Perry Hill will not be returning to the Pirates’ coaching staff in 2010. Hill was under contract for the upcoming season, so he cannot join another team’s staff. This is disappointing news, as he clearly lived up to his reputation as a legendary infield instructor last season. Andy LaRoche, Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez played some of the best defense of their careers, and Hill made Delwyn Young look like a competent second baseman. Hill retired due to personal reasons before joining the Pirates, so that may be a factor here.
“We made an aggressive attempt to bring Perry back, including exercising his option for the 2010 season and offering to restructure and extend his contract. Despite these efforts, Perry has decided that he does not want to coach,” general manager Neal Huntington said in a news release. “We respect Perry’s decision, appreciate his service to the organization and remain open to Perry returning to the organization if and when he desires to coach again.”
In other coaching news, Indianapolis Indians’ pitching coach Ray Searage was promoted to the major league staff. Searage will assist pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, likely making him Kerrigan’s successor upon his eventual departure from the position. Searage was the Indianapolis pitching coach the past two seasons.
