The decision to trade catcher Joey Bart to the Braves gives the Pirates a solution to a problem that soon needed to be made.

Bart had been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis, working his way back from a left foot infection that kept him out of action for over a month.

With Bart nearing a return, the Pirates were going to have to figure out what to do at catcher with Henry Davis and Endy Rodríguez splitting time behind the plate in his absence.

Given how Rodríguez has been swinging the bat since he was recalled from Indianapolis to replace Bart on the active roster, there was no way the Pirates could’ve sent him down. In 23 games, the 26-year-old has a .267/.413/.467 batting line with three doubles, three home runs, eight RBI, two steals and a robust 19.7% walk rate.

Davis, meanwhile, has struggled to an anemic .138/.242/.285 batting line with four doubles, five home runs and 17 RBI in 47 games. While he hasn’t offered much with the bat, he’s been responsible for two defensive runs saved and leads MLB with a 55% caught stealing rate.

Now that Bart has been traded, Rodríguez and Davis will remain the catching tandem at the big-league level with Rafael Flores Jr. as the top backup option with Indianapolis. Flores is considered Pittsburgh’s eighth-best prospect on MLB Pipeline.

For the first time in the big leagues, Rodríguez is realizing the potential that once made him one of the top 100 prospects in baseball. Because of that, he should get the majority of the playing time with Davis continuing to catch Paul Skenes’ starts and filling in when needed.

As for the return, the Pirates known what to expect from Hunter Stratton, who spent nine seasons in the organization and made 47 appearances with the team from 2023-25.

The bullpen has been an obvious weak spot for the team this season, and while it was somewhat surprising to see the Pirates assign Stratton to Indianapolis, he improves the pitching depth and will almost surely be called upon at some point this year.

In 60 career big-league appearances between the Pirates and Braves, Stratton is 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA and two saves. The right-hander spent most of the 2026 season with Triple-A Gwinnett and went 2-4 with a 4.38 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 24.2 innings across 21 appearances.

One more important note about the trade is that the Pirates saved some money in the deal, which could be used later in additional trades to add to an already record-setting payroll. Stratton is a pre-arbitration player, while Bart is making $2.53 million this season.

Mentioned in this article: Hunter Stratton Joey Bart Pittsburgh Pirates

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Penguins rinkside reporter Hailey Hunter is out at SportsNet Pittsburgh after three seasons.

The network announced the decision on Wednesday evening.

“We are grateful for all of Hailey’s contributions during her time at SportsNet Pittsburgh. We wish her the very best in her future endeavors,” reads a statement from SportsNet Pittsburgh. “We will soon begin a nationwide search for a rinkside reporter for our Penguins coverage.”

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The daughter of former NHL player Tim Hrynewich (who played for Pittsburgh between 1982 and 1984), Hunter joined the network during the 2023-2024 NHL season.

Per TribLive’s Rob Owen, Hunter said she wasn’t given a concrete reason for the decision.

“Unfortunately, I was told the Penguins have decided that they simply wanted to move in a different direction with the role,” she wrote to Owen. “I really wasn’t given any details, but I understand that’s the business we are in.”

Hunter added that she “absolutely loved my time with SportsNet Pittsburgh. The network truly felt like family and everyone there will always be great friends of mine. I’ll be having a get-together with many of the people I worked with next week, from cameramen to producers to executives from our network, the Penguins org, and the Pirates org. Sounds like about 60 people are coming, which is so kind, but also speaks to how close friends I became with everyone. We are all pretty shocked, but everyone’s kindness and support has truly meant the world to me.”

Previous to her time with SportsNet Pittsburgh, Hunter worked for Golf Channel and PGA Tour Entertainment as well as a team reporter and host for the New York Islanders during the 2021-22 season.

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According to social media posts, Hunter and fiancé Gage Posey got married on May 16.

What’s going on in Pittsburgh this weekend, June 18-21? Find out here. Know of a cool event? Email us.

Thursday, June 18-Sunday, June 21
Western PA Juneteenth and Black Music Celebration at Point State Park, Market Square and Liberty Avenue
11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Honor the holiday commemorating the ending of slavery in the U.S. at the largest Juneteenth festival in North America. For the 161st anniversary of Juneteenth, Stop the Violence Pittsburgh presents this four-day festival celebrating “freedom, culture and resilience.” Energizing Downtown Pittsburgh’s newly refurbished Market Square along with Point State Park and Liberty Avenue, the signature festival showcases live music and entertainment, cultural experiences, vendors and more.

The Main Stage will sizzle with performances by Lloyd, Leela James, Ill-Harmonic Orchestra, Musiq Soulchild, Fabolous and Marsha Ambrosius. The Juneteenth in the Square Stage will host a range of live music, from Final Draft, Big Jus & Steel City Horns and the ReaL DeaL Band, to Keith Washington, Brother Marlon Gospel Showcase and Evelyn Champagne King.

