Monday, September 21

Welcome to a new edition of the Pirates Beat newsletter.

PITTSBURGH – As Tyler Callihan was scouted out of Providence School of Jacksonville (Fla.), MLB teams fell in love with his left-handed swing, but didn’t know what position he would play at the professional level. So, Providence head coach Mac Mackiewitz played him everywhere.

Fast forward a few years, and Callihan hopes to become the 24th player in MLB history to play all nine positions, joining Pirates manager Don Kelly, who completed the feat across his nine-year Major League career. Only 10 players have appeared at all nine spots in one season. Remarkably, five have done it in one game.

Callihan will have to fill the middle of the diamond, with catcher, shortstop and center field as the remaining positions. The versatility has allowed Callihan to enjoy his longest tenure in the Majors yet.

“You're not gonna hit every day. You're gonna hit a homer every day, unless you're him,” Callihan said. “But being able to contribute in any way [defensively] helps the team, and helps make me feel valuable.”

With one of the 23 men already in his corner, Callihan has some help. Kelly said when he was shooting toward playing all nine, he saw it as a “puzzle,” taking grounders at third base regularly and filling in anywhere else when needed. Callihan does the same.

If he’s starting at a specific position one day, he’ll practice at that position. If he’s out of the lineup, he’ll try to map out where he could fill in midgame, practicing at the position. Of course, Callihan wishes there were more consistency. Though it only makes him better. 

“I think it's just something you have to really focus on every single day that you're at the position,” Callihan said. “You can't just go through the motions. When I get my reps at third base in practice, I can't just do it like I'm doing it every day. It's like, ‘All right, I have to pay attention to what I'm doing, so I can get better.’”

Callihan uses an 11 1/2 inch glove for infield. He’s breaking in an 11 3/4  inch glove for third base. In the outfield, he uses one of Bryan Reynolds’ back-ups, a 12 3/4 inch web, after losing his own during his trade from Cincinnati. At first base, he uses one of Spencer Horwitz’s gloves while breaking in his own, which he’s borrowing from … Billy Cook.

Callihan was acquired from Cincinnati on March 4 and made his Pirates debut on May 28. He played just four MLB games in 2025 before fracturing his left forearm in the outfield. Callihan had rarely played outfield in his career until he reached Double-A in 2024. He was drafted as a second baseman, but the Reds had Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain emerging in the middle infield, moving Callihan to the corner outfield as a solution. Callihan went to the Arizona Fall League to gain more reps, and when Austin Hays went down in 2025, Callihan earned his opportunity. 

The only position Callihan has never played is center field. He believes it “wouldn’t be difficult at all” to make the transition, saying the reads would likely be easier. Mackiewitz agrees.

“He’s versatile,” Mackiewitz said. “Embedded in him, he loves challenges, and he's a baseball junkie.”

Callihan has played the most at second base in his life. Mackiewitz believes third is his best position. Shortstop was one of his main spots in high school, and he mixed in first base for Team USA at the same time. Callihan doesn’t have a favorite, saying he goes through “phases.”

Callihan already has a head start on the two most difficult positions to cross off the list. He’s pitched twice for the Pirates amid blowout losses, utilizing his talents on the mound from his high school days. 

“I was way more nervous for that than I was for any of my [at-]bats,” Callihan joked.

Behind the dish, Callihan is the Pirates’ emergency catcher. He caught now Rangers’ starter Jack Leiter for Team USA in Panama and was the backup catcher for Providence behind Nathan Hickey, who is in Triple-A for the Red Sox. Callihan has sparingly worked with the gear on for Pittsburgh, catching off a pitching machine a few weeks back.

He hopes catching in a big league game would come when the Pirates are up big. Though as he’s proven thus far, Callihan is suited to play anywhere on the diamond. With Pittsburgh battling injuries all over, he’s only helped toward a playoff push.

“It's whatever the team needs,” Callihan said. “If I can contribute in any way, that's kind of what I've done my whole life. I've played all positions my whole life, so it doesn't bother me or anything, I love doing it."

After Monday night’s 8-5 loss to the Yankees, the Pirates sit at 52-49 and in a three-way tie for final NL Wild Card spot. Pittsburgh has 12 games remaining before the MLB Trade Deadline on Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET.

MLB released the 2027 schedule for all 30 teams on Thursday afternoon, giving a look at the future for the Pirates. Pittsburgh will open the season at home against the Athletics on March 25, marking the first time since 2016 it has opened at PNC Park.

Other highlights of the schedule feature a six-game road trip in Philadelphia and Chicago directly after the All-Star Game at Wrigley Field, and a 10-game homestand from July 23 to Aug. 1 against the Diamondbacks, Braves and Mets.  

While in Cleveland this weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the first time. I was extremely disappointed with the lack of Eagles memorabilia, but was still heavily inspired for this week’s playlist.

“Octopus’s Garden” -- The Beatles

“Comfortably Numb” -- Pink Floyd

“Something” -- The Beatles

“Nightingale” -- Eagles

“Wild Horses” -- The Rolling Stones

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