Pirates bench coach Don Kelly receives rave reviews for running training camp at PNC Park

As a former bench coach who is well aware of the job requirements, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton has been deferential to Don Kelly when it comes to mapping out the minutiae of his first spring training and the subsequent three-week training camp.

Where Shelton heaps constant credit on Kelly for how he’s run the camps, he also delights in ribbing the former Mt. Lebanon and Point Park star who made his major-league debut with the Pirates in 2007 at every opportunity for being a hometown hero.

“No. 1, I do know a little bit of the legend,” Shelton said. “No. 2, I think I probably try to play it up as much as possible just so I can tease him about it. But the third part of that, I think it’s well-deserved.”

After spending last season as the first base coach with the Houston Astros, Kelly has wasted no time in becoming Shelton’s right-hand man as Pirates bench coach. The 40-year-old Kelly has received rave reviews in camp for his attention to detail in a camp with condensed quarters and county restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic, as well as ability to adjust on the fly and willingness to do just about anything.

Even if it means running the bases in rundowns or playing first base in intrasquad scrimmages, as Kelly did again Sunday. He’s known to call out loudly for pop-ups, drawing cheers from Pirates players. A utility player over nine seasons with the Pirates, Detroit Tigers and Miami Marlins, Kelly has the distinction of playing every position on the field and batting in every spot in the lineup.

That versatility kept Kelly in the majors, and it’s something he can share with Pirates players, especially as they deal with roster and positional fluidity as players test positive for covid-19. That he does so with self-deprecation speaks volumes about Kelly’s personal charm.

“I talk to them about different things and different experiences, and I’m really glad that I did get to play all those,” said Kelly, a career .230 hitter who had 23 home runs. “I know that I’ll never hit a ball as far as Josh Bell, and I’m sure (Jim) Leyland would tell me that I couldn’t hit it twice and hit it as far as (Bell) can hit it.

“There were some tough times during my career. There’s a lot of things that you learn going through that, to be able to relate to guys and help them through similar tough situations playing the game. It’s a hard game to play, and as we go out there to compete, just reminding guys that and getting them to focus on what they need to focus on in their preparation process to be able to have success during the games. It’s something that I struggled with myself in the minor leagues and even in the big leagues coming up. It’s those times that really build you for a role like this.”

How Kelly has handled the role reminds Shelton not of himself but his former boss and close friend, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. Both Baldelli and Kelly have backgrounds of going from MLB player to scout to coach, so it’s no wonder Shelton sees similarities. But it’s more in their traits and how they have handled fame, fortune and failure.

“If you spend any time around Donnie Kelly, you realize how much of a good human being he is,” Shelton said. “His humility is off the charts. I see a lot in those two in terms of how thoughtful they are. They’ve both scouted, so they both have a different perspective of what’s going on in the game. They’re very similar, and I think that’s one of the reasons why, when we start talking about who would fit best with me, you know, people talked about how Rocco and I fit well together because we’re different. Donnie and I are different, and I think that’s why it works. …

“One of the things that stands out is the fact that he played recently. He has a really good understanding still of what the current player is. And that’s extremely helpful for me.”

Pirates players were impressed with how coaches communicated during the shutdown, just one of many areas where Kelly played a behind-the-scenes role. He’s responsible for planning the particulars of every day of training camp, which has Kelly calling or texting Shelton and others in the front office, performance staff and grounds crew at all hours.

“DK’s been incredible,” Pirates right-hander Joe Musgrove said. “With the efficiency of the group chats and organization of meetings, even down to the detail of our schedule with what it looks like with color coordination, it just makes it easy and simple for us.

“And it doesn’t seem like much, I guess, but as a player, with so many things on your mind, and when you have to stress over where you have to be and what time and you’ve got stuff all over this big jumble of paper, that adds a little extra level of stress. The way that they’ve been running it has been incredible. It’s been smooth. … We just show up when our window is and everything’s set up for us. It’s been great.”

That’s where Kelly’s spring training experience proved invaluable for this camp, as he learned the need to maximize every minute of the day in a way he never quite understood as a major-league player.

“Man, I think it’s just the unknown,” Kelly said. “Going through it where five minutes matters. When you’re playing, you really don’t grasp that, you kind of take it for granted. …

“As tough as this spring has been, I know that I’ve enjoyed it. I think that other people have as well. Coming up to meet the challenge of getting through it and getting these guys ready to play.”

It’s a challenge but one that could prepare Kelly for a future managerial role. Although he isn’t looking that far ahead, Shelton already sees big things in Kelly’s coaching future, especially with the Pirates.

“Donnie’s really smart,” Shelton said. “I think we’re going to see a guy with a really high ceiling. He’s smart. He asks good questions. He’s organized. I think this is just the beginning of his career and what he’s going to do and I’m really excited that he’s the person that I’m asking daily questions to – and I know at times I mess with him, especially with you guys – but to state how much he means to me on a daily basis in terms of the conversations on everything we’re doing and being able to bounce things off, it’s extremely helpful because he is very thoughtful.”