Pittsburgh Pirates Retained Pitching Coach Bill Murphy
The organization confirmed Bill Murphy will return as the pitching coach for the upcoming 2027 season.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Baseball
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have officially retained pitching coach Bill Murphy for the 2027 season following his debut year with the team. General manager Ben Cherington cited Murphy's work ethic and professional competence as key factors in the decision to maintain continuity.
Why it matters
Retaining Murphy signals a commitment to the pitching development philosophy that contributed to a record-breaking year for the franchise staff. This stability aims to build upon the momentum established by the team's top young starters and mid-season bullpen acquisitions.
The Pirates pitching staff set a franchise record with 1,496 strikeouts in 2026, ranking fifth in the league. During the same period, Paul Skenes posted a 3.82 ERA, while the bullpen maintained a 25.1% strikeout rate and a 1.21 WHIP following the trade deadline.
The players
Bill Murphy
He completed his first season as the pitching coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ben Cherington
He serves as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates and oversees team personnel decisions.
Paul Skenes
He is a starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who recorded a 3.82 ERA in 2026.
Mitch Keller
He is a Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher who was sidelined for part of the 2026 season due to a right arm injury.
The details
Under Murphy's guidance, the pitching staff achieved historic strikeout numbers while navigating significant injury challenges, including the loss of Mitch Keller in August. The coaching staff successfully integrated mid-season additions like Lake Bachar, Luke Weaver, and Kirby Yates to stabilize the bullpen.
Timeline
August 3, 2026: Mitch Keller was placed on the 60-day injured list with a right arm muscle tear.
September 2026: Jared Jones and Mason Montgomery earned National League monthly honors.
2026 season: The Pittsburgh Pirates set a franchise record for strikeouts.
2027 season: Bill Murphy will continue to serve as the team's pitching coach.
Season Trajectory
This retention follows the Pittsburgh Pirates' 2026 pitching development program and signals a desire to maintain the momentum of the current rotation. By securing continuity at the coaching level, the team aims to keep the core of its staff competitive as it looks toward the next season.
The decision provides stability for a rotation that saw breakout years from young arms like Braxton Ashcraft and Jared Jones. Fans and fantasy managers can expect the pitching philosophy that generated 1,496 strikeouts to remain the team standard in 2027.
The takeaway
Maintaining the current coaching staff suggests the organization is satisfied with how its arms performed under pressure in 2026. This move creates consistency as the team moves into the off-season and prepares for 2027 spring training.
Further reading
For more on roster moves and team updates, visit Baseball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
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