Pirates fire 3B coach Joey Cora, parting ways with 2nd member of Derek Shelton's staff

The Pittsburgh Pirates fired third-base coach Joey Cora after five seasons with the club.

Cora, 57, who also coached infielders, is the second member of manager Derek Shelton’s coaching staff to be fired after the Pirates (61-101) finished in last place in the NL Central for the third consecutive season. Hitting coach Rick Eckstein was fired in late August. Both were holdovers from Clint Hurdle’s coaching staff.

“We would like to thank Joey for his passion for the job and his commitment in continuously helping our players grow as big leaguers,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said in a statement. “Even though this was a difficult decision, we wanted to make it now out of respect for Joey so that it allows him to immediately be able to pursue other opportunities. We wish Joey nothing but the best moving forward.”

The Pirates had 19 baserunners thrown out at home this season — most in the major leagues — but also had the fewest errors (70). Shortstop Kevin Newman, who had a 76-game errorless streak this season, credited Cora with providing him drills to work on his fielding and lateral quickness in the offseason.

A first-round pick by the San Diego in 1985, Cora spent 11 seasons in the major leagues, playing second base for the Padres, Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians. He was selected as an All-Star in 1997 while with the Mariners.

Cora joined Hurdle’s staff in 2017 after one season as the manager for the Altoona Curve, the Pirates’ Double-A affiliate. Cora previously spent eight years under Ozzie Guillen with the Chicago White Sox, where he won a World Series ring in 2005, serving as third-base coach from 2004-06 and bench coach from 2007-11. He also worked as Guillen’s bench coach and infield instructor with the Miami Marlins.

“Joey Cora is a great baseball man whose love for the game and passion for the job was obvious every day that he represented the Pittsburgh Pirates,” Shelton said in a statement. “I want to thank him for his commitment to the organization along with all the time and dedication that he gave to our players.”