Pirates News: Rookie signs with Dodgers, Dave Parker jersey patch, Konnor Griffin surge continues

After making his Major League debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this season, Matt Gorski has taken his talents elsewhere.

The 27-year-old rookie utility man signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday and will presumably report to Triple-A Oklahoma City, though his current health status remains unknown. He has been on the 60-day injured list with an undisclosed issue since June 19.

The Pirates released Gorski from his contract earlier this month when they selected the contract of pitcher Yohan Ramírez. He will likely serve as non-roster depth for Los Angeles, though he has minor league options remaining if he does earn a 40-man roster spot at some point.

Pirates News: Team to honor late Dave Parker with special jersey patch

After the passing of franchise icon Dave Parker earlier this season, the Pirates announced that they will honor the incumbent Hall of Famer for the rest of 2025 with a special jersey patch bearing his nickname, "Cobra."

Parker played in 1,301 games for the Pirates from 1973-83, with 1,479 hits, 296 doubles, 62 triples, 166 home runs, 758 RBI, 123 stolen bases and 346 walks. His best season came in 1978, when he hit .334/.394/.585 and won the National League batting title, a Gold Glove Award and the National League MVP. Parker also won another NL Batting Title in 1977, two more Gold Gloves in 1977 and 1979 and four All-Star nods in 1977 and 1979-81, with the Pirates.

Parker was a key contributor on the Pirates' 1979 World Series team, hitting .341 and driving in six RBI to help lift Pittbsurgh to its fifth and last championship. He earned a spot in the inaugural Pirates Hall of Fame class in 2022 and was finally named as an inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame for the Class of 2025 earlier this year. Parker will be enshrined in Cooperstown wearing a Pirates cap, with a posthumous induction celebration on July 27.

Pirates News: Konnor Griffin celebrates No. 1 ranking with 4-hit night for Greensboro

Pirates prospect Konnor Griffin showed exactly why he made an unprecedented rise to the top of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list on Thursday, going 4-for-5 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored at High-A Greensboro.

The Pirates selected Griffin with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, and his first professional season has been nothing short of dominant. The 19-year-old is slashing .331/.405/.519 with 13 homers and 44 stolen bases in 80 games between Single-A and High-A, and his .331 batting average ranks ninth among all minor league hitters.

Griffin ranked as the No. 43 prospect in baseball on MLB Pipeline's preseason Top 100, making his jump to the No. 1 spot unprecedented. He's already been promoted once this season, but at this rate it wouldn't be surprising to see Griffin finish the season at Double-A Altoona.

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