Experienced young hands take wheel on Pirates
The Post- Gazette will have a new face — and a familiar one — on the Pirates beat this summer. Get to know those behind the stories:
Andrew Destin
After one year of covering the Pirates for the Post-Gazette, I am thrilled to say I am back for another.
Some of you may recognize my byline from covering the Penguins the past two seasons, as well as Penn State football in 2021 and 2022. I have also been fortunate enough to cover Super Bowl LVI, the 2019 U.S. Open golf tournament and New Year’s Six games like the Cotton and Rose bowls.
Make no mistake: I thoroughly love baseball, and am excited to dig deeper into covering the Pirates. I have already enjoyed my time on the beat, and eagerly await making more trips to Altoona and Indianapolis to watch some of the Pirates’ more coveted prospects.
But perhaps more important, I will provide thorough daily coverage of the Pirates, blending analytics into my writing while also passionately pursuing feature stories. I may be a Pittsburgh transplant, having been born and raised in the Bay Area of California, but I have quickly come to learn how much people around here care about the Pirates. I look forward to providing all of you with entertaining and engaging stories throughout the season.
Noah Hiles
July 2, 2004 — That was the day I fell in love with baseball. The Pirates were slated to play a traditional doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers. My dad and I stuck around for all 18 innings.
The first game featured an inside-the-park home run from Jack Wilson, a grand slam from Tony Alvarez and an 11-strikeout effort from southpaw Oliver Perez. A newcomer named Jason Bay drove in eight runs in the second contest. The Pirates raised the Jolly Roger twice that evening.
From start to finish, I remained in my seat, locked in on the action. All that mattered was the game. I remember being excited to go home and tell anyone who would listen about the games I had just witnessed. Fast-forward 20 years, that is now my job.
A few months ago my boss reached out to me and asked if I’d be interested in assisting in the our Pirates coverage this year. Without hesitation, I said, “Yes.”
Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of covering Pitt athletics for the Post-Gazette. I’ve traveled the country, documenting everything from March Madness to the significance of a blue vase. I am thankful for my time on the Pitt beat. But now it is time for a new journey.
I am well aware of the big shoes I am tasked with filling. In addition to being my colleague, I consider Jason Mackey to be both a mentor and friend. I am excited to join Andrew Destin — another dear friend — where together, we can continue to provide our readers with Pirates coverage they will not find anywhere else.
Opening day truly can’t come soon enough. Let’s play ball.
From start to finish, I remained in my seat, locked in on the action. All that mattered was the game. ... Fastforward 20 years, that is now my job.