Don Kelly Has Earned Another Season at the Helm for the Pirates

Early on this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates got off to a brutal start. From the early struggles of David Bednar, a 12-26 record to open the season, and the morale in the locker room already feeling dead, it was clear that changes needed to be made. The first of these changes to be implemented was the firing of the team’s manager, Derek Shelton.

In his place would be a familiar face, the team’s bench coach, Don Kelly. Kelly had always been a well-respected member of the staff, with his nine years of big league experience proving he knew how to go about day-to-day life in the big leagues. It also helped that Kelly is from Butler, PA, making him a “hometown kid.”

Although Kelly wasn’t given the interim title when he was promoted, general manager Ben Cherington held his words when talking about Kelly’s future beyond 2025. However, with how Kelly has managed this team so far, he absolutely deserves the job moving forward.

What have been some of the biggest differences from Shelton to Kelly? Is there anything the new skipper has done right that Shelton didn’t do? Let’s take a closer look at the team under Kelly and examine exactly why he’s deserving of another season at the helm.

A Change in Heart and Accountability

For anyone who’s watched the Pittsburgh Pirates play this season under both Kelly and Shelton, arguably the number one difference you notice is the team’s morale. While it’s difficult to get excited to come to the ballpark every day when you’re so many games below .500, under Kelly, the players have actually played with some fire.

During the first few series of the season, the club suffered some brutal losses, and it looked like the team was miserable and completely out of the games they were playing. Most players hung their heads and went about their business as usual. There was almost no energy behind their performances.

Since Kelly took over the leadership role, there’s been a stark difference on the field. Players are playing with more energy, there are more laughs being shared in the dugout, and guys are walking with their heads up instead of down. To put it simply, the clubhouse feels alive and energized, while it felt cold and dead under Shelton.

Kelly has reciprocated the fire that the players have shown him. He’s been ejected four times in his first 109 games as the team’s manager, with a few of these coming in his first games after earning the job. He’s also regularly chirped from the dugout in support of his young players, earning him a ton of respect.

As a player, this type of energy is what makes you want to play harder. You want to reward a manager who’s willing to fight for you with good production on the field, which is what the Pirates have done.

In addition to Kelly managing with more fire and the players reciprocating with on-field energy, there’s also been more accountability under Kelly than there was under Shelton. One example of this was on June 25, when Kelly benched Oneil Cruz in a game against the Brewers.

After jogging out a double play ball, Cruz was removed from the game by Kelly. This also came shortly after Cruz showed a lack of effort in retrieving a ball he missed in center field just days earlier.

Following the game, Kelly said, “I think we were pretty clear the other day, and he knows the expectation going forward. We talked, but he knows the expectation, and right there, I think we fell a little short.”

This type of accountability was rarely seen under Shelton. He always opted for conversations behind the scenes, even though they didn’t always translate. Depending on the scenario, that can be the right thing to do. However, moments like these show actual accountability, rather than promising improvements with no real action.

Overall, the morale in the clubhouse, the accountability behind the scenes, and the fact that Kelly has been so willing to stand up for his players are all huge reasons for the newfound success the Pirates have had. These types of things never happened under Shelton, which shows the stark difference in managerial styles.

“Donnie Ball”

“Donnie Ball” has become the defining phrase for Don Kelly’s managerial style, and for good reason. Since taking over, Kelly has reshaped the Pirates’ identity in almost every way imaginable, creating clear differences in how he’s handled his roster.

One of the clearest differences between Kelly and Shelton has been the team’s willingness to play cleaner, smarter baseball. While the Pirates sometimes played hard under Shelton and put a huge emphasis on winning, it didn’t seem to be nearly as clean as it does now.

The club has done a much better job at moving over runners and being crafty with how they win games. It’s worked, too, as the Pirates have gone 52-57 since he took over the managerial job. While this record is subpar at best, it’s certainly better than the 12-26 start they had under Shelton.

Kelly has also been more willing to put together a consistent lineup out on the field, which can do wonders for individual players. One of the things Shelton was most known for was his constant lineup shifts. Instead of following in his footsteps, Kelly has kept the most impactful parts of the lineup fairly intact.

Due to their lineup roles becoming more and more clear, players have been better able to prepare for games. Instead of being left wondering what their role will be every day, their jobs have been clearer.

Kelly’s focus on fundamentals and his focus on consistency in the everyday product on the field have both been huge keys to his team’s newfound success. It also says a lot about the Pirates that they’ve kept up their winning ways, even with noticeable differences in their team after deadline day.

In addition, it helps that Kelly has been a lot more cautious in managing his bullpen. Under Shelton, the Pirates would often burn their best arms in low-leverage situations, only to need them the next day in close games. Under Kelly, this hasn’t happened nearly as often.

In fact, Kelly’s emphasis on flexibility with relief roles has been critical. He’s spread high-leverage opportunities across the entire bullpen, keeping his top arms fresh and preventing the team from being handcuffed when close games stack up.

Kelly also hasn’t been afraid to turn to his bullpen in tight situations. Instead of letting situations become uglier before making moves, Kelly will often have a quicker hook, which leads to bullpen arms throwing fewer high-leverage innings right away.

While these changes may seem insignificant or small, these traits are incredibly valuable in a manager. This becomes even more true when you consider the youth of this team. Creating more consistency and fewer opportunities for failure in key situations will do wonders for player development and their confidence.

What Does 2026 Look Like?

Having examined why Don Kelly deserves another season, it’s time to consider what next year may hold for him. Let’s face it, his expectations and team on the field will be completely different, which means a whole new wave of challenges could be heading his way.

For starters, due to the team’s poor start in 2025 and the fact that Kelly took over during the middle of a season, his moves have been held under less scrutiny. Next year, this likely won’t be the case, as he’ll have a completely fresh start. His bullpen usage, daily lineups, and more will all be watched far more closely.

Due to how the Pirates operate, there’s a very strong likelihood that Kelly will have a significant number of new faces on his team next season as well. This will leave him with the challenge of working these new players into their roles and maximizing the talent he’s been given. Once again, this will be watched very closely.

The 2026 campaign will mean a lot more for Kelly than this season has. It will be a chance to cement himself as the team’s manager and prove that the positive changes he’s made are sustainable and not just a one-year wonder.

The challenges he’ll face will be strong, especially if he’s actively being watched and criticized more closely. It’ll be very interesting to see how he handles these new opportunities and how he adapts to a new climate surrounding his decisions.