BREAKING: Pirates Extend Manager Derek Shelton

PITTSBURGH — Speaking to the media on Saturday afternoon at PNC Park, general manager Ben Cherington told reporters that manager Derek Shelton’s contract has been extended past the 2023 season.

The terms of the extension were not revealed, but Shelton will be the Pirates’ manager for at least another year.

“I am very excited to have a chance to continue to work with him. I really believe that he’s the right person for the job. He’s worked tirelessly for over three years now to help put us in a stronger position to win,” Cherington said.

The Pirates have enjoyed a successful start to the 2023 season with a record of 14-7, but Cherington and Shelton first discussed a potential extension back in spring training. A deal was agreed upon within the last week or so.

Shelton was hired by the Pirates to replace former manager Clint Hurdle prior to the 2020 season. At the time, Shelton was serving as the bench coach for the Minnesota Twins.

Now in his fourth season as the manager in Pittsburgh, Shelton has complied a record of 156-249 (.385%).

After a pandemic-shortened season in which the Pirates finished 19-41, they went 61-101 in 2021 before a 62-100 showing in 2022. The Pirates finished in fourth place last season, their first time out of the cellar of the division under Shelton.