Don Kelly Winter Meetings Press Conference | Pittsburgh Pirates

Don Kelly Winter Meetings Press Conference | Pittsburgh Pirates

How different is your involvement at this time part of the season as sort of the team building is happening at the front office level? Were you very involved as bench coach? Are you very involved now? And what ways do you sort of try to lend your your eye to the process? Yeah, more more I think uh as a bench coach involved on the fringes as a manager definitely involved in the conversations. I mean this is honestly it’s my first winter meetings that I’ve been to. So excited to be down here, excited to be, you know, part of the conversation and and really um, you know, as we look towards building in 26 the things that we’ve talked about adding offensively um, is is the biggest thing and directly involved in those conversations as well. When it comes to free agency, you’re selling a player on dollars and cents, but also the opportunity. If you were to be speaking with a good free agent right now, what type of things would you be telling him about the opportunity of this? Yeah, when you look at the the team and the way that we’re built with our pitching staff, um you know, there are some teams around the league that have good pitching staffs. Not discounting that at all. Totally believe that ours is at the at the top towards the top of the league. I mean, when you look at Paul, um Bubba Chandler, Mitch Keller, uh Ashcraft, Jones, Burroughs, it’s unbelievable the way that we we have the starting pitching depth and the uh talent to be really good. I think that it’s something that gives us a chance uh to win in 26 with the right additions. You guys felt comfortable trading. What can you say about the pitcher, the version of the pitcher that came back to you last year and how he profiles? Yeah, I mean at ODO, I mean what he went through last year going Tommy John and then the lat in spring training and the way that he was able to come back and the competitor that he is, it it stinks losing a guy like that. you know, when you look at a rot a guy that’s going to be in the rotation um from our standpoint in order to get Garcia, it was something we had to give up something to get something and really excited about bringing Garcia back and the impact that he could potentially have in in 26 and um you know the upside that he has is tremendous and really excited to add him back. Um obviously thanks to L O but excited about adding Garcia. Basketball profile How does that happen? Yeah, it uh you know I I think that I don’t know all the stuff but the extension and the way that the fast ball played was a little bit different probably through the I know our guys worked hard on it with him to continue to adjust some things and he did a great job of of being able to make the adjustments. You mentioned Garcia. kind of like just the possibility of him adding some power to the lineup in 26 and just the impact. Yeah. Uh some big time power that that he brings and just the ability to be able to play all three outfield positions. Looks like he’s a above average outfielder and uh just the way I saw that double that he hit in his first at bat down there in winter ball and the way that he hustled and ran into second. Um you know all the reports that we’ve gotten back and the video that we’ve got to watch. really excited to add a young prospect of his caliber to the team. You think he can handle center? Yeah, I think so. Um, you know, I think he can definitely go to center field. A guy in O’Neal probably didn’t have the year last year. He might want skyhigh. How did the Pirates get him from what he was last year to that? Yeah, he’s uh O’Neal’s working hard this off season and continuing to work with him on the approach, on the way that he’s uh approaching every single at bat. Uh I think we saw the uh way that he got better in the outfield last year as the season went on and his first full season playing center field. Um you know, worked really hard at that and he’s doing the same thing offensively now. Major leagues is tough and as you start to go through those those changes and teams adjust to you being able to make the adjustment back and we’re seeing O’Neal go through that right now. Um he’s having a great off season and looking forward to him having a really good year next year. The Pirates have somebody working. So he was down there um with Raul and at the academy doing some stuff um and the external external strength and conditioning guy um and he’s been back in the States too. So I know that Matt and our group is is in touch with him often. I think ideally like to keep him at first base. He’s such a good defensive first baseman, but totally open to other ways. Um, you know, you played him at second last year at the end of the season. He’s played second for Toronto. Um, you know, just looking at any way to to impact the team. Ideally, you know, he’ll be at first. power. Yeah, it’s uh easier said than done. It’s up to, you know, as we go through with the player and talking about the adjustments, you know, we just uh talking about O’Neal Cruz, right? and the league adjusts back to you. Finding ways to talk to them about their approach, what the other team is trying to do to you and continue to challenge yourself in practice on ways to if it’s fast ball, slider, swing and miss. The one thing that it seems with him is when there when it is in the zone and he attacks the right pitches, he he squares them up and hits them really hard. And that’s what we’re really excited about. And as he continues to evolve and and you know, grow in his development, um you know, laying those pitches that are outside the zone will be something an area of emphasis for us to work with them on. When