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As Don Kelly draws to the end of his second season as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, it’s time to evaluate his staff. At just 46 years old, Kelly is on the younger side of managers in baseball. His tendency to micromanage the squad has cost the Pirates a number of games, so as Pittsburgh looks to 2027, the front office may consider a steady veteran hand to guide Kelly.
Kelly and the Pirates have done enough to hang around in the NL Central, but to get over the hump in 2027, he could use a veteran bench coach. Next season will be invaluable for Kelly. If he gets off to a slow start, his job could be on the line. With that in mind, Pittsburgh should start courting support staff now.
"If you tell them the truth, they're going to hate you for a day. If you lie to them, they're going to hate you forever."
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) March 17, 2026
Pirates manager Don Kelly shared some advice he got from Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland on being transparent and truthful with players. pic.twitter.com/LFKOQCYUES
Don Kelly could use a veteran coach on his Pirates staff to help steer the ship in 2027
Pittsburgh’s bench coach is currently Kristopher Negrón, who played a mere 170 games in the big leagues. Negrón is so green that he could have faced off against Brandon Lowe or Bryan Reynolds as a reliever. His loyalty and determination are reminiscent of Paul Skenes's dedication to the armed forces, but a more experienced hand would benefit the Pirates.
As of August 30, just five of the Pirates’ 26-man roster has more than five years of service time in the Majors. Kelly has still played more games than he has managed. It’s time for Pittsburgh to look to the coaching carousel for help heading into next season.
The first place for Pittsburgh to look is coaches that hail from the area. After all, that’s where Kelly, a Butler, Pennsylvania, native came into the fold. It’s possible, for example, that Pittsburgh could poach John Shoemaker, the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate coach and a Chillicothe, Ohio, native. Shoemaker has languished in LA’s system since 1981 without finding his way onto a big-league bench.
In a way, Kelly created his own problem. He rose from the bench coach position to replace Derek Shelton last season, and there wasn’t a veteran presence to take his place. In order for Kelly and the Pirates to make a stand next season, it’s crucial for the team to conjure some support.
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