Pirates name former Tigers minor-league manager Mike Rabelo assistant hitting coach
The Pittsburgh Pirates made the final appointment to their coaching staff Tuesday when general manager Ben Cherington named Mike Rabelo assistant hitting coach.
Rabelo, 39, was a manager in the Detroit Tigers’ farm system for six seasons, most recently with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves in 2019. He led the SeaWolves to a 77-61 record, including 46-26 after the Eastern League All-Star break. Rabelo compiled winning records in all but one of those seasons.
He was Midwest League Manager of the Year with the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2017. He also was a coach for the Gulf Coast League Tigers in 2011 and the Connecticut Tigers of the New York-Penn League in 2012 and ‘13.
Rabelo, a fourth-round draft choice of the Tigers in 2001, played professionally for 10 seasons. He spent parts of three seasons in the big leagues as a catcher with Detroit (2006-07) and Florida (2008).
Rabelo joins manager Derek Shelton’s coaching staff that includes Don Kelly (bench), Tarrik Brock (first base), Joey Cora (third base), Rick Eckstein (hitting), Oscar Marin (pitching), Justin Meccage (bullpen), Glenn Sherlock (coach), Herbie Andrade (coaching assistant) and Jordan Comadena (bullpen catcher).
Cora, Eckstein, Meccage, Andrade and Comadena are holdovers from the previous staff.
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Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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