Pirates Name Joey Cora New Third Base Coach

On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates named their replacement for the recently fired, and former third base coach, Rick Sofield.

Earlier this week the Pirates fired third base coach Rick Sofield. Additionally, they re-assigned first base coach Nick Leyva within the organization. This left the Bucs looking for a pair of new Major League coaches.

On Tuesday we learned who one of these coaches would be. Joey Cora was named the Pirates’ new third base coach on Tuesday afternoon. Cora is someone who I targeted as a possible replacement for Sofield or Leyva. In fact, I said I would be surprised if Cora was not named to the Pirates’ staff.

Joey Cora brings nearly two decades worth of coaching experience to the Pirates’ staff. He was a member of the Chicago White Sox coaching staff from 2004-2011. Then in 2012 he joined Ozzie Guillen in Miami as the Marlins’ bench coach.

During his tenure with the White Sox Cora worked as both Ozzie Guillen’s third base coach and bench coach. He was the team’s third base coach when they won the World Series in 2005. He was then promoted to bench coach in 2008.

This previous season Joey Cora was the Pirates’ Double-A manger. As manager of the Altoona Curve Cora led Altoona to the postseason. He was also a no nonsense manager. He would regularly bench guys for simple things such as base running mistake or not hustling. This is an attitude that I really like in a coach.

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I am a huge fan of the addition of Joey Cora to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ coaching staff. He brings a lot of experience to the Pirates’ coaching staff, as well as the type of attitude I like in a coach. I am excited to see how he does with the Bucs in 2017.