At 14-7 getting into play on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates are off to their greatest begin because the 1992 season. It has been sufficient to earn supervisor Derek Shelton a contract extension.
Whereas the Pirates didn’t announce particular phrases on Shelton’s new deal, his contract was set to run out after the 2023 season.
That is Shelton’s fourth 12 months within the Pirates’ dugout and the primary actual signal of success he has seen throughout that point. The Pirates had misplaced 100 video games in every of the earlier two seasons and had been taking part in at a 100-loss tempo throughout the shortened 2020 season. Total, Shelton’s file was a good 142-242 on the time of the extension.
“I actually consider that he is the suitable individual for the job,” normal supervisor Ben Cherington informed the Pittsburgh media earlier than Saturday’s sport. “He is labored tirelessly for over three years now to assist put us in a stronger place to win.”
Whereas Shelton’s physique of labor may not seem to be something particular or something that warrants a contract extension, you even have to grasp the circumstances right here. Shelton has not likely had an opportunity to truly “handle” a aggressive group. The roster he has been working with throughout his first three full seasons has lacked expertise from top-to-bottom — growing particular person gamers had taken preliminary precedence over really successful baseball video games.Â
The Pirates have used a stunning begin from their pitching rotation, some under-the-radar offseason additions and a few rising younger expertise to leap out as one of many largest surprises within the league.Â
