Pirates split with 2 coaches

The Pirates have parted ways with hitting coach Andy Haines and bullpen coach Justin Meccage, multiple sources informed the Post-Gazette on Monday evening.

Hired in December 2021, Haines served as the club’s hitting coach for three seasons. The Pirates ranked in the bottom third of MLB in batting average and OPS and the top third in strikeouts in each of his three years on the staff. The Pirates also ranked in the bottom third in home runs and runs scored in two of his three seasons at the helm.

While there were numerous issues of note for the Pirates in 2024, one that stood out more than most was the franchise’s inability to internally develop hitters at the big league level. Henry Davis, whom the Pirates picked first overall in the 2021 draft, struggled to show any form of consistency at the plate, hitting just .144 with a .454 OPS during 37 games.

Outfielder Jack Suwinski also experienced a drastic regression, batting just .182 with nine home runs and a .588 OPS one year after slugging a team-best 26 home runs.

The Pirates enter the offseason searching for what will be the franchise’s third hitting coach since Ben Cherington was hired as general manager in November 2019.

Meanwhile, the Pirates parted ways with Meccage after more than a decade with the organization.

Under Meccage’s watch, Pirates relievers combined to compile a 4.49 ERA, which ranked fourth worst in MLB.

Meccage became the Pirates bullpen coach prior to the 2020 season.

Across Meccage’s five seasons as bullpen coach, the Pirates only once cracked the top 20 in MLB in teamwide ERA by relievers.