Pirates dismiss Shelton from manager position following a discouraging 12-16 season start
In a shocking move, the Pittsburgh Pirates have decided to part ways with their manager Derek Shelton after a disappointing first quarter of the 2025 season. The Pirates have been struggling, sporting a record of 12-26 and a seven-game losing streak.
Pirates chairman Bob Nutting acknowledged the team's poor performance, stating, "We have to do better. There's a lot of baseball left to be played, and we need to act with a sense of urgency to fix this now."
Shelton, a 54-year-old American, led the Pirates for just over five seasons, but never managed to guide them to a better than fourth place finish in the National League Central division. Despite his efforts, the Pirates chairman concluded that a change was inevitable.
Following Shelton's departure, bench coach Don Kelly has been appointed as the new manager. Nutting voiced high praise for Kelly, saying, "Donnie is as respected as any person in our clubhouse and throughout our organization. He is the right person to manage our team and help get us back on track."
Kelly has been with the Pirates for six years, serving as a bench coach during Shelton's tenure. He also worked as a first base coach for the 2019 Houston Astros prior to that. A veteran player, Kelly played for the Pirates in 2007 and also had stints with Detroit and Miami before retiring in 2016.
Kelly, now 45 years old, steps into the manager's role with the Pirates owning the third-worst record in Major League Baseball. While Kelly's position beyond the current season is not guaranteed, his appointment is seen as a permanent solution for 2025.
The Pirates have had a limited taste of post-season action since their 1979 World Series win, only reaching the playoffs six times. They have missed the playoffs nine years in a row, with their last playoff appearance coming in a one-game wild-card playoff back in 2013.
- Despite Shelton's tenure with the Pirates, spanning over five seasons, he never led the team to a better than fourth place finish, a fact that prompted Pirates chairman Bob Nutting to conclude a change was necessary.
- In a surprising turn of events, the Pirates have announced Don Kelly as their new manager, a move that follows the departure of Derek Shelton after a dismal first quarter of the 2025 season.
- Don Kelly, a veteran player who played for the Pirates in 2007 and had stints with Detroit and Miami before retiring in 2016, has now stepped into the manager's role with the Pirates, a position he previously held as bench coach during Shelton's tenure.
- With Kelly at the helm, the Pirates hope to reverse their recent fortunes, as they currently own the third-worst record in Major League Baseball, having missed the playoffs for nine consecutive years since their last playoff appearance in a one-game wild-card playoff back in 2013.