On Saturday, join the Grand Jubilee Parade stepping off at 11 a.m. from Freedom Corner pulsing with a high-energy steppers, dancers, horses and community groups. Support Black entrepreneurs at the Small Business Vendor Plaza lining Liberty Avenue with handmade goods, curated items and delicious cuisine. The free festivities also include a voting rights forum and youth fishing programs. Kicking off on the official U.S. federal holiday, the celebration culminates with Sunday’s All White After-Party at Club Enclave. Information. Read more about Juneteenth in NEXT.

Thursday, June 18
Made Local with Lisa Olszak Zumstein at Carnegie Library Lecture Hall
7 p.m.
Presented by Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures, the Made Local series showcases prolific local authors and books with strong ties to the region. Next up to take the mic for Made Local is Pittsburgh-based author Lisa Olszak Zumstein, whose newest book examines the emotional, everyday and long-term effects of a catastrophic flash flood that ravaged Brady’s Bend 46 years ago. In just 40 minutes, a “record-breaking thunderstorm unleashed a disastrous amount of water” on the tiny town located in Clarion County along the Allegheny River as residents ran for their lives and nine people tragically drowned. Author of “The Brady’s Bend Flood of 1980,” Zumstein “reveals how this devastating storm mirrors numerous others in the Appalachian corridor.”

A native of the tightly knit rural Appalachian community of Brady’s Bend — where she grew up with eight siblings — Zumstein is focusing on writing after retiring from a 30-year career as a small-business owner. “The Brady’s Bend Flood of 1980” is available for purchase from White Whale Bookstore. Register for free.

Friday, June 19
In Bed by Ten Juneteenth Party at Spirit
6-9 p.m.
The dance party you love to stay out not too late for is back with a special Juneteenth edition. A celebration of music from the Black American diaspora, In Bed By Ten’s groovy Juneteenth soundtrack is curated by DJ Huny XO, who will be joined by DJs Femi and Yamez spinning R&B, hip-hop, house music and more. It’s a party with a purpose because proceeds benefit Sibyls Shrine, an art collective and residency program rooted in radical care, rest and support. Don’t actually need to be in bed by 10 p.m.? After bonding with all your new besties on the dance floor, stay late for the after-party by Mostbeautifullest, also curated by Huny XO. Tickets.

Saturday, June 20
“French Moderns: Matisse / Renoir / Degas” at The Frick Pittsburgh
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
This summer, Pittsburghers have the chance to experience landmark works by some of history’s most well-known artists when The Frick Pittsburgh opens it newest exhibition this weekend. Featuring approximately 60 artworks that “position France as the artistic center of international Modernism from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries,” the exhibition runs through Oct.11. The exhibition includes paintings, drawings and sculptures by renowned artists Paul Cézanne, Marc Chagall, Camille Corot, Gustave Courbet, Edgar Degas, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Henri Matisse, Berthe Morisot, Gabriele Münter, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Auguste Rodin.

Visitors will also examine major avant-garde art movements, from realism, impressionism, post-impressionism and symbolism, to Fauvism, cubism and surrealism. To augment the exhibition, the Frick is also presenting dozens of public programs, including film screenings, workshops, lectures and collaborative events with BB&Bur Pastry Kitchen and Bakery and Pittsburgh artist Ron Donoughe. Tickets.

Saturday, June 20
Festa Di Limoncello at Vallozzis Pittsburgh
2-5 p.m.
Sure, we don’t have the Amalfi Coast … but we do have the Festa di Limoncello. Raise a glass to the first weekend of summer with the perfect al fresco libation. Dubbed “Cello Fest” the event celebrates everything limoncello, transforming the restaurant’s open-air lounge into a breezy tableaux. An entire afternoon dedicated to the classic and irresistible Italian lemon liqueur, the sixth annual festival showcases new, unique limoncello flavors and an upgraded VIP experience. Sip 10 flavors of house-made cello while exploring an expanded festival footprint that includes the Fifth Avenue sidewalk and continues around the corner to McMasters Way.

Admission includes unlimited tastings, two drink tickets for craft cocktails, Italian-inspired bites, games and entertainment. Oh Snap Pgh will be on site to help revelers capture the fun on film, while DJ Wade Anthony will keep the party hopping with energetic beats. This year’s newly upgraded VIP experience includes early admission at 1 p.m., along with a swag bag full of limoncello-themed goodies, a specialty food spread, concierge service and exclusive access to a private lounge in the newly renovated Fresh Mozzarella bar. Tickets.

