A Case Study: Don Kelly

Thumbnail Credit/Source: SportingNews.com

On May 8th of 2025, the Pittsburgh Pirates fired six-year manager Derek Shelton after a brutal 12-26 start to the season. In return, the Pirates promoted bench coach and Pittsburgh native Don Kelly, who took the Pirates by storm. It was clear from the jump the team had a better culture with Kelly as head man but still finished well out of playoff position. Over this offseason, the Pirates extended Kelly, giving him a full year with a newly revitalized roster, hoping to spark the Pirates to the playoffs for the first time in eleven years. Many questions still remain around Kelly, especially in recent Pirates results.

The Derek Shelton Years

Derek Shelton was the Pirates manager for six years, with a putrid record of 306-440 in his time. Many Pirates fans knew in the early portion that it was likely due to lack of talent on the roster, as the Pirates ranked near the bottom five of payroll league wide for the most of his seasons. In 2024, however, Pittsburgh baseball had a strong buzz around the city. Rookie pitcher, soon to be league star, Paul Skenes made his debut in the steel city. Finally Shelton had his ace, and though the rest of the roster had very little to be spoken of, there was truly belief that the Pirates could possibly sneak themselves into a playoff spot. As 2024 wound down, and the Pirates grew cold, it was clear that the next season was their chance, but that would not be the case.

The Pirates opened up 2025 in complete chaos. They dropped their first two series, coming into the home opener just 2-5, and the woes continued. The Yankees would dismantle the Pirates pitching staff, taking the first two games 9-4, and 10-4. The fans were upset, and as the struggles continued to blossom throughout April, the Pirates made a change, firing Derek Shelton. While many fans thought the struggles of Shelton were poor managerial decisions, much of the team’s struggles were a lack of talent on the roster. The Pirates couldn’t hit, at all, finishing with a team Batting Average of .231, and just one player with twenty or more home runs on the year. With Shelton out, and Kelly in, the Pirates were seeking the spark from the hometown kid to jolt the team into winning ways. 

The Beginning of Donnie Ball

Don Kelly began his managerial career with a 3-2 win over the Braves, and in just his second game in front of the home crowd, getting tossed in a 3-2 loss. It seemed he had the energy that the team needed, but the results didn’t follow. Though his 2025 record of 59-65 was much better than the first 38 games, the Pirates still finished dead last in the NL Central, a place this franchise has become much familiar with since their last playoff appearance. The team was clearly not ready to compete, but this offseason, everything would change. 

New Faces, New Places

This offseason, the Pirates made moves to try and upgrade their lineup, looking for explosive bats to drive in runs for their star pitching rotation. The first of their moves came from the way of trade, sending Mike Burrows to Houston in a three team trade, receiving Second Baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum, and reliever Mason Montogmery. This move was already a clear upgrade, with little expense to the Pirates. Their pitching was deep, likely needing to open a spot for rookie Bubba Chandler, and in return got the production of all star Brandon Lowe. Lowe in 2025 hit 32 Home Runs, more than any Pirate, hitting .256 and driving in 83 RBIs. The Pirates were already upgraded, but they weren’t done, signing Ryan O’Hearn to their first multi-year free agent deal in over ten years. O’Hearn hit .281 in 2025, smashing 17 home runs, driving in 63 RBI’s. 

The final offseason move for the Pirates included the addition of Marcell Ozuna, a one year $12 million deal. Ozuna hit 21 home runs in 2025, once again better than any Pirate at the time. At the beginning of the season, the Pirates also locked up number one prospect Konnor Griffin to a massive nine year, $140 million deal, securing Griffin for three years extra. It was clear, the Pirates are all in for this season, and have started strong, but some foils have been shown in some of Kelly’s managerial decisions early on that should be watched as the year continues on.

April 8th 2026, Padres 8 Pirates 2

On April 8th of this year, the Pirates hosted the Padres for the finale of a three game series, split at one game each. The Pirates started long-time starter Mitch Keller, who went six scoreless on four strikeouts, three hits, and just one walk. Going into the seventh inning, Keller was sitting at just 75 pitches, seemingly ready to go out for another inning of work. Instead, Kelly pulled Keller, opting for bullpen arm Justin Lawrence. Lawrence would give up four runs on three hits, including a Jake Cronenworth Home Run, and the bullpen would finish allowing eight runs total in the loss.

Watching this game, it appeared Keller was in a perfect spot, but Kelly later said his pitch count was too high for another inning of work, citing his limit at 85 for the day. His decision faced much backlash, as though it is early, many claimed Kelly was wasting opportunities to get a divisional lead. While saving pitchers arms is important for a long season, I question Kelly’s choice to opt for a struggling bullpen in a 0-0 tie game. Keller is a veteran pitcher who has much experience with the grind of a long season, and very well could have finished the 7th, maybe an 8th if he worked quickly. I am interested to follow their use of pitch counts in a long season, especially with the younger arms of Skenes, Chandler, and soon, Jared Jones. 

April 14th, 2026 – Nationals 5 Pirates 4

The Pirates just a day ago hosted game two of a series with the Nationals, coming off of a 16-5 explosive win, registering 10 runs in the 6th inning. With Keller on the mound, it appeared the Pirates had this one in hand, but early struggles from Keller put the Nationals ahead 3-0 in just the first inning. As the game progressed, the Pirates continued to battle, cutting the Nats lead to just one run. In the 7th, the Pirates loaded the bases with one out, with Brandon Lowe due up next. Lowe had a home run earlier in the ballgame, with seven total on the early part of the season. Don Kelly called for a pinch hitter, Nick Yorke, coming off of an 0-6 effort in the Pirates explosion just the night prior. Yorke grounded into a double play, ending the Pirates attempt to rally.

Later in the 9th, the Pirates once again began to rally, having first and second with just one out. After an Oniel Cruz strikeout, the Pirates were down to their last out, with substitution Nick Yorke up once again. Yorke would pop out to first, ending the game, and the Pirates chances to complete the comeback win. 

The decision to pull Lowe was made due to the fact of liking Yorke as a better matchup against Nationals left-handed reliever Cionel Perez, but clearly, it didn’t come to fruition. Despite Lowe being left-handed fcing a left handed pitcher, he had hit a home run in the first inning off of a lefty. Once again, it seems Kelly had mismanaged the situation, putting the Pirates in a worse place to mount a comeback

Conclusion

I want to emphasize that I myself am still high on Don Kelly, I believe he has put the Pirates in a better place than when Derek Shelton was manager, but I will still be watching situations similar to these for the near future. These decisions were nothing but questionable, and it feels as though they cost the Pirates both of these games. Don Kelly is still early in his managerial career, so I am hopeful that these are learning experiences for the hometown guy.

It will be very interesting to watch the progression of the Pirates throughout this season, as early on, they appear to be a team who can make a push in the NL Central. We all have seen the fast starts from the Pirates in the last few seasons, and hopefully the combination of the new faces, and star young talent, can help push the Pirates back to Buctober for the first time in over a decade.