Veteran Writer John Perrotto Takes Over Pittsburgh Baseball Now!

Baseball romantics always point to opening day being a time of hope and renewal of the soul.

I am a little more pragmatic after covering the Pittsburgh Pirates and Major League Baseball since 1988, making this my 35^th season. And, after all, they don’t hang bunting from the ballpark railings on the first day of the second half of the season.

However, as MLB’s unofficial second half begins Thursday following the All-Star break – the Pirates don’t play until Friday night when they host the Miami Marlins at PNC Park – I am feeling renewed.

Today is my first day as the Pirates’ beat writer, and editor-in-chief for the revamped Pittsburgh Baseball Now! and I am excited to have the platform to regularly write about the team I’ve been following all my life.

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It will be fun covering the Pirates on a regular basis again. I’ve been hooked on baseball since I attended my first game at Forbes Field in 1969 as a 5-year-old, with Roberto Clemente hitting a triple in a win over the Houston Astros. My wife has said many times I was born to be a baseball writer.

Some of you may be familiar with my work. I was the Pirates’ beat man for the Beaver County Times for 21 seasons and have worked for various outlets nationally and locally since 2009.

I also couldn’t be more excited to work for Dan Kingerski, who recently purchased PBN. He has turned Pittsburgh Hockey Now into a must-visit site for Penguins’ coverage and has a great long-range vision for PBN.

I am thrilled, too, to be working with two young and talented writers on the PBN staff in Danny Demilio and Cody Potanko. Both have bundles of enthusiasm for baseball and an endless supply of energy.

The Pirates are seemingly on the rise. They have some interesting young players on the major league roster along with one of baseball’s top-ranked farm systems.

Time will tell if the latest rebuilding plan works. It will be interesting to see how it pans out, and PBN will be covering it every step of the way.

I hope you will join us.

Your subscription and readership is appreciated.

With your support, You’ll get full access to the amazing hockey coverage from Dave Molinari, Dan Kingerski, and Shelly Anderson. And real, professional Steelers coverage Alan Saunders, who will be in Latrobe and with the Steelers and in person, all season! Click here to subscribe.