Pirates News: Daniel Vogelbach, Paul Skenes Buffalo visit, Johan Oviedo prediction

Former Pittsburgh Pirate Daniel Vogelbach is heading back to familiar territory — but not in black and gold. The 33-year-old is returning to the Milwaukee Brewers as a hitting coach on Pat Murphy’s staff, the club announced.

Vogelbach quietly began transitioning into the next phase of his baseball life last season with the Pirates, serving as a special assistant for hitting. Now, he gets a full-time dugout role with a division rival.

The left-handed slugger spent nine MLB seasons between the Seattle Mariners, Brewers, Pirates, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays. Pirates fans will remember his brief but memorable 2022 stint in Pittsburgh, when he mashed early-season home runs, worked deep counts, smiled a lot, and then became the trade piece that brought Colin Holderman to Pittsburgh.

Vogelbach now joins a Brewers team that somehow finds new ways to stay annoying despite losing players and staff every offseason. And while it stings a bit to see a former Pirate working to improve Milwaukee’s bats, it’s also hard not to root for Vogelbach — one of the most likable personalities to pass through Pittsburgh in recent years.

Just… maybe not when the Brewers are in town.

Pirates News: Paul Skenes throws surprise bullpen in Buffalo

Paul Skenes never skips prep — not even on a Bills weekend. While in Buffalo with Pirates teammate Jared Jones to catch a game and meet reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen, the Pirates ace quietly arranged a bullpen at Highmark Stadium.

Skenes' request for a bullpen catcher in Buffalo stunned Canisius University head coach Matt Mazurek and catcher Tom Zwirecki, who first thought the whole thing was a prank. Instead, they wound up catching the reigning NL Cy Young winner as he went through his famously detailed routine — portable Trackman, plyo work, football drills and all — even while throwing at just 55–65% strength.

What stuck most wasn’t the velocity, but Skenes’ total professionalism and intention behind every rep, giving the Canisius program a masterclass in preparation –– and the Pirates yet another reminder of just how special their ace really is.

Pirates News: Johan Oviedo predicted to have breakout season with Red Sox

The Pirates flipped Johan Oviedo — a big, 6-foot-6 righty with nasty extension and flashes of untapped upside — to the Red Sox in the Jhostynxon Garcia deal earlier this winter. Now, Boston media is already circling him as the surprise breakout arm of 2026, crediting the Red Sox for spotting hidden value.

Which is fine… except the Pirates already did that part.

Oviedo showed promise in Pittsburgh before undergoing Tommy John surgery, and if Craig Breslow’s pitching lab really unlocks that rising fastball and the pitch mix, it’s only going to sting a little more (especially if Garcia doesn’t hit).

If Oviedo breaks out in Boston, it’ll be another reminder that the Pirates keep identifying pitching talent — even if they don’t always get to keep the payoff.