Joel Hanrahan, the Pirates’ Class AAA pitching coach this past season and the organization’s recipient of the Danny Murtaugh Coach of the Year, is leaving the organization to look for other opportunities.
Hanrahan went to Twitter to make the announcement:
After 5 years coaching with the Pirates I have decided to move on and look for other opportunities. Thank you to the Pirates for giving my first shot at coaching. I wish all the players, coaches and organization the best. I’m looking forward to a new challenge and opportunity.
— Joel Hanrahan (@hanrahan52) December 15, 2021
"It was a hard decision because of the relationships that I have formed over the last five years," Hanrahan told me over the phone. "But [I] felt the timing was right to make a move."
Hanrahan joined the organization as a minor-league pitching coach in 2017 to help in short-season A ball. He gradually worked up the ranks, including helping run the alternate training site in 2020 and Class AAA Indianapolis this past season.
But he had a clear goal of reaching the major leagues again as a coach. His contract expired at the end of the season, and while they offered multi-year deals and good money, a promotion to a major-league coaching or coordinator position was never brought up.
“It wasn’t about the money for me," Hanrahan said. "I just decided that it wasn’t the right fit for me anymore.”
Hanrahan made the decision to look elsewhere shortly after Thanksgiving. After informing the Pirates of his intentions, he quickly got interview requests from other organizations.
It sounds like there's already something lined up, and Hanrahan said he should have another announcement in the near future.
The Pirates currently have Oscar Marin as major league pitching coach, Justin Meccage as their bullpen coach and Josh Hopper as their pitching coordinator. Many teams have expanded the number of coaching positions at the major league level the past few years, even if it's to add a role like an assistant pitching coach (a position Meccage had held from 2018-2019). However, despite making changes to the MLB coaching staff this offseason, Hanrahan wasn't extended an offer.
Instead, the Pirates are losing their minor-league coach of the year. The former All-Star closer was praised for his ability to combine old-school coaching techniques while still having a firm grasp on analytics and new-wave ideas.
He was heavily praised for his ability to relate to players, too.
"Having been there, having been a two-time All-Star, having pitched out of the bullpen before, having pitched in Pittsburgh before is sometimes a strike against when you’re coaching a younger player," director of coaching and player development John Baker said in October. "But he leveraged both his relationship ability, his experience, but also exemplified the mindset of taking this new information and accepting it and putting it into practice.
“Obviously, we’re very proud of him and the work that he’s done. Across the board from Hanny, just a fantastic job that he’s done this season."
Earlier in October, the Pirates parted ways with Indianapolis manager Brian Esposito, so there will be at least two spots to fill at the club’s top affiliate. General manager Ben Cherington said that he expected that spot to be filled by an internal promotion.
The prospect of working with another manager didn't factor into Hanrahan's decision.
"They have great guys coming up through their organization in the manager ranks," Hanrahan said. "I just felt like for me, it was time to move on."
