The Pittsburgh Pirates have parted ways with pitching coach Oscar Marin and third base coach Mike Rabelo, while assistant pitching coach Brent Strom has retired. Despite the team’s pitching being a highlight in 2025, Marin was let go. Jon Heyman first reported Marin’s dismissal, as noted by Last Word On Sports.
Subsequently, Jason Mackey and Colin Beazley from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirmed through their sources that Strom and Rabelo were also leaving. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic later clarified that Strom’s departure was due to retirement, not a firing as initially reported.
Pirates Fire Oscar Marin Among Other Coaches
It’s perplexing that the Pittsburgh Pirates would fire pitching coach Oscar Marin while keeping hitting coach Matt Hague and assistant hitting coach Christian Marrero. In 2025, the Pirates’ offense was among the weakest in MLB, posting a .231/.305/.350 slash line, 117 home runs, and a league-worst .655 OPS. Only two teams, including the division-winning Cleveland Guardians, had a lower batting average, and no team hit fewer home runs. Meanwhile, the pitching staff excelled, with a 3.76 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.216 WHIP, and a league-leading 19 shutouts.
It’s a stretch to say someone like Homer Simpson could coach a talent like Paul Skenes, but Oscar Marin’s track record speaks for itself. Beyond Skenes, Marin transformed Dennis Santana from a mocked waiver claim into one of baseball’s top relievers, boasting a 0.867 WHIP—outshining even Skenes’ 0.987. His work also elevated David Bednar, paving the way for a trade, and turned Jose Quintana from a struggling pitcher (5.13 ERA, 1.471 WHIP from 2019-21) into a valuable trade asset in 2022 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.272 WHIP. Marin’s ability to develop pitchers was a clear strength for the Pirates.
Oscar Marin joined the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020, replacing Ray Searage, who was let go after owner Bob Nutting grew frustrated watching pitchers like Gerrit Cole, Tyler Glasnow, and Charlie Morton thrive after leaving Pittsburgh. Marin’s primary task was to develop Mitch Keller into a top-tier starter to prevent further embarrassment for the organization.
Keller, who struggled with a 6.02 ERA from 2019-21, transformed under Marin into a reliable No. 2 starter, posting a 4.15 ERA and 1.297 WHIP from 2022-25. His standout 2023 season, with 210 strikeouts and an All-Star nod, highlights Marin’s impact.
Insult to Injury
On Monday, Pirates manager Don Kelly, who was brought on last season and confirmed as permanent for 2025—inked a contract extension. That said, for Gene Lamont and Chris Truby, every other coach on the current staff carried over from Derek Shelton’s era. These recent shake-ups could simply reflect Kelly flexing his newfound independence, opting to assemble a group aligned with his own vision. He may already have candidates in mind from his years crisscrossing the baseball landscape.
Beyond his third-base duties, Mike Rabelo frequently stepped in as de facto bench coach after Kelly’s promotion. Yet the Pirates have long ranked as a middling baserunning outfit, prompting questions about when—or if—any base coach might finally face the music. With 2026 spring training still months away, there’s ample runway to see if the hitting coaches draw similar scrutiny down the line.
Source: LWOS
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