CONNOR JOE NEWS

Pirates Fast 5: A weighty walk-up song, a home run jacket, and Connor 'Joe! Joe! Joe!' Good vibes ahead: Connor Joe discusses the fans' new cheer, Austin Hedges details how he picked his new walk-up song, and much more.

APRIL 25, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Steps out of lineup Joe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Reds.

Impact Joe went 9-for-23 with five extra-base hits (one home run), four RBI and eight runs while starting the past six games, and he'll receive a day off for Sunday's series finale. Jack Suwinski, Ji Hwan Bae and Canaan Smith-Njigba will start from left to right in the outfield with Bryan Reynolds on the bereavement list.

APRIL 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Stays hot Friday Joe went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double and two runs scored in Friday's 4-2 win over the Reds.

Impact He scored the Bucs' first and third runs of the game while reeling off his fifth multi-hit performance in the last nine contests. Joe's hot streak has boosted his batting average to .377 (20-for-53) on the season, and he's also collected two homers, one steal, eight RBI and 13 runs through 16 games.

APRIL 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers Thursday Joe went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer in Thursday's victory over the Reds.

Impact Joe got the Pirates off to a fast start Thursday, smacking a three-run home run with two outs in the first inning off Luke Weaver. Joe has gotten off to quite a start in Pittsburgh, slashing .340/.421/.640 with two home runs, eight RBI and 11 runs scored through his first 50 at-bats. While it doesn't seem likely that he'll keep producing at this rate, Joe could be worth a look while hitting in the middle of a Pirates' lineup that's been surprisingly potent early in the season.

APRIL 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Batting fifth Thursday Joe is batting fifth Thursday against the Reds.

Impact Joe is making a fourth straight start for the Pirates and has batted either third or fifth in those games, versus both righties and lefties. He's taking advantage of this recent run of regular playing time and boasts an overall .340/.426/.596 slash line in 54 plate appearances on the year.

APRIL 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Playing time trending up Joe will start in right field and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Rockies.

Impact Joe has handled a short-side platoon role for much of the season and will be starting against a left-hander (Austin Gomber) on Wednesday for the fourth time in the past week, but he's also drawn starts versus three right-handed pitchers over that stretch while sitting out only once. Though he looks like he may see a smaller share of the starts in the corner-outfield spot opposite Bryan Reynolds while the Pirates have two left-handed options (Canaan Smith-Njigba and Tucupita Marcano) available to handle those duties, Joe's path to playing time nonetheless looks a little clearer in the wake of Ji-Man Choi landing on the injured list with an Achilles strain that will likely keep him on the shelf for around eight weeks. Joe produced two extra-base hits in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Colorado to boost his OPS to .967 for the season.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Suwinski homers twice, Pirates beat skidding Rockies 5-3

Jack Suwinski homered twice and drove in three runs, Vince Velasquez recovered from a rough start to pitch six solid innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat Colorado 5-3, sending t...

APRIL 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Connor Joe, Pirates chase series win at Colorado Connor Joe dealt with adversity early in his major league career.

APRIL 18, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Scores twice and triples Joe went 2-for-4 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's victory over the Cardinals.

Impact Joe's RBI came when Steven Matz issued a bases-loaded walk in the third. The outfielder has been effective in a somewhat limited role for the Pirates with a .344 average over his 31 at-bats, and he's been hitting in the middle of the lineup against southpaw hurlers.

APRIL 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Added to Friday's lineup Joe was added to Friday's lineup against the Cardinals, playing first base and hitting cleanup.

Impact He replaces Ji-Man Choi, who is dealing with ankle discomfort. Joe is hitting .391 with one home run, five strikeouts and four walks in 27 plate appearances.

APRIL 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats first homer Joe went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 5-0 win against St. Louis.

Impact Joe got the start in left field and hit the first of back-to-back homers for the Pirates in the eighth inning. The long ball was his first of the campaign and resulted in his third RBI. Joe isn't an everyday player for the Pirates, but he's produced when given the chance, slashing .391/.481/.652 with three doubles, three RBI, three runs and a stolen base through 27 plate appearances.

APRIL 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Walker's 12-game hitting streak ends in 5-0 loss to Pirates

St. Louis rookie Jordan Walker’s hitting streak ended at 12 games when he went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in the Cardinals’ 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates

APRIL 14, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Joe leads Pirates against the White Sox following 4-hit performance

The Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Chicago White Sox after Connor Joe had four hits on Friday in a 13-9 win over the White Sox

APRIL 8, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Doubles three times Joe went 4-for-5 with three doubles, one RBI and two runs scored in Friday's win over the White Sox.

