4 key Pirates coaching additions that should justify their staff overhaul

Daniel Vogelbach, Special Assistant to the Hitting Department

Still playing in the majors as recently as last season, Vogelbach joining the Pirates' coaching staff signaled the official conclusion of his playing career. He was a logical fit for his new position for multiple reasons.

Vogelbach was an above-average hitter across his nine MLB seasons, with his .219/.340/.405 slash resulting in a 108 wRC+. He spent almost four months as the Pirates' primary designated hitter in 2022, before a July swap with the Mets netted the Bucs Colin Holderman. He spent the final season of his career in Toronto with Matt Hague, but their ties go back further than that.

Hague revealed during a recent Pirates broadcast that his relationship with Vogelbach actually dates back to 2018, when both were in camp vying for roster spots with the Mariners. Vogelbach appeared in 37 games with Seattle that season, was an All-Star the following season, and had been on Hague's radar ever since their spring together.

His familiarity with the Pirates organization, his pre-existing relationship with Hague, and his firsthand knowledge of hitting (and of current pitchers) all proved to be attractive traits. They created a new position specifically for him; he's not the Assistant Hitting Coach (Christian Marrero was retained and still holds that title).

He is expected to bounce between Pittsburgh and the club's minor league affiliates, working with specific hitters to provide feedback and insight while building his own relationships, which he feels is of utmost importance. Some will recall Vogelbach as a liability, as he provided practically zero value in the field and on the basepaths as a player. But he was a successful hitter for an extended period of time, and his expertise is valuable, especially to the Pirates' many young hitters.