Breaking: News Pittsburgh Pirate has Hire a Top Manager Who is At the Age of 60th

There are numerous candidates available to fill the managerial position, including former Pirates players. One candidate who stands out is Jeff Banister, who boasts extensive experience as both a manager and coach, including time with the Pirates.

Banister, a 25th-round draft pick by the Pirates in 1986, has a unique place in baseball history as one of the few players to finish his career with a perfect batting average. On July 23, 1991, he made his only major league appearance, coming in to pinch-hit for pitcher Doug Drabek and hitting a single against the Atlanta Braves.

Despite facing challenges as the manager of the Texas Rangers, where the team struggled to remain above .500 during his tenure, Banister is deserving of a second chance in the MLB, particularly as the Pirates’ manager. While his firing in 2018 was not entirely his fault—given the Rangers’ transition into a rebuild—he has since found a role as the bench coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks, serving under Torey Lovullo since 2022.

Banister’s familiarity with the Pirates runs deep. He spent seven seasons as a minor leaguer in their system and has dedicated 16 years to coaching and managing within the organization. His accolades include a Manager of the Year award and experience as a bench coach during two of the most successful periods for both the Pirates (2013-2014) and Diamondbacks (2023-present).

After retiring as a player in 1993, Banister became a minor league manager in the Pirates’ system until 1998. He then took on the role of Major League field coordinator for four seasons, followed by serving as the Pirates’ minor league field coordinator until 2010. Late in the 2010 season, he transitioned back to the Major League dugout as the team’s bench coach under Clint Hurdle, contributing to the Pirates’ best seasons from 2011 to 2014.

In 2015, Banister became the manager of the Texas Rangers. In his debut season, he led the team to an impressive 88-74 record, earning him the Manager of the Year award. He followed that with a remarkable 94-win season in 2016. Given his history and experience, Banister should be at the top of the list for the Pirates if they decide to move on from Derek Shelton.