Analysis: Don Kelly has shown ambition, winning approach in first Pirates coaching hires

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Dec 1, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — A major league manager has many jobs. Assembling a major league staff may be the most important.

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly has his first opportunity to build his own staff this offseason, and he's made three hires so far: new pitching coach Bill Murphy was hired from the Astros, new bench coach Kristopher Negron was brought in from the Mariners, and new third base coach Tony Beasley left Texas after a decade with the Texas Rangers.

Kelly said Tuesday at the "#BurghProud" Thanksgiving food distribution event that "at least one, maybe two more" hires are expected. But through his first three picks, Kelly has shown that he wants to build a staff that's young, forward-thinking, and has experience with winning organizations outside of Pittsburgh.

Murphy may be the best example of this. Murphy, 36, has been with the Astros since 2016 and with the major league staff since 2021. After the 2021 season, he became one of Houston's co-pitching coaches with Josh Miller. The Astros have continually been one of the top pitching organizations in the big leagues, and Murphy has had a key role in their success.

"The pitching staff is [our] foundation," Kelly said Tuesday. "Really believe strongly in [Murphy's] skill set, the knowledge and communication style that he brings from Houston to be able to accomplish that."

The Pirates had success under previous pitching coach Oscar Marin, but Murphy is someone the Pirates hope can push the Pirates staff to new heights. Kelly said he's fond of Marin but just wanted something new.

"It just felt like we needed a new voice at the top to continue to challenge these guys and push 'em forward," Kelly said. "Really happy for Oscar that he was able to land a job [as the Reds' bullpen coach]. Think the world of him as a person. He's gonna have success as he continues his career. We just felt like it was time for a new voice at the top of the pitching."

Marin is also young, only 42, and did well in Pittsburgh. But by hiring Murphy, Kelly was able to keep a new-school approach, someone who speaks Spanish and someone who has experience and success outside of Pittsburgh that he can bring to the Pirates.

Negron is a similar hire. He's 39 and had a lengthy playing career, retiring in 2019 after time spent in the Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations. He managed the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate in 2021 and has coached both first and third base for the Mariners since joining Seattle's major league staff in 2022.

He has some similarities with Kelly, as both were major league utility guys (Negron made starts at all seven field positions). It's something Kelly said didn't play into the decision, but also didn't hurt.

"I'm a little biased with utility guys and catchers, having to know everything," Kelly said. "The whole game, having to know the ins and outs of the defensive stuff lends itself to preparation and being able to know the ins and outs of the game."

From his bench coach, Kelly said he's looking for someone who can both help major league preparation and tactics and help build a culture. Negron has done plenty in his short time coaching, played for plenty of different managers as a big-leaguer, and comes from an organization that has won 85 or more games in each of the last five seasons. He should check both boxes.

Beasley is slightly different. He's 58 and has experience with the Pirates, spending three seasons as the team's third base coach from 2008 to 2010. However, he still looks the part of a solid addition. With a first-time manager like Kelly, it's important to have someone around who has plenty of coaching experience and even someone who has been a major league manager before, as Beasley was the Rangers' interim manager for 48 games in 2022.

"Respected him from afar for a long time," Kelly said, adding he'd occasionally text with Beasley. "He was managing the Altoona team when I was a youngster coming up through the Tigers system in Erie. Always respected how he handled things and the way he went about it."

That Pittsburgh experience should help, too, although the more important experience is Beasley's decade in Texas. He worked under three different managers, including Bruce Bochy, and was part of the World Series-winning staff in 2023. Kelly described him as "a really strong baseball guy."

It's also impressive how Kelly was able to use his relationships for these hires. He said he didn't know Negron and had only briefly met Murphy while they were both with the Astros, but Kelly said both were highly recommended. While other finalists aren't known, it seems like Kelly cast a wide net.

Kelly isn't done building, and what really matters is what happens out on the field. But by finding three outside hires with experience and a modern approach, Kelly has shown ambition. He's done well to build his first major league staff.

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