Bucs honoring the late Dave Parker this weekend
Pirates notebook
Trending
The Pittsburgh Pirates are scheduled to celebrate the life and career of former Pirates outfielder Dave Parker throughout the upcoming series against the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend.
Parker, who passed away this past June, will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this Sunday in Cooperstown, New York. He was selected by voters of the Classic Baseball Era Committee, which is composed of Hall of Famers, long-time baseball executives, and veteran media members/historians. He will be inducted into the Hall as a Pittsburgh Pirate.
On Thursday, the Pirates unveiled a special black, gold, and white jersey patch that will be worn on all jerseys for the remainder of the 2025 season, starting tonight against the Diamondbacks. The patch is circular in design and pays tribute to the newly inducted hall of famer with a gold silhouette of the slugger and the word "Cobra" written in large white script, a nod to Parker's famous nickname.
The patch will be worn on the left chest of all Pirates game jerseys in honor of the outfielder who passed away in June at 74 years old.
The jersey patch is just one element that will be on display during this weekend's three-game series at PNC Park. There are several in-park cap tips to the Cobra as the Pirates plan for an on-field painted stencil with a design to mimic the jersey patch. The stencil will be located behind home plate to the left of the Pirates P that adorns the field of PNC Park. In addition, a fan messaging wall will be on display on the PNC Park Riverwalk throughout the weekend for fans to leave their personal messages to Parker and his family.
On Sunday, all guests will have the opportunity to view the new Dave Parker permanent concrete baseball display that will be placed on the PNC Park Riverwalk trail, along with the 23 other Hall of Famers. Before the permanent placement, the ball will be displayed inside the ballpark for one day only at the Pirates Hall of Fame wall near the Clemente Gate. Parker was an inaugural member of the 2022 Pirates Hall of Fame class.
Several in-game elements will be noticeable throughout the weekend, including digital signage on the right-field wall out-of-town scoreboard display. Parker patrolled right field for 11 seasons with the Pirates, winning three National League Gold Glove Awards for his stellar play in the field.
SI reports
Sports Illustrated was reporting on Thursday night that the New York Yankees are one of the teams inquiring about a possible trade for Oneil Cruz of the Pirates.
SI attributed the information to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insider Noah Hiles, who says the Yankees are on a list of teams who have looked into a possible deal.
SI wrote that Hiles went on to say that he didn't expect Cruz to be traded before this year's deadline.
Picks signed
The Pirates signed five more draft picks on Thursday from the 2025 MLB Draft.
The list includes Easton Carmichael, a catcher from Oklahoma University, taken in the third round, Brent Iredale, a third baseman out of Arkansas chosen in the seventh round, Jared Jones, a first baseman from LSU picked in the ninth round, and Dylan Mathiesen, a pitcher out of Liberty picked in round 13. Treyson Peters, a pitcher out of Western Kentucky, was signed as a free agent.
Not signed
The Pirates found out this week that Angel Cervantes, their second round pick in the MLB Draft, turned down a contract offer and will go to college.
Cervantes, selected 50th and considered by many experts to be one of the better prep pitchers in the country, will accept a scholarship to pitch at UCLA.
The one good thing about this is the Pirates will receive a compensation pick in the 2026 draft because Cervantes turned down the offer.
On deck
Tonight: Arizona at Pittsburgh, 6:40 p.m.
Pitchers: D-backs RHP Ryne Nelson (6-2) vs. Bucs RHP Mike Burrows (1-3)
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh