Pittsburgh Pirates Hire Matt Hague as New Hitting Coach

The Pittsburgh Pirates have brought back a familiar face to bolster their coaching staff, hiring Matt Hague as their new hitting coach. Hague returns to the team that drafted him in 2008, stepping into a role vacated by Andy Haines, who was dismissed following a disappointing offensive season for the Pirates.

Hague, 39, spent the previous season serving as an assistant hitting coach with the Toronto Blue Jays. His appointment comes in the wake of Pittsburgh's struggles at the plate, where the team ranked in the bottom 10 across major statistical categories, including runs scored (24th) and home runs (25th). The Pirates also set a club record with 1,504 strikeouts, the second-highest total in the National League, trailing only Colorado.

Drafted by the Pirates in the ninth round in 2008, Hague made his MLB debut with Pittsburgh in 2012. Despite limited playing opportunities with the Pirates and later the Toronto Blue Jays, he posted a .226 batting average with seven RBIs in 84 career at-bats. After a brief stint in Japan in 2016 and minor league assignments with three different organizations in 2017 and 2018, Hague transitioned into coaching.

The Pirates ended the last season with a 76-86 record for the second consecutive year. Their offensive woes were a significant factor, overshadowing strong performances from their pitching staff, including National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes and fellow rookie Jared Jones. As the offseason unfolds, the Pirates will likely focus on strengthening their lineup, which is currently anchored by veteran left fielder Bryan Reynolds.

​Hague's return to Pittsburgh brings hope for a more productive offensive strategy and better results in the upcoming season. The team and its fans are optimistic that his experience and fresh perspective will lead to improvements at the plate.