you look at the some of the top offenses last year, thinking specifically like the Blue Jays and Brewers seem to had a lot of success in the regular season, both had long runs in the postseason as well and the style of offense they played that makes power off the bat, a little speed, but particularly a lot of contact. What takeaways do you take from that in terms of the the direction that offenses are taking right now across the major? Yeah, it’s interesting. I can speak more to playing the Brewers and and they did they, you know, the at bats that they put up were really good and that’s something that you we challenge our guys on too is continuing to put up good at bats fight with two strikes, continue to put the ball in play and uh you know, as you continue to see the development with your guys, like it’s something with the Brewers have done a good job of, it’s it’s hard to mix sometimes. They have a unique ability, speaking of the Blue Jays, to have that kind of ability to make contact and drive the baseball, which is tough. You know, Milwaukee didn’t drive the baseball, I don’t think, as much as, you know, some other teams, but they had the ability to to work the count, do that. Cleveland is another team that comes to mind in that regard. Um, you know, and can for us to continue to work with our guys and uh, you know, an offensive approach and an offensive identity of having tough tough at bats. with your catchers right now. Will you explore another option with Joey? Like is first base an option for him to get both bats in the lineup? Like how do you how do you feel that delineation duties? Yeah, Jo uh last year dur practice Joey’s taken some ground balls at first. Um you know really see Joey is a catcher um you know but as it goes we were able to get him in last year at DH a little at the end and I think that first He continues to take some ground balls, something that we could explore down the line. Paul showed obviously a real desire to go deep into games last year, a lot of success going deep in games. How much of the decision how long should you give him is in your hands? How do you sort of think about that in your three now that he’s proven he certainly can do it can do at a very high level, but you also want to be mindful of wear and tear? No doubt. uh with espec in regards to Paul specifically I think it was 160 innings two years ago 133 in the big leagues and then last year 187 190 I don’t know the exact number always continue to try to push Paul and other guys forward while taking into account their health you know where they’re at and certainly a decision that we collectively meet on and talk about um before every single game and how we’re going to try to you know it’s the team of people that we pull together and really talk about that and dive into it into how to maximize not just Paul but all of our guys. We had a bunch of guys last year um Ashcraft Burroughs that were on innings limits and just trying to make sure that we keep them as healthy as we can. What does the next step look like? That’s a it’s been first two steps have been really good, you know. So, um, all I know with Paul is I he works his tail off every single day. And there’s there’s nobody he we get to see him start. We’ve talked about this a lot. He we get to see him start every five days. The four days in between is what separates him. The way he works, his commitment to his craft, the detail that he goes into every single day into making himself not just a good pitcher, but a great pitcher. he wants to be elite and um that next step as far as he he’s he’s going to let us know as he continues to push himself and uh I mean just his first two years have been unbelievable and just really excited about um you know seeing his development and him continuing to get better because he does that’s what he does every single day shows up shows up to win and shows up to get better himself. How are you that you know guys like guys like Ashra take the next step and kind of you know go even a step forward in 2026 after you getting some experience. Yeah, and I think that that experience is what separates, you know, when you see Bubba come up and have quick success in his first two and then hit a rough patch there, you know, in his next two outings. That that game against Milwaukee was a tough one and then you saw the way he rebounded and responded. Um, you know, all of our guys at Burroughs had a tough outing in in Minnesota, I remember right before the All-Star break, found a way to bounce back and he showed different glimpses. Hashcraft filled so many different roles last year in the bullpen in bulk starting games pitching the ninth inning against the Phillies. It’s pouring down rain and you know we we walk Schwarber to get to Bow and he gets a double play to end it. Um you know Carmen Majinsky started the year as a starter goes down to Triple A comes back up in the bullpen and found ways to start really there were just so many things and the thing that stands out to me is that when those guys got the ball they they took the ball and they dominated as best they could in that moment that they had whether it was starting or leaving, closing, um everything in between. It was really impressive to see the way that they all did that. Um competing, you know, with each other against the other team, competing against each other for starts and innings. And uh it was really it was really cool to see. And like we were talking about, that’s the foundation of our team. That’s a competitive drive. And I think that, you know, when you look at Paul and Mitch, they they lead in that. And uh the foundation of the pitching staff. Do you anticipate seeing um Conor in the mix for the short stop position training? Conor’s gonna get