It’s big news for the Pittsburgh sports world. The Pittsburgh Pirates have fired their manager and promoted their bench coach to the position.Don Kelly has been named the new manager of the Pirates. Kelly, who is originally from Butler, went to high school in Mt. Lebanon and then to Point Park University.In 2007, Kelly briefly played for the Pirates at the start of his major league career.Kelly has been a bench coach for the Pirates since 2020.”I know that he’s going to be able to adapt, improvise and overcome, and close that gap that the Pirates need to close in order to compete again and make a strong run for the playoffs,” said Loren Torres, head coach of the Point Park baseball team. “Donnie, we knew he was going to be a manager, so it is a blessing that he’s able to do it in Pittsburgh, for us and for him, and for the city of Pittsburgh.”Kelly’s promotion comes following the firing of now-former manager Derek Shelton.Shelton was hired in November 2019 amid a front-office shakeup, joining general manager Ben Cherington and team president Travis Williams as part of a new leadership group tasked with turning around the franchise.“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 said in a statement. “He’s an incredibly smart, curious, and 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.”

PITTSBURGH —

It’s big news for the Pittsburgh sports world. The Pittsburgh Pirates have fired their manager and promoted their bench coach to the position.

Don Kelly has been named the new manager of the Pirates. Kelly, who is originally from Butler, went to high school in Mt. Lebanon and then to Point Park University.

In 2007, Kelly briefly played for the Pirates at the start of his major league career.

Kelly has been a bench coach for the Pirates since 2020.

“I know that he’s going to be able to adapt, improvise and overcome, and close that gap that the Pirates need to close in order to compete again and make a strong run for the playoffs,” said Loren Torres, head coach of the Point Park baseball team. “Donnie, we knew he was going to be a manager, so it is a blessing that he’s able to do it in Pittsburgh, for us and for him, and for the city of Pittsburgh.”

Kelly’s promotion comes following the firing of now-former manager Derek Shelton.

Shelton was hired in November 2019 amid a front-office shakeup, joining general manager Ben Cherington and team president Travis Williams as part of a new leadership group tasked with turning around the franchise.

“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 said in a statement. “He’s an incredibly smart, curious, and 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.”

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Derek Shelton has been relieved of his duties as Pirates Manager.

Pirates Bench Coach, Don Kelly, has been named manager. pic.twitter.com/dOO9dDwf5t

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 8, 2025