Pirates and hitting coach Rick Eckstein part ways

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced today that Rick Eckstein has been relieved of his duties as Major League Hitting Coach. The announcement was made by General Manager Ben Cherington.

“We are grateful for Rick’s dedication to the team and our players,” said Cherington. “This was a difficult decision as we have a great deal of respect for Rick. Making the decision now gives us the opportunity to use the rest of the season to focus on improvements in our hitting program while also starting the process of looking for a replacement. We wish Rick all the best moving forward.”

“I appreciate Rick’s tireless work ethic and his passion for our players,” said Pirates Manager Derek Shelton. “Despite the challenging season, Rick always put in the effort to connect and help our players. He is a great person who we will all be rooting for in his next opportunity.”