Pirates fire hitting coach Andy Haines, bullpen coach Justin Meccage after last-place finish
Pittsburgh Pirates hitting coach Andy Haines has words for umpire Stu Scheurwater during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Pittsburgh, May 4, 2024. Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates fired hitting coach Andy Haines and bullpen coach Justin Meccage on Wednesday, three days after the Pirates finished last in the NL Central.
Pittsburgh's 76-86 record included a 21-34 mark after the trade deadline that dropped the Pirates out of the playoff race. There were multiple factors in the freefall, most notably an offense that failed to show any real signs of progress during Haines' three seasons with the club.
The Pirates finished in the bottom third in the majors in batting average, runs, home runs and on-base percentage in 2024, much as they did in the previous two years with Haines running the hitting program.
The bullpen that figured to be a strength coming out of spring training in March instead imploded. Two-time All-Star closer David Bednar lost his job down the stretch and set-up man Colin Holderman endured a rocky August in which he was tagged with three losses. Pittsburgh blew 29 save opportunities this season, trailing only the Boston Red Sox and the 121-loss Chicago White Sox.
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