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Pittsburgh pirates made a change at the helm on Thursday, relieving Derek Shelton of his management tasks more than a month in a chaotic season.
The pirates fell to 12-26 after a defeat in one blow against the Cardinals of Saint-Louis on Wednesday. The front office has decided to take a step.
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Pirate manager Derek Shelton speaks with referee Mike Estabrook during the San Diego Padres match in Pittsburgh on Saturday May 3, 2025. (AP photo / Gene J. Puskar)
“Derek has worked incredibly hard and has sacrificed more than five years. His family has become a large part of the Pirate family, and that will be missing,” said Pirate Director, Ben Cherington, in a statement. “He is an incredibly intelligent, curious and motivated baseball chief. I think he was the right person for work when he was hired. I also believe that a change is now necessary. I want Derek and his family to be the best in their next chapter.”
Bench pirate coach Don Kelly has been appointed replacement of Shelton.
“Derek is a good man who did a lot for pirates and pittsburgh, but it was time to change,” said Pirate President Bob Nutting. “The first quarter of the season was frustrating and painful for all of us. We have to do better. I know it. Well know it. Our coaches know it. Our players know it.
“There is still a lot of baseball to play. We have to act with a feeling of emergency and take the necessary steps to solve this problem now to get back on the right team and organization.”
Pirates manager Derek Shelton held in the canoe during the San Diego Padres match in Pittsburgh, Friday May 2, 2025. (AP photo / Gene J. Puskar)
Pirates Fan speaks for the first time from a horrible fall on the wall in PNC Park
Shelton took the position of manager in 2020. He was 306-440 and never won more than 76 games.
It was a difficult year of leap for pirates.
The organization took a ton of flak to eliminate a tribute to Roberto Clemente in the right field at the beginning of last month. The team was delivered under the spotlight when a fan fell from the right field seats on the warning track last week.
The organization then discovered a worker who fought with an instigator before a match. A video of this altercation has surfaced earlier this week.
The pirate launcher Caleb Ferguson, in the center, waits for teammates for the manager Derek Shelton to take him from the San Diego Padres match in Pittsburgh, Friday May 2, 2025. (AP photo / Gene J. Puskar)
The season is still in its infancy and the pirates have the players to shoot the year.
