Don Kelly has shown enough this season to keep the Pirates from slamming the door on him after one full year. But the rough edges have been obvious, too, and Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs offered another example when his decision to leave Gregory Soto in too long backfired.
That doesn’t have to be a verdict on Kelly. It may be a reason for Pittsburgh to give him more support.
Clint Hurdle may have just made that idea a little more realistic.
A Pirates fan recently asked Hurdle on social media whether he would be interested in returning to Pittsburgh in a supporting role, specifically as Kelly’s bench coach. Hurdle’s answer was short and telling:
"I always answer my phone when it rings."
I always answer my phone when it rings.
- Clint Hurdle (@ClintHurdle13) September 13, 2026
That’s not a job pitch, and it doesn’t mean a reunion is on the way. But it does sound like someone open to the conversation.
And for the Pirates, that conversation would make sense.
Kelly’s first full season has included enough to justify patience. He has connected with players, helped steer a very young roster through injuries and adversity, and appears to still have the organization behind him.
At the same time, some of his bullpen moves, pitching changes and late-game choices have drawn legitimate criticism. That’s what happens when a relatively inexperienced manager is handed a team that came into the year expecting to contend.
The solution doesn’t have to be replacing Kelly. It could be giving him a veteran voice beside him.
Few people fit that description better than Hurdle. He managed the Pirates from 2011-19, guided them to three straight postseason trips and won National League Manager of the Year in 2013. He already knows Pittsburgh, understands the pressure that comes with the job there and brings decades of experience as a player, coach and manager.
He also has recent experience in exactly this kind of setup. After the Colorado Rockies fired Bud Black in 2025 and elevated Warren Schaeffer, Hurdle stepped into a bench coach role with the inexperienced manager. He is now back as a Rockies special assistant rather than part of their 2026 coaching staff.
That matters because this wouldn’t need to be about nostalgia. It would be about adding another set of eyes for Kelly - someone to lean on when the bullpen gets tricky, matchups get complicated or a late-game decision needs a steadier hand.
Hurdle’s presence wouldn’t have to create any awkward power dynamic or make him a manager-in-waiting. The roles would just need to be clear.
If the Pirates believe Kelly is their man for 2027 - and there’s little reason to think otherwise - then helping him grow should be the priority. Experience will come, but Pittsburgh doesn’t have to force him to learn every lesson alone.
Hurdle’s reply doesn’t guarantee anything. It does, however, leave the Pirates with an opening worth considering.
In Other News...
Kirby Yates Just Made A Tough Admission Pirates Fans Will Feel
Kirby Yates has given the Pirates a useful late-season lift since the trade deadline, helping steady a bullpen that needed more reliability, but his latest update adds a different kind of significance to his stretch in Pittsburgh. The 39-year-old reliever is now on the injured list with a shoulder injury, though he still plans to come back before the end of the season, keeping his role with the club alive for the time being.
Yates also admitted something that tends to hang over veteran relievers this time of year: retirement is getting closer. Family is a major part of that equation, and for a pitcher at this stage of his career, the question is no longer just whether he can get back on the mound, but how much longer he wants to keep doing it. For the Pirates, it leaves his immediate return important and his longer-term future very much in the air. [Read more 🡒]
Three Pirates Hitters Are Putting This Final Stretch On Edge
September has brought a better rhythm to the Pirates, who have gone 8-4 and at least given the final weeks a little more life than the standings suggest. Even so, the offense still has some uneven spots, especially among a few key hitters who were supposed to help carry the late push. First baseman Horwitz, rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin and Ryan O'Hearn have all dealt with the lingering effects of injuries, and the production since their returns has not matched what the club had earlier in the year.
Horwitz and O'Hearn have both seen their batting numbers slip compared with their earlier-season work, while Griffin is trying to find his timing again after missing about two months. With 12 games left, Pittsburgh is still seven games back in the National League Wild Card race, which means every at-bat now carries a little more weight. The Pirates have shown enough in September to keep the stretch interesting, but getting those three bats back on track would go a long way toward making the finish worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Lowe Is Giving Pirates Fans Another Reason To Embrace Him
Brandon Lowe has already given Pirates fans plenty to like in his first season in Pittsburgh, and now he has added a different kind of recognition to go with his production at the plate. Lowe was named the clubs nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, the annual honor that spotlights MLB players for character and community work, a fitting nod for a player who has quickly become one of the lineups most visible contributors.
Beyond his offense, Lowe has made mental health awareness a personal cause through his Home Runs for Hope initiative, pledging donations for every homer he hits. He and his wife Madison have also supported other charitable efforts, including the Baby Quest Foundation, giving Pirates followers another reason to connect with him as more than just a new bat in the middle of the order. [Read more 🡒]