Yeah, I it’s we’re still talking about a lot of that. It’s too early to say um you know exactly what’s going to happen there, but you know, as far as a 19-year-old guy that just came out of high school, the year that he had to go through three levels and play the way that he played, um sky’s is the limit for him. the way the talent that you see, the the wiring, the way he goes about it. It’s uh he he’s really really impressive. Paul specifically when he kind of talked about how there’s a there’s like two fields of people who want to go to Pittsburgh. Some people just like some really see how special you make those comments. How do you find players that want to win here? I got chills, you know, you saying that because winning in Pittsburgh for those of us that have seen it is special. You know, when you think about the blackout game against against the Reds and I was watching that game on TV, having grown up in Pittsburgh, seeing the early 90s and the success that the team had, that that’s what excites me. That’s what drives me. That’s what we’re striving for every single day. You know, when we’re here at the winter meetings and we’re up in the in the suite talking about things, talking about the adjustments, talking about the offense, talking about how to continue to to build the pitching foundation. That’s what that’s what excites me and that’s what, you know, we expect. That’s what the fans expect and that’s what we want to to bring to Pittsburgh in 2026. Um, you know, it’s uh certainly it’s not about me. You it’s about it’s about the players. It’s about the city. It’s about the fans. And it’s about bringing winning baseball back to Pittsburgh. What would that mean to you to do that? To bring baseball back to I get chills thinking about it, honestly. Like I said, it’s uh you know, it Pittsburgh’s a special place and it’s a you know, it’s a tough town. It’s a gritty town and that’s the that’s the attitude and the the identity that we want to bring as a ball club to the city. We’ve seen increased willingness across the league to bring position players up earlier. A lot of reasons for it. You benefit from increased athleticism and all the good, you know, range and all that stuff, but it’s really really hard to hit in the major league leagues right now. How do you help a young guy who hasn’t had a ton of experience in the minors figure it out on the fly in the major leagues? Yeah, it’s it’s you’re right, it is tough. it’s tough to hit and just continuing to work with him, continuing to expose not just him but others to opportunity and continue to see because you know referencing O’Neal earlier uh he saw some way that they were going to pitch him differently and finding ways to combat that, continue to continue to adjust and finding ways, you know, specifically maybe with Connor, like finding ways to continue to hone in on his approach and what he does really well and learn what the teams are going to try to do to combat that. I know this become not for a guy to be in college one year and be in the big league the next few years. Do you see that? Yeah, it I think that the players let you know, you know, like they’re going to let you know when you see a guy like Connor and that dominate through the minor leagues. They let you know when when they’re ready to ready to move and and Paul was, Connor was this year. We got pushed really aggressively and um you know, I think you take it case by case, but you are seeing younger guys get to the big leagues quicker um you know, across the league, not just with us. and so much turnover last year. What do you think makes a good manager in today’s? Yeah, interesting. I think that uh I guess in order to answer that looking back on on my career, guys that I respected um you know that I played for, Leland is first guy that comes to mind and just the care that he had about people and his commitment to winning and how he blended those two things together that um number one, you never questioned if he cared about you. And that care might not come across as like putting his arm around you. He might kick you in the butt sometimes to really show you that he cared and try to the most out of you. Um, and then his commitment to winning and how he went about it every single day to blend those two things together. Um, you know, is what really really made him and I think other guys special. What was he like? Yeah, he was great to work with, you know, as far I’m really happy for him that he was able to get that. Look forward to catching up with him live at some point. Um, you know, but really we had a good relationship and happy for him that he got that opportunity. Yeah, he’s doing well and and getting better. The rehab has has gone great as far as timeline and all that. And you know, I think too early to really say exactly what that’s going to look like, especially given the the length of time even between now and spring training that we still have to go through. But everything’s going well. Thank you. Peace out.

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly speaks from Orlando on Day 1 of the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings, discussing his first Meetings as manager and his increased role in offseason decision-making. Kelly breaks down the focus on adding offense for 2026, why the Pirates’ pitching depth is a major selling point, and his thoughts on newly added Jhostynxon Garcia.

He also touches on Oneil Cruz’s offseason work, Joey Bart’s defensive versatility, young player development, and how prospects like Konnor Griffin are evaluated. Kelly reflects on Pittsburgh’s identity, what winning in the city means to him, and the mindset the team wants to carry into 2026.

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