Bucs fire pitching coach Kerrigan, bench coach Varsho - MLB

Well, it appears the good vibes that Pedro Alvarez sent into the Pittsburgh air on Saturday night have quickly made their way out of the stratosphere. The Bucs decided to cut ties with pitching coach Joe Kerrigan and bench coach Gary Varsho early Sunday morning, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Kerrigan was hired by the Pirates in October of 2008 and has watched a low-on-talent staff post a 5.07 collective ERA this season, which ranks 28th in the majors. The 55-year-old has coached for the Expos, the Red Sox, the Phillies and the Yankees, and he also pitched for four-plus seasons. Now he’ll look for a job elsewhere.

Varsho, 49, was hired to be the Pirates’ bench coach in November of 2007. He also played in the majors at one point, racking up 204 hits and 84 RBI as an outfielder for the Pirates, Cubs, Reds and Phillies.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins needs surgery for a torn ACL after injuring his left knee Thursday fielding a grounder in a spring training game and is expected to miss a significant amount of time.

The Phillies did not say when Hoskins would have the surgery or exactly how long the slugging first baseman might be sidelined.

Hoskins hit 30 homers with 79 RBIs last season for the reigning National League champions.

He was backing up to play a chopper on Thursday when the ball popped out of his glove. Sooner after, he fell to the ground and began clutching his left knee. Teammates gathered around him before he was taken off of the field.

Hoskins, a free agent at the end of the season who turned 30 last week, hit six homers in Philadelphia’s playoff run last season. The Phillies lost to the Houston Astros in the World Series.

The injury was another blow for the Phillies, who will be without top pitching prospect Andrew Painter for another few weeks because of a sprained ligament in his right elbow. And slugger Bryce Harper isn’t expected back until around the All-Star break after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November.