Pittsburgh Pirates Announce Major Minor League Coaching Restructure for 2026
On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Pirates officially unveiled a significant reorganization of their Minor League Baseball coaching hierarchy for the 2026 season, signaling a renewed commitment to long-term player development and organizational continuity. The announcement, made in Bradenton, Florida, introduces new leadership across multiple affiliate levels while retaining key personnel to maintain stability.
Eric Patterson Promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis Manager
The most notable change occurs at the Triple-A level, where Eric Patterson has been promoted to manager of the Indianapolis Indians. Patterson, who served as the team's bench coach during the 2025 season, fills the vacancy created by Shawn Bowman's elevation to Major League field coordinator for the Pirates.
This promotion underscores the organization's confidence in Patterson's ability to manage both in-game strategy and player development at the highest Minor League level. He will lead a revamped coaching staff that includes several new additions:
- JD Closser joins as catching and game-planning coach
- Casey Harms assumes the role of hitting coach
- Nasusel Cabrera replaces Cibney Bello as pitching coach after Bello was hired as the Major League pitching coach following Thomas Whitsett's departure on February 13
Continuity remains important, with Drew Benes returning as pitching coach and Eric Munson returning as hitting coach, providing experienced guidance as Indianapolis prepares for the 2026 season.
New Leadership Across Double-A, High-A, and Single-A Affiliates
The Pirates extended their organizational restructuring beyond Triple-A, implementing leadership changes throughout their Minor League system:
Double-A Altoona Curve: Andy Fox returns for his second season as manager after leading the team to a successful 2025 campaign that included postseason play. He will be joined by new hitting coach Justin Orton, who was promoted from Single-A Bradenton.
High-A Greensboro: Jose Mosquera takes over as the new manager, bringing extensive organizational experience dating back to 2016 when he joined the Pirates as a scout. Mosquera has previously managed Pirates teams in the Dominican Summer League and Florida Complex League, and will also oversee Team Colombia at next month's World Baseball Classic, with an opening match scheduled against the Pirates on March 3.
Single-A Bradenton: Gera Alvarez returns as manager, having previously led the club from 2017-2018. A member of the Pirates organization since 2011, Alvarez will collaborate with new hitting coaches Ryan Powers and Jon Prieto, along with pitching coach Matt Ford, who is making his third appearance with the team.
This comprehensive coaching overhaul represents a strategic investment in the Pirates' farm system, combining fresh perspectives with institutional knowledge to create a development pipeline positioned for success in 2026 and beyond.
