Pirates Make Change to Coaching Staff
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that Cibney Bello has been promoted to the Major League staff as assistant pitching coach. Thomas Whitsett, who previously held he role, resigned for personal reasons.
Bello, 43, served as pitching coach with Triple-A Indianapolis the last two seasons where he worked with current Pirates pitchers Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft among others. The native of Venezuela also worked at the team’s Dominican Republic academy in the offseason.
Bello began his coaching career in the Seattle Mariners organization in 2011 and also coached in the minor leagues for the Minnesota Twins before he was hired to join Indianapolis.
Whitsett joined current pitching coach Bill Murphy from the Houston Astros in December.
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There must be something going on behind the scenes in the pitching department with the Pirates. Oscar Marin’s departure was a bit of a surprise, but there were hints on the way out the door of a rift with him and the players, staff, and/or front office. Now this.
I just hope the end result is a more challenged, cohesive group of pitchers that can access all the talent they have and push their individual ceilings.