Pirates News: Andrew McCutchen’s special moment, Joey Wentz claim, Hall of Fame class

When one Pittsburgh legend hit an historic home run at PNC Park on Wednesday, it was only fitting that another Pittsburgh legend retrieved it.

That's exactly what happened when Andrew McCutchen recorded his 241st home run as a Pirate to pass Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente for No. 3 on the franchise all-time list. The ball sailed into the left field bleachers, sending several fans scurrying to find it, but Pittsburgh native and diehard Pirates fan Jim Kolesar was the lucky one who retrieved the ball wedged under the seats.

Needless to say, the Pirates were prepared to negotiate with Kolesar to get the ball back. But Kolesar, for his part was more than happy just to be a part of Pirates lore – even if it meant returning the ball to the man who hit it 405 feet out of the park.

"It meant more to him than me," Kolesar said in an interview with Hannah Mears of SportsNet Pittsburgh, chuckling as he added. "But I think I sold myself short."

Kolesar did get a chance to meet McCutchen after the game and return the ball to him in person, and it was hard to tell who was more delighted by the experience.

"He seems like a national treasure," McCutchen said of Kolesar. "It was great to have an interaction with a true Pittsburgher."

Pirates News: Lefty reliever Joey Wentz claimed off waivers by Twins

The Pirates made a slew of roster moves earlier this week that included designating left-handed pitcher Joey Wentz for assignment. The former first-round pick, whom the Pirates picked up off waivers from the Detroit Tigers last August, is now back in the American League Central after being claimed by the Minnesota Twins.

Wentz pitched to a rather unremarkable 4.15 ERA with a 19.1% strikeout rate and a 9.6% walk rate in 26 innings with Pittsburgh this season. He is out of minor league options, so the Pirates had no choice but to DFA him to clear space on the 40-man and active rosters when they selected the contracts of Brett Sullivan and Isaac Mattson from Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Twins will now take a shot on Wentz, who gives them another left-handed option in their bullpen alongside Danny Coulombe. Unless Wentz's numbers dramatically improve, however, his hold on a roster spot in Minnesota is shaky at best.

Pirates' 2025 Hall of Fame class announced

The Pirates announced earlier this week that they will be inducting a trio of franchise legends into their Hall of Fame this August.

The Class of 2025 consists of Kiki Cuyler, Vern Law and Al Oliver, each of whom played for a different Pirates team that won the World Series. Cuyler, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, was the hero of the Pirates' 1925 World Series championship. Law, who spent all 16 years of his MLB career with the Pirates, won the franchise's first Cy Young Award in 1960. Oliver, a key contributor in the 1971 World Series, was part of Major League Baseball's first all-minority starting lineup in September of that year.

The trio will be honored during an on-field ceremony at PNC Park prior to the Pirates' game against the Colorado Rockies on August 22 following their official induction the day before.

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