Impact The bottom third of the Pirates' lineup combined to go 10-for-15 in Friday's 13-run onslaught, led by Joe and his three doubles. He scored in the second and fifth innings before knocking an RBI double in the eighth. Joe cracked the starting lineup for the first time since April 2 after seeing just two plate appearances during Pittsburgh's sweep of the Red Sox earlier this week.

APRIL 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

May have regular role Joe went 2-for-4 with a stolen base Sunday against the Reds.

Impact Joe started in a corner outfield spot for the second consecutive day, with a lefty on the mound Saturday and a righty Sunday. The latter is significant, as Jack Suwinski remained on the bench after struggling this spring. Joe posted a subpar .697 OPS with the Rockies in 2022, so he may not be long for a regular role if his results don't improve from that mark.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ready for start of season Joe isn't included in the lineup for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, but he's considered good to go after being hit on the left hand by a pitch in Sunday's 8-1 l...

Impact According to Stumpf, the pitch that hit Joe actually struck him on the hand guard, so his removal from Sunday's contest was strictly for precautionary purposes. Joe may enter the lineup in Tuesday's spring finale versus Minnesota, but even if he doesn't, he'll be in line for a spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster as a reserve corner outfielder/first baseman.

MARCH 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Removal deemed precautionary Joe is considered day-to-day after he was removed for precautionary reasons in the sixth inning of Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta after being hit in the left hand...

Impact Joe singled and flew out in his two plate appearances before being hit in the hand during his final trip to the dish of the afternoon. Though Joe may be dealing with some residual bruising or soreness to his hand, de los Santos' report suggesting that the 30-year-old's removal was precautionary indicates that he isn't dealing with any sort of structural damage. Joe will look to return to action for at least one of Pirates' final two spring training games Monday or Tuesday to ensure his availability for Opening Day.

MARCH 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Exits after being hit by pitch Joe was removed in the sixth inning of Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta after being struck in the hand by a pitch, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Impact Joe reached base twice in his three plate appearances on the day, with the 30-year-old first getting aboard on a base hit in the fourth inning. He was lifted for a pinch runner immediately after getting hit by the pitch, and he'll presumably be examined in the locker room before the Pirates reveal whether his removal was precautionary or the result of any major injury to his hand. Joe is vying for a spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster as a short-side platoon option in the corner outfield or at designated hitter or first base.

MARCH 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Versatility helps roster chances Joe could make the Pirates' Opening Day roster due to his ability to serve as a fourth outfielder as well as a backup first baseman, Kevin Gorman of Pittsburgh Tribune-Live reports...

Impact Joe earned a career-high 467 plate appearances in 2022, the majority of which came at the corner outfield spots. He also appeared at first base for 21 games. Even with that versatility, his fit in Pittsburgh is unclear as the Pirates also brought in Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Santana and Ji-Man Choi over the winter. Despite perhaps facing long odds for a significant role, Joe has helped his case this spring by putting together a respectable .258/.324/.387 line with five extra-base hits across 31 at-bats in the Grapefruit League.

MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Connor Joe's career winds back to where it began with Pirates, versatility in hand BRADENTON, Fla. — Connor Joe's journeyman career wasn't projected to transpire as such, at least not initially.

MARCH 5, 2023 • SACBEE.COM

Return to Pirates all about perspective for Connor Joe in 'full-circle moment' Connor Joe has been through a lot during his professional baseball career. That perspective will help in his second stint with the Pirates.

DECEMBER 22, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Pirates GM Cherington wants to add more starting pitching

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington says he'd like to add more to a team that's played

DECEMBER 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rockies trade Joe to Pirates for Minor League righty DENVER -- Looking to build depth throughout their organization, the Rockies acquired Minor League right-hander Nick Garcia from the Pirates...

DECEMBER 19, 2022 • MLB.COM

Pirates acquire OF Joe from Rockies for prospect Garcia

The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired outfielder Connor Joe from Colorado in exchange for pitching prospect Nick Garcia

DECEMBER 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pirates trade for utility man Connor Joe from Rockies The Pirates have acquired outfielder Connor Joe from the Rockies in exchange for Minor League right-hander Nick Garcia, the team announced S...

DECEMBER 19, 2022 • MLB.COM