Pittsburgh Pirates

3:41 PT -- MLB just announced Santana will be facing punishment for his actions ... with the league handing him a four-game suspension and an undisclosed fine.
He is appealing the ruling, so his suspension won't begin until a decision is made.

Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana tried to smack the hell out of a heckler during his game Thursday -- and the wild altercation was captured on video.

The reliever's outburst went down during the second game of the Pittsburgh vs. Detroit doubleheader ... after Santana says a man sitting near the Pirates' bullpen "crossed the line."

Footage shot by fans near the incident shows Santana pointing out the trash-talker to security, before he leaps up and attempts to hit the man in the face with an open left hand.

A 21-year-old has been hit with two criminal charges ... after authorities claim he supplied Kavan Markwood -- a minor -- with alcohol just prior to the Pirates fan's tragic fall at PNC Park last month.

Court records show Ethan Kirkwood is facing two misdemeanor counts of furnishing liquor to Markwood a short time before the 20-year-old sustained significant injuries in a 21-foot tumble from his seat at the Pittsburgh vs. Chicago game on April 30.

A criminal complaint, obtained by TMZ Sports, states Kirkwood was seen on security video buying two tall cans of beer just before the start of the game. Subsequent video, the report states, showed Kirkwood and Markwood later holding beers in their hands.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are paying tribute to a local icon ... the MLB team just dropped a sneak peek of their upcoming bobblehead night -- featuring the late Mac Miller.

The team showed off the soon-to-be collector's item Thursday morning ... which features Miller, rocking a Pirates jersey with the city's "412" area code, and wearing a yellow and black yin-yang cap.

Alongside the snaps of the giveaway item, the Pirates also dropped a video featuring Steel City locals speaking about Mac's impact. Pittsburgh outfielder Andrew McCutchen was also part of the video.

The Knicks game wasn't the only must-see event going down in the Big Apple on Monday -- the Mets also drew some big names for their matchup against Pittsburgh at Citi Field ... including Sports Illustrated Swimsuit models!!

Camille Kostek, Ellie Thumann and Xandra Pohl were in attendance as the Mets began a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The group -- decked out in custom jerseys -- was tapped to throw out the first pitch.

Before doing the honors, they got some work in on the side with a group of players. Mark Vientos, Tyrone Taylor and Huascar Brazoban helped the ladies warm up their arms before taking the mound.

More details surrounding former Major League Baseball player Scott Sauerbeck's death have been revealed -- the 53-year-old passed away of complications from the flu.

TMZ Sports obtained the autopsy report from the District 12 Medical Examiner's Office in Florida ... which listed "sequela of acute influenza A, including streptococcal pharyngitis" as the official cause of death.

Hypertensive heart disease was listed as a contributory factor ... and his manner of death was natural.

The Pittsburgh Pirates fan who sustained significant injuries in a fall at PNC Park last week was actually celebrating a play on the field just before his tragic tumble, new video from the stadium shows.

Check out the footage, which CBS obtained this week ... you can see Kavan Markwood jumping for joy over a hit the Pirates just got ... before he toppled over some short railing in front of him.

It appears to prove the police theory that the terrifying scene in the seventh inning of Pittsburgh's matchup with the Cubs was nothing more than a bad accident.

A Pittsburgh Pirates game day employee has been suspended by the team ... after he was seen on video getting involved in an absolutely insane fistfight with a fan at PNC Park.

The violent scrum happened on Sunday -- as the Buccos were taking on the Padres.

According to CBS, the altercation went down after a Pirates employee -- who was wearing a white polo and tan pants -- tried to pull two men away from a tiff they had been having with a nearby concession worker.

Pittsburgh Pirates fan Kavan Markwood is making strides in his recovery ... as he took his first steps since last week's terrifying incident at PNC Park, his loved ones announced on Monday.

The update was posted on the GoFundMe page created to raise money for his medical bills and the "financial hardships that this family is experiencing right now."

