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Pittsburgh's pirates took the helm on Thursday to save Derek Shelton in a chaotic season over a month.
The Pirates fell 12-26 after causing a one-run loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. The front office decided to move.
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Pirates manager Derek Shelton will speak with referee Mike Estabrook during a San Diego Padres game in Pittsburgh on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
“Derek worked incredibly hard, sacrificing much over five years. His family became a large part of the Pirates family. I'll miss that.” “He's an incredibly smart, curious and driven baseball leader. When he was hired, I think he was the right person for the job. I think there's a need for change. I hope Derek and his family are the best in the next chapter.”
Pirates bench coach Don Kelly has been appointed to replace Shelton.
“Derek is a good guy who did a lot for the Pirates and Pittsburgh, but that was a time of change,” said Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting. “The first quarter of the season was frustrating and painful for all of us. We have to do better. I know that. Ben knows that. Our coaches knows that. Our players know that.
“There's a lot of baseball left to play. We need to take the necessary steps to fix this now to get back on track as a team and an organization.”
Pirates manager Derek Shelton will be in the dugout on Friday, May 2, 2025 during a San Diego Padres match in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pirates fans talk for the first time since falling on the walls of the horrifying PNC Park
Shelton took over as manager in 2020. He is 306-440 and has never won more than 76 games.
It was a rocky year since the Pirates jump.
The organization took a ton of flaks to remove a homage to Roberto Clemente on the right field earlier last month. The team returned to the spotlight last week when fans fell from the proper field sheet to the warning track.
The organization then disciplined workers who began fighting the instigators before the match. The video of the argument surfaced earlier this week.
Pirates pitcher Caleb Ferguson, center, is waiting with manager Derek Shelton along with his teammates to pull him out of the game for the San Diego Padres in Pittsburgh on Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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The season is still in its early stages, with players changing the year for the Pirates.
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