Brent Strom joins Pittsburgh Pirates as assistant pitching coach
- Brent Strom was hired as the assistant pitching coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- He previously worked with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being dismissed in October 2023 due to disappointing team performance.
- Strom's experience and mentorship of young talents like Paul Skenes are expected to help improve the Pirates' pitching and overall team performance.
In October 2023, Brent Strom, a seasoned pitching coach, faced dismissal from his position with the Arizona Diamondbacks following their near miss for the postseason due to a disappointing team ERA. At the age of 76, he sought a new opportunity to conclude his extensive coaching career more positively and was subsequently hired by the Pittsburgh Pirates as their assistant pitching coach. In this new role, Strom will collaborate with Oscar Marin, the current pitching coach, while also taking on the responsibility of mentoring budding talents like National League Rookie of the Year, Paul Skenes. Strom's impressive track record includes coaching stints with several major league teams, among which are the Houston Astros and the Kansas City Royals, and he has achieved significant success, notably with the Astros in 2017, 2019, and 2021 when they reached the World Series. Despite his past achievements, the disappointment from Arizona’s performance weighed on him heavily. Convinced that the 2023 season had produced a promising roster, he felt it was premature to retire. In his new Pittsburgh role, Strom expressed enthusiasm for both the opportunity to cultivate young talents like Skenes and the prospects of revamping a Pirates team that has struggled to make the playoffs since 2015. His partnership with Skenes, who garnered substantial attention after remarkable performances, represents a focal point of hope for the franchise. Strom’s confidence in Skenes—exemplified by their interactions during the All-Star Game—hints at his vision for Boston’s pitching capacity moving forward. Ultimately, Strom's addition to the coaching staff symbolizes a committed effort by the Pirates to re-establish themselves as competitive contenders in Major League Baseball. With his vast experience and expertise, there are high expectations for improvements in the pitching department and, consequently, the team’s overall performance in the upcoming seasons, as they aim to return to playoff contention.