The Pirates have fired Derek Shelton after the teams 12-26 start to the 2025 season and have named bench coach Don Kelly as the team's new manager.
Ben Cherington wasn’t fired but said this afternoon that he made the recommendation to Pirates chairman Bob Nutting and team president Travis Williams.
Since being named the Pirates manager in 2020, Shelton has amassed a record of 306-440 and produced a .410 winning percentage, which is one of the worst in Major League Baseball history for a manager with six or more seasons. The Pirates have never tallied a winning season under Shelton and have never finished better than fourth in the National League Central. The team is also coming off back-to-back 76-win seasons after recording two straight seasons with 100 or more losses.
"Derek is a good man who did a lot for the Pirates and Pittsburgh, but it was time for a change," Nutting stated in a release from the Pirates. "The first quarter of the season has been frustrating and painful for all of us. We have to do better. I know that. Ben knows that. Our coaches know that. Our players know that."
"There is a lot of baseball left to be played," Nutting added. "We need to act with a sense of urgency and take the steps necessary to fix this now and get back on track as a team and organization."
Cherington said he spoke with Shelton this morning after having a conversation with Nutting and Williams. He added that it was a tough decision to make, given that at the end of last season Cherington said he and Shelton would be "accountable together."
"There's no one thing. We aren't performing the way we need to. We're not performing in a way that our fans deserve. We know we need to be better," Cherington said. "I guess I looked at the end of last year, August and September, and how April and the first few days of May played out. It just became clear that a change was necessary that we were not in a position to wait any longer."
Change seemed to be necessary following the Pirates' latest road trip where they were swept by the Cardinals in a three-game set and shutout for the seventh time this season in the series finale yesterday. The loss extended the Pirates' losing streak to seven games and they've lost 10 of their last 12.
Throughout their first 38 games, the Pirates' offense has been one of the worst in all of Major League Baseball. They currently have the fourth-worst batting average (.219), the sixth-worst on-base percentage (.300) and the second-worst slugging percentage (.325) and OPS (.625). They also lead the major leagues in grounding into double plays with 36.
"Derek worked incredibly hard and sacrificed a lot over five-plus years. His family became a big part of the Pirates family and we will miss that," Cherington stated. "He's incredibly smart, curious and a driven baseball leader. I believe he was the right person for the job when he was hired. I also believe that a change is now necessary. I wish Derek and his family all the best in their next chapter."
There are other reasons why it was time for change as the Pirates have been one of the worst teams in baseball since Shelton and Cherington took over together in 2020. The Pirates have ranked in the bottom third of Major League Baseball in hitting every year for the past six seasons. They ranked 28th in 2020 (.220), 25th in 2021 (.236), 29th in 2022 (.222), 24th in 2023 (.239) and 23rd in 2024 (.234). They’re right on pace to finish among MLB’s worst offensive teams once again this year.
The Pirates have also compiled the third-worst batting average (.231), the worst on-base percentage (.302) -- tied with the Tigers and Athletics -- and the worst slugging-percentage (.369). They've also hit the least home runs (686) and driven in the least amount of runs (2,756) during Shelton's tenure while also having the fifth-most errors (447), sixth-most blown saves (117) and the third-most walks allowed (2,668).
Kelly, a Pittsburgh native, will assume managerial duties as the Pirates prepare to take on the Braves this weekend at PNC Park. He's in his sixth season with the Pirates after serving as the Astros' first base coach in 2019.
As a player, Kelly made his major-league debut with the Pirates on April 2, 2007 and played in the postseason with the Tigers while being managed by Jim Leyland.
"Donnie is as respected as any person in our clubhouse and throughout our organization," Nutting said. "He is a Pirate. He bleeds black and gold. No one is more committed, and no one loves this team or city more than Donnie. He is the right person to manage our team and help get us back on track."
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
4:47 pm - 05.08.2025DOWNTOWNPirates fire Shelton but not Cherington
The Pirates have fired Derek Shelton after the teams 12-26 start to the 2025 season and have named bench coach Don Kelly as the team's new manager.
Ben Cherington wasn’t fired but said this afternoon that he made the recommendation to Pirates chairman Bob Nutting and team president Travis Williams.
Since being named the Pirates manager in 2020, Shelton has amassed a record of 306-440 and produced a .410 winning percentage, which is one of the worst in Major League Baseball history for a manager with six or more seasons. The Pirates have never tallied a winning season under Shelton and have never finished better than fourth in the National League Central. The team is also coming off back-to-back 76-win seasons after recording two straight seasons with 100 or more losses.
"Derek is a good man who did a lot for the Pirates and Pittsburgh, but it was time for a change," Nutting stated in a release from the Pirates. "The first quarter of the season has been frustrating and painful for all of us. We have to do better. I know that. Ben knows that. Our coaches know that. Our players know that."
"There is a lot of baseball left to be played," Nutting added. "We need to act with a sense of urgency and take the steps necessary to fix this now and get back on track as a team and organization."
Cherington said he spoke with Shelton this morning after having a conversation with Nutting and Williams. He added that it was a tough decision to make, given that at the end of last season Cherington said he and Shelton would be "accountable together."
"There's no one thing. We aren't performing the way we need to. We're not performing in a way that our fans deserve. We know we need to be better," Cherington said. "I guess I looked at the end of last year, August and September, and how April and the first few days of May played out. It just became clear that a change was necessary that we were not in a position to wait any longer."
Change seemed to be necessary following the Pirates' latest road trip where they were swept by the Cardinals in a three-game set and shutout for the seventh time this season in the series finale yesterday. The loss extended the Pirates' losing streak to seven games and they've lost 10 of their last 12.
Throughout their first 38 games, the Pirates' offense has been one of the worst in all of Major League Baseball. They currently have the fourth-worst batting average (.219), the sixth-worst on-base percentage (.300) and the second-worst slugging percentage (.325) and OPS (.625). They also lead the major leagues in grounding into double plays with 36.
"Derek worked incredibly hard and sacrificed a lot over five-plus years. His family became a big part of the Pirates family and we will miss that," Cherington stated. "He's incredibly smart, curious and a driven baseball leader. I believe he was the right person for the job when he was hired. I also believe that a change is now necessary. I wish Derek and his family all the best in their next chapter."
There are other reasons why it was time for change as the Pirates have been one of the worst teams in baseball since Shelton and Cherington took over together in 2020. The Pirates have ranked in the bottom third of Major League Baseball in hitting every year for the past six seasons. They ranked 28th in 2020 (.220), 25th in 2021 (.236), 29th in 2022 (.222), 24th in 2023 (.239) and 23rd in 2024 (.234). They’re right on pace to finish among MLB’s worst offensive teams once again this year.
The Pirates have also compiled the third-worst batting average (.231), the worst on-base percentage (.302) -- tied with the Tigers and Athletics -- and the worst slugging-percentage (.369). They've also hit the least home runs (686) and driven in the least amount of runs (2,756) during Shelton's tenure while also having the fifth-most errors (447), sixth-most blown saves (117) and the third-most walks allowed (2,668).
Kelly, a Pittsburgh native, will assume managerial duties as the Pirates prepare to take on the Braves this weekend at PNC Park. He's in his sixth season with the Pirates after serving as the Astros' first base coach in 2019.
As a player, Kelly made his major-league debut with the Pirates on April 2, 2007 and played in the postseason with the Tigers while being managed by Jim Leyland.
"Donnie is as respected as any person in our clubhouse and throughout our organization," Nutting said. "He is a Pirate. He bleeds black and gold. No one is more committed, and no one loves this team or city more than Donnie. He is the right person to manage our team and help get us back on track."
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