Pirates Shake Up Coaching Staff but Head Coach Derek Shelton Stays Put

Despite another disappointing season for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024, head coach Derek Shelton is not facing immediate dismissal.

In fact, Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington has already confirmed that Shelton will continue leading the team into the 2025 season, marking his sixth year in the role.

However, significant changes are happening within Shelton’s coaching staff.

The Pirates have fired both hitting coach Andy Haines and bullpen coach Justin Meccage after the team struggled offensively and failed to meet expectations in the bullpen.

Under Haines’ guidance, the Pirates’ offense consistently ranked near the bottom of the league across major categories, including batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage.

Meccage’s bullpen also faced challenges, highlighted by frequent blown saves and a lack of consistency from key pitchers.

These staff adjustments reflect the Pirates’ desire for improvement as they look to build a more competitive team for the future.

While Shelton’s job is safe for now, the organization clearly feels changes are needed at the coaching level to foster growth and better results in the 2025 season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are not currently planning to fire their head coach, Derek Shelton.

In fact, General Manager Ben Cherington has confirmed that Shelton will remain in his role for the 2025 season despite the team’s struggles.

However, Shelton’s coaching staff is undergoing significant changes. The Pirates recently parted ways with hitting coach Andy Haines and bullpen coach Justin Meccage due to the underperformance of the team’s offense and bullpen this season.T

hese changes were part of a broader effort to address weak areas after another disappointing season where the Pirates finished with a 76-86 record for the second year in a row.