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Struggling Pirates Turn to Don Kelly as New Manager

With the Pittsburgh Pirates in last place of the National League Central, bench coach Don Kelly has been named the club’s new manager.
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Struggling Pirates Turn to Don Kelly as New Manager
Derek Shelton was fired by the Pirates on Thursday as the club struggles this season with a 12–26 record. Courtesy of Don Laible
Donald Laible
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Only 38 games into the 2025 MLB season, the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton on May 8 and promoted longtime bench coach Don Kelly as his replacement.

With Thursday as an off day, and with the club completing a midweek three-game road trip in St. Louis, Pirates’ general manager Ben Cherrington dropped the proverbial axe on Shelton in the morning. Prior to delivering the news to Shelton, it is reported that Cherrington spoke with Bob Nutting, Pirates’ principal owner and chairman of the board, and Travis Williams, the club’s president, for their approval.

Donald Laible
Donald Laible
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Don has covered pro baseball for several decades, beginning in the minor leagues as a radio broadcaster in the NY Mets organization. His Ice Chips & Diamond Dust blog ran from 2012-2020 at uticaod.com. His baseball passion surrounds anything concerning the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and writing features on the players and staff of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Don currently resides in southwest Florida.