Altoona Curve

The Altoona Curve are the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, playing in the Eastern League at Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Since their inaugural season in 1999, the Curve have been exclusively affiliated with the Pirates, making it one of the longest continuous affiliations in minor league baseball. The team was born from a grassroots effort led by Altoona native Bob Lozinak and a group of Pennsylvania lawmakers who secured stadium financing and convinced the Eastern League to expand into the small central Pennsylvania city.

Peoples Natural Gas Field, originally known as Blair County Ballpark, sits against a stunning backdrop of the Allegheny Mountains and has been praised as one of the most scenic settings in minor league baseball. The intimate 7,210-seat stadium has been a community gathering place for over two decades, drawing fans from across central Pennsylvania to watch the next generation of Pirates develop their skills.

The Curve have sent over 200 players to the major leagues, including some of the most decorated names in recent Pirates history. Andrew McCutchen, the 2013 NL MVP, honed his craft in Altoona in 2006 and 2007. Gerrit Cole, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft, passed through on his way to becoming one of the game's premier pitchers. Starling Marte, Neil Walker, Jameson Taillon, and Bryan Reynolds all wore Curve uniforms before starring in Pittsburgh.

On the field, Altoona captured Eastern League championships in 2010 and 2017, with the 2017 title coming under manager Michael Ryan. The franchise changed hands in 2023 when the Lozinak family sold the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings, a conglomerate that owns more than 20 minor league teams across the country. Under new ownership, the Curve continue to serve as the critical middle step in the Pirates' player development pathway.