Pirates Part Ways With Manager Derek Shelton 38 Games Into 2025 Season

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a alteration astatine nan helm connected Thursday, relieving Derek Shelton of his managerial duties much than a period into a chaotic season.

The Pirates fell to 12-26 pursuing a one-run nonaccomplishment to nan St. Louis Cardinals connected Wednesday. The beforehand agency decided to make a move.

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Pirates head Derek Shelton talks pinch umpire Mike Estabrook during nan San Diego Padres crippled successful Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

"Derek worked incredibly difficult and sacrificed a batch complete five-plus years. His family became a large portion of nan Pirates family, and we will miss that," Pirates wide head Ben Cherington said successful a statement. "He's an incredibly smart, funny and driven shot leader. I judge he was nan correct personification for nan occupation erstwhile he was hired. I besides judge that a alteration is now necessary. I wish Derek and his family each nan champion successful their adjacent chapter."

Pirates chair coach Don Kelly was named arsenic Shelton’s replacement.

"Derek is simply a bully man who did a batch for nan Pirates and Pittsburgh, but it was clip for a change," Pirates president Bob Nutting said. "The first 4th of nan play has been frustrating and achy for each of us. We person to do better. I cognize that. Ben knows that. Our coaches cognize that. Our players cognize that.

"There is simply a batch of shot near to beryllium played. We request to enactment pinch a consciousness of urgency and return nan steps basal to hole this now to get backmost connected way arsenic a squad and organization."

Pirates head Derek Shelton stands successful nan dugout during nan San Diego Padres crippled successful Pittsburgh, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PIRATES FAN SPEAKS FOR 1ST TIME SINCE HORRIFYING FALL OVER WALL AT PNC PARK

Shelton took complete arsenic head successful 2020. He was 306-440 and ne'er won much than 76 games.

It’s been a rocky twelvemonth from nan jump for nan Pirates.

The statement took a ton of flak for removing a tribute to Roberto Clemente successful correct section early past month. The squad was thrust backmost into nan spotlight erstwhile a instrumentality fell from nan correct section seats onto nan informing way past week.

The statement past disciplined a worker who sewage into a conflict pinch an instigator earlier a game. A video of that altercation surfaced earlier this week.

Pirates pitcher Caleb Ferguson, center, waits pinch teammates for head Derek Shelton to propulsion him from nan San Diego Padres crippled successful Pittsburgh, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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The play is still successful its infancy and nan Pirates person nan players to move nan twelvemonth around.

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