Report: Pirates Hitting Coach Could Have New Role

Pittsburgh also scored the least runs (583) and drove in the least RBIs (561), both lower than the 43-119 Colorado Rockies. They also hit the least home runs (117), 31 home runs less than then second-lowest team in the St. Louis Cardinals at 148 home runs, and had the seventh most strikeouts (1,422).

Center fielder Oneil Cruz, who the Pirates expected would have a statement season struggled from May onwards. He slashed slashing. 200/.298/.378 for an OPS of .676, with 94 hits in 478 at-bats, 18 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs, 38 stolen bases on 43 attempts and 64 walks to 178 strikeouts.

Cruz had the lowest batting average of any qualified batter, and his on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS all ranked in the bottom 25 in the MLB.

The Pirates only had two batters that played in over 100 games that hit over .250, which includes infielders in Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who hit .264 in 119 games, before the Pirates placed him on waivers in late August, and Spencer Horwitz, who finally came back after wrist surgery and hit .272.

Hague previously worked with Horwitz in Toronto, but his lack of success with the Pirates hitters, may bring in someone new, but likely won't result in the Pirates firing Hague, who is still under contract.

Jason Mackey and Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Pirates are still working on figuring out the coaching staff, but that Hague may have a new role when Kelly's staff is finalized.

"As far as Matt Hague, sources cautioned that the Pirates are still evaluating every aspect of the coaching staff," they wrote. "The moves made [on Sept. 29] were easier because they involved contracts that won’t be renewed.

"Sources did not rule out further changes on the hitting side of things, including a possible new role for hitting coach Hague. Although those discussions are ongoing and nothing concrete has been decided on the hitting side of Kelly’s staff."