Pirates hire new pitching development coordinator, make changes to baseball ops

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Thursday a number of changes to their baseball operations staff, including the hiring of Josh Hopper as pitching development coordinator.

Hopper comes to the Pirates after three seasons as pitching coach at Dallas Baptist University, which won 43 games in 2019 as his staff ranked ninth nationally in strikeouts with 600. Hopper, who previously spent nine seasons at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, replaces Scott Mitchell.

The Pirates also hired Rafael Freitas as their head athletic trainer. Freitas spent the last four seasons as assistant athletic trainer with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Terence Brannic was named head strength and conditioning coach. He spent the last nine seasons as assistant in Oakland. Adam Vish, a Pitt graduate, also joins the major league staff as a strength and conditioning coach after eight seasons with San Francisco.

Seth Steinhauer, the Pirates minor league rehab coordinator in 2020, was hired as a physical therapist. A.J. Patrick, who has been with the Pirates since 2015, now is director of sports performance. Todd Tomczyk continues his role as director of sports medicine and will oversee the medical operation and processes while working closely with the team physicians and medical staff.

Bryan Stroh will continue to serve as senior vice president of baseball development. Stroh was promoted to the role in April 2020 and works closely with Pirates manager Derek Shelton in overseeing clubhouse operations, which includes the sports medicine and sports nutrition departments, as well as travel, video and clubhouse staff.

Stroh also continues to oversee the club’s salary arbitration process and assists in other aspects of team management such as contract negotiations, roster management, collective bargaining matters and various baseball-related special projects.