Pittsburgh Pirates: Candidates for Pitching Coach

University of Michigan pitching coach Chris Fetter (far right) is another candidate to take over as the Bucs pitching coach.  An outside-the-box candidate, Fetter is considered to be a big league manager some day.  ESPN’s Jeff Passan said,

"The New York Yankees have interviewed Chris Fetter, the University of Michigan pitching coach, for their open pitching coach job, sources tell ESPN. Fetter is considered a rising star in the industry and has drawn significant interest from major league teams, including the Mets."

Fetter, who turns 34 on December 23, has served as pitching coach of the Michigan Wolverines for the past two seasons and has made a strong impact.  Michigan’s staff posted a 3.46 ERA in 2019 which was good for 10th in the country.  Michigan saw three pitchers get drafted in 2019, including two second-rounders.

Fetter previously interviewed to become the pitching coach of the Yankees and Mets this off season, but those vacancies have since been filled.  Still, it is evident that Fetter is a hot commodity in Major League Baseball and appears to be a future big league pitching coach.

Hiring Fetter would give the Pirates a young, analytically-driven pitching coach which could infuse a breath of fresh air into a mostly young staff.  Fetter would be an unconventional hire, but he could be a hire that could yield big results.

Any of these three candidates seem like logical fits.  Through the course of the coming weeks as Derek Shelton completes his staff, do not be surprised if these three names emerge, as well as others.