Pittsburgh Pirates: Candidates for Pitching Coach

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 26: Joe Musgrove #59 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch in the bottom of the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 26, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 26: Joe Musgrove #59 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch in the bottom of the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 26, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 29: Joel Hanrahan #52 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during the game on August 29, 2012 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pirates defeated the Cardinals 5-0. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 29: Joel Hanrahan #52 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during the game on August 29, 2012 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pirates defeated the Cardinals 5-0. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Joel Hanrahan is remembered by Pirates fans as the team’s lock-down reliever from 2009-2012.  Hanrahan was a two-time all-star with the Bucs and had a 2.59 ERA in 229.1 innings.  Hanrahan is currently seventh on the Pirates all-time saves list with 82.

Like with Farrell, Hanrahan also has a connection to Ben Cherington.  Following his tenure with the Buccos, then-Pirates GM Neal Huntington swung a trade with then-Red Sox GM Ben Cherington that shipped Hanrahan and Brock Holt to Boston.

Hanrahan has been a fast riser as a pitching coach in the Pirates system.  In 2017, he served as pitching coach for the Bristol Pirates and served the same role in 2018 for the West Virginia Power.  Most recently, Hanrahan was the Altoona Curve’s pitching coach this past season.

During these past three seasons as a pitching coach in the Pirates system, Hanrahan has helped to develop the skills of young pitchers and has gotten positive views from players, coaches and other personnel within the organization.

Hanrahan makes sense as a candidate because the Pirates 2020 pitching staff could be full of young players, headlined by top prospect Mitch Keller.  Hanrahan has showed an ability to relate and get a message across to young pitchers in the Pirates system these past three seasons.  Another connection to new GM Ben Cherington does not hurt his chances either.