Report: Pirates Hire Assistant Pitching Coach
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates added to their coaching staff, as they look to fill open spots ahead of the 2025 season.
Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reported that the Pirates hired Brent Strom as their assistant pitching coach. He also reported that the Pirates expect to appoint someone else to lead the bullpen.
The Pirates have hired Brent Strom as an assistant pitching coach, per source. He served as the Diamondbacks’ pitching coach the past three years and was the pitching coach with the Astros from 2014-2021.@_NoahHiles was on it
— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) November 13, 2024
Strom spent the past three seasons as the pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team struggled during his tenure, ranking no higher than No. 20 in ERA. They ranked seventh worst in 2022 with a 4.25 ERA, 11th worst in 2023 with a 4.48 ERA and fourth worst in 2024 with a 4.62 ERA.
He struggled to deal with the Diamondbacks' injuries last season and admitted to reporters following his dismissal that he didn't have the best relationship with the pitchers in the ballclub.
Strom did help the Arizona pitching staff maintain some sembence of strength in 2023, as they made the World Series for the first time since their sole trip and championship in 2021.
The 741 runs the Diamondbacks allowed were more than all but two teams, which included the Chicago White Sox, who lost a MLB-record 121 games in 2024.
Strom spent the previous eight seasons, 2014-21, with the Houston Astros, helping them win the World Series in 2017 and make the ALCS five straight times.
He also worked as the pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals for two seasons in 2000 and 2001 and the Astros in 1998. He spent time working in the minor leagues for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals.
Strom, who turned 76 years old in October, attended San Diego High School in San Diego, Calif. before going on to pitch for USC, winning two NCAA Titles in 1968 and 1970.
The New York Mets drafted him with the third overall pick in the 1970 MLB Draft. He pitched for the francise in 1972, the Cleveland Indians in 1973 and then his hometown San Diego Padres from 1975-77.
Strom finished with 75 starts in 100 games pitched, 501.8 innings pitched, a 22-39 record, 3.95 ERA and 278 strikeouts to 170 walks.
