He is back, The Pittsburgh Pirates have just announced the return of their former head coach
Pittsburgh — Before Sunday’s regular season finale against Cincinnati, the Pirates fired manager Clint Hurdle due to an astonishing collapse in the second half that left Pittsburgh at the bottom of the National League Central and included a number of off-field problems.
Pittsburgh was 69-92 going into Sunday, with a 25-47 record after the All-Star break.
Hurdle played for Pittsburgh for nine seasons, going 735-720. He helped the team win three straight playoff games from 2013 to 2015, ending a 20-year losing streak. The Pirates are certain to have lost three of their previous four seasons and have never progressed past the Division Series. Hurdle’s 2017 contract extension was set to expire in two years.
Hurdle managed the Colorado Rockies from 2002 to 2009 before moving to Pittsburgh. Under his leadership, the Rockies made their first and only World Series participation in 2007.
Neal Huntington, general manager of Pittsburgh, described it as “an extremely difficult decision” for the company.
In a statement, Huntingon stated, “Words cannot express how much respect and appreciation I have for Clint as a person and a leader.” “He took on the immense responsibility of steering our Major League squad out of a protracted losing run and guiding us to three consecutive Postseason participation at the right time. His devotion to the Pirates organization, both on and off the field, will always be appreciated.
Tom Prince, the bench coach, took over as manager on Sunday in Hurdle’s place.
Hurdle is now the fifth manager to leave the team. Bruce Bochy of San Francisco and Ned Yost of Kansas City declared their retirements; Andy Green of San Diego was fired on September 21; and Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs revealed on Sunday that he will not be coming back.
Bob Melvin of Oakland became the big league manager with the longest tenure after being hired in June 2011.
Hurdle expressed “guarded optimism” about the team’s future, despite its post-All-Star break slump, just hours before he left. Pittsburgh was down 44–45 at the half and lost 24 of the next 28 games.
Pitcher Felipe Vázquez was charged off the field with misdemeanor counts of indecent assault on a person under the age of sixteen, statutory sexual assault, and unauthorized contact with a juvenile, all of which are crimes.
After a brawl between reliever Kyle Crick and Vazquez, which ended with Crick needing season-ending surgery on his right index finger, reliever Keone Kela was punished for his dispute with a team official.
