The Pirates are bringing back Daniel Vogelbach — just not as a player.
Vogelbach will be joining the organization as a special assistant to the hitting department, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh brings him on for a second tour of duty, following his half-season stint with the squad just two years ago.
Vogelbach hasn’t officially announced his retirement from playing, but it would appear the new position is designed as a full transition into coaching. The Pirates hired hitting coach Matt Hague in November, who worked with the 32-year-old last season when they were both members of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets are the other three teams to experience the phenomenon that is “Danny Burgers.”
Vogelbach had a career slash line of .219/.340/.405 with 63 doubles, 81 home runs and 246 RBI over 602 games.
Story continues below advertisement
More Pirates: Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes Makes Admission About ‘Chronic’ Back Issue
Featured image via Katie Stratman/Imagn Images