The Pirates are makin’ moves:
The #Pirates announce former Bucco infielder Jay Bell as new Pirates Hitting Coach
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) October 31, 2012
Other coaching changes: Rick Sofield First Base Coach, Dave Jauss ML Coach & Luis Silverio Senior Advisor, Latin American Operations
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) October 31, 2012
Bell, who most recently served as the hitting coach for the Mobile Bay Bears in the Diamondbacks organization, replaces Gregg Ritchie. Sofield, the new first base coach, managed Pirates affiliate the West Virginia Power in the South Atlantic League in 2012. Silverio — who is now the Senior Advisor for Latin American Operations — was the first base coach. Jauss was a scout.
The Pirates were tenth in runs per game in the NL last year, but were 14th in batting average and on-base percentage. Bell, who manned short for the Pirates back when they last actually won stuff, is tasked with improving those numbers.