The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that they’ve extended the contracts of their entire Major League Coaching Staff through the 2017 season. This, of course, includes Pitching Coach Ray Searage.
“We are very pleased to maintain the continuity and quality of our Major League Coaching Staff through at least the 2017 season,” Neal Huntington said in a statement. “This is a group of quality, talented baseball men who make our organization better each day.”
The following coaches are included in the extensions:
Ray Searage – He’s been the Pitching Coach since 2011
Jeff Branson – Hitting coach since 2014
Brad Fischer – Coach since 2015
Dave Jauss – Bench coach this year, coach since 2013
Nick Leyva – First Base coach since 2015
Jeff Livesey – Assistant Hitting Coach since 2014
Euclides Rojas – Bullpen Coach since 2011
Rick Sofield – Third base coach and outfield coach
Herberto Andrade – Bullpen catcher since 2004
This is obviously a great thing all around, but that’s especially the case with Searage. Jeff Branson has also done a great job with hitters, and it’s looking like Gregory Polanco might be his calling card, just like Francisco Liriano was the first reclamation guy that got everyone noticing Searage.