Saturday, June 20, & Sunday, June 21
Antique Skyscrapers Rooftop Tours in Downtown Pittsburgh
10 a.m., 1 p.m. & 4 p.m.
Local author and skyscraper aficionado Mark Houser wants Pittsburghers to “keep looking up.” Literally. If you’re looking for a creative gift for that father figure in your life, or a special outing to experience together, why not try a skyscraper rooftop tour? Join Houser and other intrepid tour-goers to climb atop four historic Pittsburgh skyscrapers. Take in breathtaking views and explore the remarkable stories behind these local landmarks from way above the Golden Triangle.

See all the way to Oakland from the 29th floor balcony of the 1929 Art Deco Koppers Building, and admire the ornate Beaux-Arts terracotta cornice of the Oliver Building designed by renowned Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. Head to the top of the Clark Building for a close-up rooftop view of the baroque red-domed skyscraper next door, and then “face off against the courthouse tower” from the balcony of the rooftop Union Club in the Frick Building. At each stop on the Downtown walking tour, attendees will discover new perspectives and “hear entertaining and surprising stories about the people behind the buildings.” Tickets.

Saturday, June 20
PONY UP: A Celebration of the Year of the Fire Horse at Tree Pittsburgh
6-10:30 p.m.
Celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse at magic hour along the Allegheny River. Taking place on the cusp of the summer solstice, the one-of-a-kind festivities are presented by the Pittsburgh-based Asian American & Pacific Islander artist collective JADED. The festival will highlight collective rituals, while making space for shared feeling. Featured performers include Viii Dorsey, philophilm, DJ Formosa, and LEXCD.

Pittsburgh’s queer line dancing group 412 Step will be lead attendees in guangchangwu. A central aspect of public life in China and other parts of Asia, guangchangwu or auntie plaza dancing is a tradition spanning many generations. The event will also include a public mourning ritual led by Monkey Wenches LLC. Says JADED organizer: “This is a party that aims to return us to radical dreaming in the face of ICE kidnapping our neighbors and US-backed war in Palestine, Iran and Lebanon. How do we grieve what our communities have lost, what has been taken forcibly? How do we ground in our desires for this Year of the Fire Horse and forge our own ways forward?” Information.

Saturday, June 20
Bubblesburgh at The Waterfront
1-4 p.m.
Float on over to Homestead to frolic with millions of bubbles. The Waterfront ushers in the season of summer fun with this festive afternoon dubbed Bubblesburgh. Celebrate all things bubbly — bubble machines, interactive bubble zones, balloon animals and more. Compete in a bubble-blowing contest, bounce around to live beats from kidmental and shop in the vibrant vendor market. Offering hands-on activities for kids (and kids at heart) of all ages, the free event will also feature local food and beverage vendors. Information.

Saturday, June 20
Summer Splash at Kamin Science Center
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Dive into summer with this splash-tastic day of hands-on science, outdoor excitement and riverfront activities presented by ALCOSAN. Get moving with outdoor games, blow giant bubbles and visit an interactive rain garden. Strike a pose at a riverside dance party with DJ Vanessa, and meet our local aquatic neighbors, including fish, amphibians and reptiles that call our rivers home. Cool off by building a mini snowman, join a summer-themed photo scavenger hunt and hop aboard history to visit a real Cold War-era submarine. Explore the fascinating science of water as you discover how ALCOSAN keeps our rivers clean and healthy. Soak up the sun’s rays as you take in dramatic views of Pittsburgh’s three rivers from the terrace. All activities are included with general admission.

Saturday, June 20
Monster Jam at Acrisure Stadium
12:30-3:30 p.m. & 5 p.m.
Watch from the edge of your seat when the North Shore stadium roars to life with mind-blowing live motorsports action. World-class athletes driving state-of-the-art trucks to perform gravity-defying stunts can only mean one thing: Monster Jam is back. Follow all the full-throttle thrills and heart-pounding races as 12,000-pound trucks defy the laws of physics, stand on two wheels and soar through the air during competitions of speed and skill. Be there when the world’s top drivers tear up the dirt on perfectly engineered tracks, battling it out for event championship titles in three competitions: racing, skills and the fan favorite freestyle.

Get ready to cheer on Tyler Menninga in the famed Grave Digger and Ryan Anderson celebrating 15 years with Son-uva Digger. Don’t miss Sparkle Smash, “the 6-ton unicorn with a bold attitude” driven by Kayla Blood, and find Bryce Kenny behind the wheel of the new Tech Deck Wreck Deckä, inspired by skateboarding. Even cooler? Fans will be right in the heart of all the action, helping to crown the Event Champion as they score drivers in real-time based on skills, stunts and saves. Start the fun early at the Monster Jam Pit Party, a must for selfies with the trucks, autographs from drivers and family-friendly activities. Don’t Miss the Monster Jam Trackside Experience happening about an hour before the opening ceremonies, to enjoy driver interviews, pit crew sneak peeks and special giveaways. Tickets.

