Pirates getting well-earned praise for new pitching coach hire from elite pipeline

After opting not to renew Oscar Marin's contract after the 2025 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates are hiring Houston Astros pitching coach Bill Murphy as their new pitching coach, according to multiple reports.

The Pirates' 2025 staff was one of the best in the National League, finishing seventh in baseball in ERA (3.76) and fourth in WAR, according to FanGraphs. However, the decision was made to move on from Marin after pitchers gave feedback believing they could reach another level. That makes it crucial for the Pirates to get this hire right – and, by all accounts, it appears that they did.

Murphy has spent nearly a decade in the Houston Astros organization, climbing from rookie-ball pitching coach, to minor-league pitching coordinator, to MLB assistant coach, to MLB pitching coach. During his time as one of Houston’s MLB pitching coaches, the Astros' pitching staff ranked first in baseball in ERA (3.61) from 2022 to 2025.

Murphy has proven success in an elite system. He has worked with and developed top-level arms and has familiarity with analytics, modern pitching development and game-planning. The Pirates are effectively tapping into Houston’s “success blueprint” for pitching and getting a coach who helped build that.

The Pirates already have considerable young pitching talent, including National League Cy Young favorite Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft and Jared Jones. By bringing in Murphy, Pittsburgh looks to accelerate their pitching development trajectory. They won't just be relying on raw talent, but will give their arms a coach who knows how to refine and optimize performances at the highest level.

In effect, it’s not just a “we need a new coach” move; it’s a strategic hire aligned with their young-pitcher-heavy roster and organizational direction.

Pirates tap into Astros' elite pitching pedigree with hire of Bill Murphy

The fact that Murphy left a successful, high-profile role in Houston to join Pittsburgh sends a message that the Pirates are serious about investing in the pitching side of the program and want to build toward competitiveness rather than just tinker on the margins. The hire also shows the Pirates are no longer simply the “underdog” destination where coaches go if there’s nowhere better; they’re becoming attractive to high-caliber coaches. That has intangible value for culture, recruiting and player buy-in.

Murphy’s background blends traditional coaching, data/analytics and developmental mindset. He’s worked through minor leagues, coordinated pitching development and been in the bullpen during big games for Houston. For a club like Pittsburgh, which is building and not yet an upper-tier offense (and who knows if they ever will be?), optimizing pitching is absolutely the pathway to competitiveness. Murphy brings the tools and experience to do just that.

All that being said, the hire doesn’t guarantee instant playoff success for Pittsburgh. But it significantly raises the probability that the Pirates' strong pitching foundation yields more consistent results, fewer collapses and improved performance from young arms. Because Pittsburgh’s offense remains a question mark, the pitching side being organized, optimized and coached at a high level is crucial. Murphy gives them that edge.

The Pirates' hiring of Murphy is more than just a name-drop; it’s a strategic step rooted in aligning a promising young pitching roster with one of baseball’s best pitching ecosystems. It shows ambition, thoughtful coaching investment and a real plan to tap the untapped rather than merely hope for breakout seasons.