League and break down the performances of Pirates prospects as they showcase their skills out west. We also dive into some early trade targets the Pirates could pursue this offseason and make our predictions for key arbitration cases heading into the winter. Join us on Discord: https://dubclub.win/af/afl-rep3z/ Visit...

This week on our Dahn on the Farm series, we sit down with Pirates 2025 9th round pick out of LSU, Jared "Bear" Jones. We talk about his time at LSU playing SEC baseball, his recent draft story, and much more. Join us on Discord: https://dubclub.win/af/afl-rep3z/ Visit the TSE shop here: https://tseshop.com/?rfsn=8616256.5dea20 Visit Sports Card Junction here: https://sportscardjunction.co...

On today's episode, we are joined by Pirates beat reporter Alex Stumpf. We dive into the news of Don Kelly’s extension as Pirates manager and what it means for the team moving forward. We also break down other coaching staff changes and how they could shape the club’s development in 2026. To wrap things up, we give a quick preview of the upcoming offseason and the key storylines to watch as th...

In this first Dahn on the Farm episode of the offseason, we sit down with Pirates pitching prospect Blake Townsend. We talk about his journey to professional baseball from Australia, his development on the mound, and what’s ahead as he continues to climb through the Pirates system. We’re excited to kick off the offseason with this interview and look forward to bringing you many more prospect conve...

We wrap up the 2025 season with a full recap of the final series in Atlanta and take a step back to look at the year as a whole. From the highs and lows of an unforgettable campaign to the standout performances that defined it, we name our  Bucco Bantr Players of the Year  and reflect on everything 2025 brought to Pittsburgh baseball. We’ll also give a quick preview of the offseason ahead and what...

Paul Skenes continues to dominate in his historic sophomore season as the Pirates take a series win in Cincinnati, putting a dent in the Reds’ playoff hopes. We break down top pitching prospect Hunter Barco’s big-league debut and Spencer Horwitz’s scorching hot bat. To wrap it up, we preview the final series of the season in Atlanta against the Braves. Join us on Discord: https://dubclub.win/af/af...