Saturday, June 20
Fiesta Del Sol
6 p.m.
Location details will be provided with ticket purchase
There’s never been a more critical time to support the work of Casa San José. If you’re inspired to help Pittsburgh’s immigrant neighbors as violent ICE activities occur around the country, Fiesta Del Sol is a positive way to get involved while also celebrating Latino heritage and culture. Enjoy an evening “dedicated to community, connection and meaningful impact,” while helping to raise critical funds for Casa San José. The festivities will feature music by DJ TI|ZA, a photo booth, a raffle with 20 Latin American-themed baskets and a wine pull. The silent auction features art, memorabilia and specialty pieces, including three items autographed by Bruce Springsteen especially for Fiesta Del Sol. Join supporters, families and local leaders who are committed to continuing the nonprofit’s work, strengthening community and uplifting lives. The VIP Party starting at 5 p.m. includes an exclusive wine tasting, Argentinian cuisine, valet parking and live music by Geña & Peña. General admission festivities start at 6 p.m. Tickets.

Sunday, June 21
Make Music Day Pittsburgh at Schenley Plaza and the Schenley Park Visitor Center
11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Nature, music and community will converge to welcome summer in Oakland. Join the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to explore the musical side of the city during this special edition of the organization’s Family Day series. Showcasing Pittsburgh’s diverse musical community, the daylong celebration features performances ranging from opera and jazz to folk, bluegrass and acoustic music throughout Schenley Plaza and the Schenley Park Visitor Center. The festivities also include sensory-friendly programming and hands-on musical experiences for all ages. While there, be sure to hop on the PNC Carousel for a free ride. Schenley Plaza will burst with music from Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Azure Family Concerts, The KRUNK Movement and Center of Life Jazz, and the Shade Tree Collective. Performing over at the Schenley Park Visitor Center will be Wild Orchids, Donna Occhipinti, Ray Pelletier and Mars Loves You. Information.

Sunday, June 21
Disco Sunday Disco at Trace Brewing
3-9 p.m.
Dance for a very important local cause when Disco Sunday Disco fills Clement Way with life-affirming summer solstice vibes. Commune on the open-air dance floor along the color-soaked “Graffiti Alley” with hundreds of your newest BFFs alongside the Bloomfield brewery. There is no such thing as the Sunday Scaries here. Under the disco ball tent and on the decks for the June edition will be resident DJs Hoagie Dreams and Dini Daddy keeping dancers jovial. Stay sated with bites from the Streets on the Fly Food Truck parked out front. Sway into the sunset to help raise money for the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit ARYSE, which supports immigrant and refugee youth. Information.

Sunday, June 21
Summer Sounds with Weather Permitting at Hazelwood Green
6-10 p.m.
Unwind after the weekend and get recharged for the week ahead when one of the city’s favorite outdoor concert series returns. Weather Permitting and Hazelwood Local team up to bring the summer vibes, with huge helpings of global music and cuisine, to the bucolic green space along the Mon. Based in Naucalpan on the outskirts of Mexico City, Son Rompe Pera will fill the site’s Woodlawn Meadow with their unforgettable marimba-infused music and unique blend of punk and cumbia sounds. Arrive with an appetite because Kilimanjaro Flavour will be serving up East African dishes, and local breweries will be on site. Free for all ages, the event also includes family-friendly games and local vendors. A limited number of lawn seats are available, and attendees are welcome to bring chairs and blankets. Information.

Find more summer concerts here

9 more things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend

Thursday, June 18: Midsummer Mingle at Allegheny RiverTrail Park, 6:30-10 p.m.

Thursday, June 18
: The Black Studio presents a screening of “Chocolate Babies” at Bottom Feeder Books, 7-9 p.m.

Friday, June 19, & Sunday, June 21: Resonance Works presents “Roméo & Juliette” at the New Hazlett Theater, 8 p.m. & 3 p.m.

Saturday, June 20: POGOH Community Slow Roll Series at the Tioga Street and Homewood Avenue POGOH station, 10 a.m.

Saturday, June 20: World Refugee Day Conference at the Allegheny Center Alliance Church, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

Saturday, June 20: PA Running Series 5K at Altered Genius Brewing Co., 11 a.m.

Saturday, June 20: Carnegie Celebrates Juneteenth at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saturday, June 20: Mount Oliver Borough Juneteenth Block Party along the 100–200 block of Brownsville Road, 6-10 p.m.

Saturday, June 20: fireWALL Dance presents “COVEN” at the Greer Cabaret Theater, 8 p.m.