Jennifer Phillips -- the fundraiser's organizer -- shared the news of Kavan regaining the ability to walk ... saying, "Seeing him up and moving was a huge win and definitely lifted everyone's spirits."

10:40 AM PT -- The Pirates acknowledged the incident prior to their game against the Cubs on Thursday morning ... taking a moment to offer prayers for the fan and recognize the medical personnel who helped rush him to the hospital.

6:21 AM PT -- Authorities in Pittsburgh say the fan is currently at a local Pittsburgh hospital in "critical condition."

No further updates regarding his health were given ... though they added they believe the incident was an accidental one.

An MLB fan sustained significant injuries in a fall from a PNC Park outfield wall on Wednesday night ... and the scene was so horrifying, Pirates manager Derek Shelton asked afterward for "everybody to keep him in their prayers."

Tommy Pham grew so frustrated with a fan during the Pirates' tilt vs. the Angels Wednesday, he busted out an obscene gesture toward the person ... and it's all probably going to result in a stiff fine.

The Pittsburgh left fielder's spat with a Halos supporter began during the fifth inning of the Buccos' matchup with L.A. at Angel Stadium ... when a man clad in red leaned over some railing and touched Pham while he was digging for a ball in the dirt.

The Pittsburgh star clearly didn't appreciate the physical interaction ... and after throwing the baseball to the infield, he and the guy seemed to quarrel for a few more minutes.

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Scott Sauerbeck has died at the age of 53, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Thursday.

Details surrounding his passing have not been revealed.

Sauerbeck was selected by the New York Mets in the 23rd round of the 1994 draft. After spending time in New York's farm system, Pittsburgh then scooped up the Miami University (Ohio) product as part of the Rule 5 Draft in 1998.

Forget tens of thousands of dollars ... the lucky baseball fan who scores the ultra-rare, MLB Debut Paul Skenes card just got an offer for the piece from Livvy Dunne and the Pittsburgh Pirates that's going to be very tough to refuse.

In a statement released Friday, the Pirates said they're willing to fork over two tickets behind home plate for Pittsburgh games for the next THIRTY YEARS, a meet-and-greet with Skenes himself, a bunch of autographs and several other experiences ... in exchange for the 1-of-1 card.

Livvy -- Skenes' famous girlfriend -- added minutes later that she'd sweeten the pot ... by offering up a seat next to her at one of the pitcher's games next season.

If you're wondering why there will be a bunch Pirates fans suddenly rockin' Paul Skenes and Jared Jones '24 shirts at PNC Park next month ... it's no doubt in part due to Livvy Dunne, who's made the tee a must-have item after wearing it to a game last weekend.

The LSU star gymnast -- who's Skenes' girlfriend -- sported the shirt while at Paul's big June 23 matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays ... and the folks who created it, Baseball Dugout LLC, tell TMZ Sports sales of the garment have exploded since.

We're told that after Dunne showed off the black and gold 'fit on her social media pages ... there was about a 1,400 percent increase in sales!

Livvy Dunne and Pittsburgh Pirates fans have a lot in common these days -- namely, they both can't wait for Paul Skenes to get the call-up to the Big Leagues!!

The Pittsburgh Pirates No. 1 overall pick -- and Livvy's boyfriend -- has been dominating down in the minors for the last few weeks ... and Buccos supporters have already started clamoring for the org. to put him on their mound in The Show ASAP.

Dunne -- who's been dating the big right-hander for most of the past year -- is also hoping to see that happen soon ... explaining to TMZ Sports earlier this week she's already "starting to get all my merch ready."

Major League Baseball just handed down a two-game ban on Aroldis Chapman ... after it says his meltdown on Monday night was simply "inappropriate."

If you missed it ... Chapman went off on Edwin Moscoso in the eighth inning of the Pirates' 6-3 loss to the Mets at Citi Field -- after he felt the home plate umpire had botched a few balls and strike calls.

Chapman walked off the mound toward Moscoso after giving up a go-ahead, two-run double ... and had some words for the guy.