In a surprising twist, Pittsburgh Pirates’ General Manager Ben Cherington has revealed his firm expectation that Derek Shelton will continue as the team’s manager in 2025, despite the Pirates facing a probable fifth consecutive season without making the playoffs.
“I fully expect Shelty to be the manager in 2025,” Cherington stated before the Pirates’ game against the Miami Marlins at PNC Park on Wednesday morning. He praised Shelton’s work ethic and commitment to improvement. “There’s a lot Shelty does really, really well, and I believe he’s the right person to manage this team going forward.”
The Pirates, currently holding a 70-76 record, have endured a rough season, including an 8-19 collapse in August and a 10-game losing streak that pushed them to last place in the NL Central. Despite these setbacks, Cherington is confident in Shelton’s leadership abilities.
Shelton, who was hired in November 2019 to replace Clint Hurdle, has accumulated a 287-404 record (.415 winning percentage) over his five seasons as manager. His first season was drastically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Pirates recorded the worst record in the MLB that year. Following back-to-back 100-loss seasons, the Pirates saw some improvement last season, finishing 76-86.
After the Pirates completed a sweep of the Marlins, Shelton expressed his gratitude for Cherington’s support but acknowledged areas for growth. “I think I’ll be the first one to tell you that there are still things I need to get better at,” Shelton said. “It’s important to me that we continue to improve, and Ben’s belief in me motivates that.”
Cherington also accepted responsibility for the Pirates’ struggles, emphasizing the need for collective growth across the organization. He praised Shelton and the coaching staff for their dedication, saying they “work as hard as any in baseball” and are continuously looking for ways to improve. He did, however, note that the coaching staff’s performance would be reviewed at the end of the season.
“We’re responsible for delivering, and we’ll keep focused on that,” Cherington said, adding that while progress is being made, it’s not happening as quickly as desired. Cherington also discussed recent changes in the organization, including leadership openings following the dismissal of key staff members, signaling an ongoing effort to strengthen baseball operations.
The Pirates have had some difficult moments this season, including blowing a seven-run lead to the Cubs and being on the receiving end of several no-hit performances. Cherington labeled these disappointments as a “shared responsibility,” vowing to evaluate every aspect of the team to ensure improvement.
“We’re accountable for making sure we continue to improve in every aspect of baseball operations,” Cherington concluded, “and as we do that, it will translate to more wins at the major-league level.”
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