The Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton on Thursday’s off day, then promptly won their first game under interim manager Don Kelly. Star pitcher Paul Skenes didn’t mince words about the decision before taking the mound.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t shocked,” Skenes told 93.7 The Fan. “At the end of the day, we’re (12-26), whatever it is. Someone’s gotta be held accountable. Unfortunately, right now, it’s him.”
Pittsburgh sits at the bottom of the NL Central and hasn’t reached the postseason since their 2015 Wild Card loss. Shelton, who took over in 2020, departs with a 306-440 record during his tenure.
The timing makes sense. The Pirates are trying to maximize their window with young stars like Skenes and Oneil Cruz before they potentially hit free agency and command bigger contracts elsewhere. While the managerial change won’t transform them into contenders overnight, it signals the organization isn’t content with another lost season.
Skenes brings a championship pedigree to a franchise starving for success. At LSU, his team lost just 17 games en route to winning the College World Series last year. That winning mentality is what made him the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.
The 22-year-old phenom has been as advertised since arriving in the majors. Last season, he posted a 1.96 ERA, won NL Rookie of the Year, finished third in Cy Young voting, made the All-Star team and even received MVP votes. This year, he’s maintained his dominance with a 2.77 ERA and 47 strikeouts.
What’s clear is that Skenes is developing into one of baseball’s elite pitchers. The question now is whether the Pirates can build a competitive team around him before his eventual payday arrives. The managerial change suggests they’re at least trying to change their trajectory.
