The Latest Breaking News from Carlos Santana

PITTSBURGH — To reach a benchmark never done before in the Derek Shelton era, it was only fitting that a trio of first-year Pirates helped make the feat possible.

DENVER — Austin Hedges and Canaan Smith-Njigba sat at a table, surrounded by teammates while playing an intense game of Connect Four prior to the first game of this series.

PITTSBURGH — Vince Velasquez had an early opportunity to show his former team why he’s deserving of a rotating spot. The brain trust of his previous employer, the Chicago White Sox, likely didn’t feel it had let one get away Saturday night.

BOSTON — Mitch Keller doesn’t wear sleeves when completing household chores. On a chilly day in Boston, Keller flashed some forearms and incredible stuff while delivering one of the best starts of his career, helping the Pirates to a series sweep against the Red Sox.

CINCINNATI — The magic that marked the Pirates’ opening day victory against the Reds did not return. There were no dashes around the basepaths, no crucial, late-inning plays. In fact, the flicker of offense that existed at the beginning of this one didn’t last long at all.

More than a dozen of John Lee Hooker's superstar duets, gathered together in a collaborative showcase

These players are why waiver wires exist. Don't waste a draft pick on them.

Sluggers that were shifted on the most could see a rise in batting average, on-base percentage.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Last Monday, switch-hitting Pittsburgh slugger Carlos Santana stepped up to the plate against left-hander José Alvarado in the fourth inning of the Pirates-Phillies Grapefruit League game in Bradenton. The first six pitches of the at-bat went about how you’d expect. Alvarado threw Santana a 98 mph sinker,…