Don Kelly's comments after Pirates extension will have fans inspired

The Pittsburgh Pirates firmly believe that Don Kelly can be the manager to lead them back to prominence. It's why the Pirates' front office didn't waste any time in signing Kelly to an extension to be the team's permanent skipper, a deal that was announced the day after Pittsburgh's 2025 season ended.

The details of Kelly’s extension weren’t disclosed.

Recently, the 45-year-old manager made comments about the 2026 season that hinted to fans that he’d be returning. Kelly made a strong case for himself since taking over for Derek Shelton in May, leading the lowly Pirates to a much more respectable 59-65 record, including 32-33 after the All-Star break. 

Pirates fans are excited that Kelly is now officially the long-term leader of their club, and his remarks during his press conference on Monday made fans even more pumped up about his extension.

Pirates fans will love what manager Don Kelly had to say this week

While Kelly was introduced as Pittsburgh’s permanent skipper, he shared some details about his childhood love for the Pirates (Kelly grew up in Pennsylvania).

“I was a fan first,” Kelly said, per KDKA Radio’s Jeff Hathhorn. “Growing up, in 1992, Francisco Cabrera ripped my heart out,” Kelly continued, referring to the Atlanta Braves infielder who ended the Pirates’ 1992 season just short of a World Series berth.

“That was gut-wrenching. That’s something that still drives me. I was 12 years old when that happened, and it still drives me to this day – and I understand Pittsburgh fans because I am one.”

Kelly also described why he loves Pirates fans. “They’re passionate,” Kelly said, per Hathhorn. “They’re relentless. … I know that when we are winning here in Pittsburgh the fans are going to be there. We also hear it whenever we’re not doing the things that we need to do. That’s what drives me, that is what drives us every single day to be the best version of ourselves, to be the best version out on the field and to work tirelessly towards bringing winning baseball back to Pittsburgh, which we are going to do.”

Kelly sounds like the perfect guy for the job, but that doesn't mean he doesn't face a harrowing challenge ahead. On one hand, the Pirates have arguably the best group of young starting pitchers in baseball, headlined by Paul Skenes. On the other hand, Pittsburgh had the worst offense in Major League Baseball in 2025, something that general manager Ben Cherington won't be able to quickly remedy with any sort of big spending.

Kelly won't make Pittsburgh a contender overnight, but he may plant the seed for real and sustainable success in the coming years, based on how he appears to approach daily habits.

"We’ve taken strides this year," Kelly said on Monday, per Hathhorn. "We are certainly not there yet. We are on the track to get there. But we are on the way and I think that the culture in the clubhouse, the players’ commitment to each other, to winning and, honestly, in representing Pittsburgh in the right way, the way that I’ve known the city as a blue-collar, hard-working town that does those things every single day.”

Kelly is undoubtedly a Pittsburgh personality, through and through. Say what you want about the franchise's weaknesses at the moment, but the Pirates have to be thrilled about their manager moving forward.