Pirates’ Don Kelly Deserves Contract Extension, MLB Insider Says

What a difference a month makes.

“Today marks the one-month anniversary since Don Kelly took over as the Pirates’ manager. Their record with him at the helm: 15-14,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Noah Hiles wrote.

As a result, New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman says the “Pirates are showing serious improvement. Kelly already has earned an extension.”

The 45-year-old Kelly took over in the dugout last month when the Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton after starting the season 12-26. He was the first big-league skipper to lose his job this year.

“It’s been a month?” Kelly jokingly asked before Monday’s game vs. the Miami Marlins, according to MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf. “At times, it feels like it flies. Then at times, it feels like, you feel like learning those things takes time. But it’s gone by pretty quick.”

Kelly and the Pirates went on to beat the Marlins, 10-3, extending their winning streak to four games following a weekend sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park.

Among those praising Kelly for turning around the Pirates is designated hitter Andrew McCutchen.

“He’s been here, in the clubhouse, on the field for quite some time, so he has a general feel for the game,” McCutchen said, per Stumpf. “Makes some moves when he feels he needs to make them, and I think he has trust in the guys when he does it. Makes the right call when he makes them. Not putting guys in situations they shouldn’t be in.”

Pirates All-Star outfielder Bryan Reynolds agrees Kelly is getting the job done.

“He’s just great,” Reynolds said, per Stumpf. “Everyone in here loves him. He’s fun to play for, so not much more you can ask.”

Kelly had been the Pirates’ bench coach since the 2020 season. His coaching career started in 2019 as first base coach for the Houston Astros.

The Pirates look to make it five straight wins when they play the second game of their three-game series against the Marlins tonight in Pittsburgh.

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