Pirates' pitcher Paul Skenes on not being shocked over Derek Shelton firing

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: May 10, 2025, 07:06 IST

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Pittsburgh Pirates sacked their coach Derek Shelton. This decision followed the team's poor performance. Pitcher Paul Skenes expressed a non-shocked reaction. He hinted at deeper issues within the team. Don Kelly has been appointed as the new coach. Team owner Bob Nutting expressed confidence in Kelly. Fans and management are frustrated with the continuous losses.

Pirates' pitcher Paul Skenes on not being shocked over Derek Shelton firing (Image Source: Getty)

The Pittsburgh Pirates are suffering this season. With 26 losses, the Pirates management had to make a decision, and this time it was skipper Derek Shelton who took the heat. The coach was fired from the team, which started off a chain of news and controversies. The latest addition to this is Pirates’ pitcher Paul Skenes' reaction to the announcement.

Operation Sindoor

What was his reaction? Here are the details.

Paul Skenes was not shocked by Derek Shelton being fired

When Paul Skenes was asked about his opinion on Derek Shelton being fired and whether it was a wise decision or not, Skenes gave a controversial statement.“Unfortunately, I wasn’t shocked. At the end of the day, I mean, we have 12 wins, we’re at 12-26. Someone’s gotta be held accountable, unfortunately, right now it’s him. That’s just kind of how it goes, but I don’t know that it fixes the root of the issue, which is we need to play better.”

Fans started speculating what Skenes meant with the statement and whether it came from a place of being frustrated for not winning much matches this season.One fan went on to say, “Sounds like a guy becoming increasingly more agitated with the organization.”

Another fan went on to say, “one step closer to Paul Skenes getting traded,” indicating that the Pirates’ management might trade the pitcher long before he enters free agency.

While that might be the case, for now, it can be said that the Pirates team and fans are getting frustrated with the continuous losses. With Derek Shelton out of the question, all responsibility falls on their new manager, Don Kelly.

Don Kelly appointed as the new Pirates’ coach

After relieving Shelton from the managerial position, the Pirates gave it to bench coach Don Kelly. Bob Nutting, the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, gave his statement on relieving Shelton from the position and appointing Kelly as the new head.“No one is more committed, and no one loves this team and city more than Donnie (Don Kelly). He is the right person to manage our team and help get us back on track.”

With already 26 losses and only 12 wins in the bag, Kelly already has a lot on his plate. Whether Don Kelly will be able to take the Pirates to the top still remains to be seen.Also Read: CONFIRMED: Don Kelly replaces Derek Shelton as manager of last-placed Pittsburgh Pirates

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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