Rafael Flores Jr. - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Nick Gonzales' 12th-inning RBI single sends Pirates past Padres 3-2

Nick Gonzales led off the 12th inning with an RBI single and the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped their three-game skid with a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres

2 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Skubal fans 11 for his first Dodgers win as Los Angeles rallies past the Pirates, 4-3

Tarik Skubal struck out 11 to earn his first win as a Dodger

5 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Dodgers face the Pirates leading series 1-0

The Los Angeles Dodgers play the Pittsburgh Pirates, leading the series 1-0

5 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Rafael Flores Jr. Makes Insane Pirates History PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates needed someone to step up offensively against the Detroit Tigers and they got just that from Rafael Flor...

AUGUST 20 • SI.COM

Rafael Flores Jr. is forcing Pirates to reconsider his current role Rafael Flores Jr. entered Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers as a bench bat. By the time it was over, he had accomplished something...

AUGUST 19 • RUMBUNTER.COM

Comes up big off bench Wednesday Flores went 2-for-2 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Tigers.

Impact The Pirates tried to give the red-hot Flores a breather, but the 25-year-old was summoned off the bench to pinch hit for Henry Davis in the seventh inning and he took Jacob Waguespeck deep to make it a 3-2 game. Two frames later, Flores homered again to tie it, this time off Detroit closer Kenley Jansen, setting the stage for Brandon Lowe's walk-off blast. Flores has gone yard five times in the last seven games, a sizzling stretch in which he's batting .435 (10-for-23) with 10 RBI.

AUGUST 19 • ROTOWIRE

Paul Skenes has fallen back to earth in 2026. The Pirates ace is intent on staying the course

Pirates ace Paul Skenes is confident he can make a late-season push following the most challenging stretch of his career

AUGUST 19 • Associated Press

Lowe and Flores homer in the ninth off Jansen as the Pirates rally past Tigers 4-3

Brandon Lowe homered off Detroit closer Kenley Jansen with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-3 win over the Tigers

AUGUST 19 • Associated Press

Hitting bench after six straight starts Flores is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

Impact Flores will hit the bench after he started in each of the last six games -- three at catcher, three at first base -- while going 8-for-21 with three home runs, one double, two walks, eight RBI and six runs. He should continue to see regular reps at first base against left-handed pitching as part of a platoon with the left-handed-hitting Spencer Horwitz, and Flores has performed well enough lately to earn more playing time behind the plate at the expense of Henry Davis, who has generated a lowly .426 OPS since the All-Star break.

AUGUST 19 • ROTOWIRE

McGonigle homers as Tigers beat Pirates 8-5 and move into a tie for the last AL wild-card spot

Kevin McGonigle hit a two-run homer, and the Detroit Tigers held off the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-5 on Monday night and moved into a three-way tie for the final AL wild-card spot

AUGUST 18 • Associated Press

Patrick Sandoval strikes out Rafael Flores Jr. | 08/16/2026 The Official Site of Major League Baseball

AUGUST 16 • MLB.COM

Earning fourth straight start Flores will start at first base and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Impact Flores will draw his fourth consecutive start, with the Pirates having gone up against two righties and two lefties during that span. With Spencer Horwitz occupying the strong side of a platoon at first base, Flores' main path to playing time will come behind the plate, where he could challenge Henry Davis for primary duties while Endy Rodriguez (hip) is on the shelf. Since coming off the injured list Aug. 1, Flores has thus far done his part to earn more opportunities by going 7-for-22 with three home runs, two walks, eight RBI and three runs in seven games.

AUGUST 16 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates and Red Sox square off with series tied 1-1

Both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox are looking for a series win with a victory on Sunday

AUGUST 16 • Associated Press

Goes yard again Friday Flores went 3-for-4 wit ha home run and two RBI in Friday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.

Impact The 25-year-old rookie took Jake Bennett deep for a solo shot in the second inning -- per Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com, that made Flores just the fifth Pirate in the last 21 seasons to homer in three straight plate appearances, after he went yard twice Thursday. He's banged out five hits in those two contests, doubling his big-league total on the season, and through 14 games for the Bucs dating back to June 10 he's slashing .294/.400/.676 with four homers and 10 RBI while bouncing between first base and catcher.

AUGUST 15 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates' Flores Providing Spark for Offense The Pittsburgh Pirates' offense has been resuscitated over the last two games, and the heartbeat of that revival has a name: Rafael Flores J...

AUGUST 15 • SI.COM

Lowe, Flores homer to power the Pirates over the slumping Red Sox, 8-4

Brandon Lowe hit a three-run home run and rookie Rafael Flores Jr. homered for the third time in two days to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox o...

AUGUST 15 • Associated Press

Homers twice, drives in six Flores went 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs and six total RBI in Thursday's 13-1 win over Miami.

Impact Flores, making his second start in Pittsburgh's last five games, extended the Pirates' lead to 8-0 in the eighth inning with a three-run blast off John King before capping the scoring in the ninth with another three-run blast after Marlins' third baseman Javier Sanoja took over on the mound. Coming into the day, Flores had just one homer through his first 12 games this season while going 1-for-15 in his last eight contests. He'll primarily serve as Henry Davis' backup behind the plate while Endy Rodriguez (hip) is sidelined.

AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE

Ashcraft throws complete game, Flores has 2 homers, 6 RBIs as Pirates rout Marlins 13-1

Braxton Ashcraft threw a complete-game three-hitter, Rafael Flores had a pair of three-run homers and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Miami Marlins 13-1

AUGUST 13 • Associated Press

Pirates Injury Update: Ryan O'Hearn timeline revealed, Rafael Flores Jr. activated The Pittsburgh Pirates’ lineup took a significant hit Saturday, as the club placed first baseman Ryan O’Hearn on the 10-day injured list wit...

AUGUST 1 • RUMBUNTER.COM

Pirates place Ryan O'Hearn on the 10-day injured list with a left quad strain

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Ryan O’Hearn on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a strained left quad and he is expected to miss six to eight weeks

AUGUST 1 • Associated Press

Activated from IL The Pirates reinstated Flores (concussion) from the injured list Saturday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact After suffering a concussion last weekend, Flores is now fully recovered and will claim the roster spot vacated by Ryan O'Hearn (quad), who landed on the 10-day injured list Saturday. Flores has gone 4-for-15 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored in the majors this year and will provide depth at catcher and first base.

AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates take 4-game losing streak into matchup with the Reds

The Pittsburgh Pirates head into the matchup against the Cincinnati Reds after losing four in a row

AUGUST 1 • Associated Press

Pirates bring 3-game losing streak into matchup with the Reds

The Pittsburgh Pirates look to end their three-game slide with a win against the Cincinnati Reds

JULY 31 • Associated Press

Reds play the Pirates in first of 4-game series

The Cincinnati Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates to begin a four-game series

JULY 30 • Associated Press

McCann leads Diamondbacks against the Pirates following 4-hit game

The Arizona Diamondbacks play the Pittsburgh Pirates after James McCann had four hits against the Pirates on Tuesday

JULY 29 • Associated Press

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