Graham fills in as third-base coach for O's

PITTSBURGH -- O's director of player development Brian Graham served as the team's third-base coach in Tuesday's game against the Pirates with Bobby Dickerson attending his daughter's high school graduation.

Graham filled in as bench coach when John Russell stepped in for Orioles manager Buck Showalter in Kansas City on Saturday night, and he lives a short drive outside of Pittsburgh, in Cranberry Township. Prior to that, he spent some time as a big league coach with the Orioles in 2010.

"We are lucky to have him," Showalter said of Graham, who coached third base on Monday night at the team's Class A affiliate in Delmarva. "I could have moved [first-base coach Wayne] Kirb over there, but Kirb's such a good first-base coach. Especially with the two left-handed pitchers [the Pirates are using]."

Graham will stay at home for a few days after the two-game series before heading to Harrisburg, Pa., where Double-A Bowie will play later this week.

"It's fun for me because this is home, and secondly I spent six years with the Pirates, I was director of player development when [Andrew] McCutchen was coming through, and [Starling] Marte was part of our signing period," Graham said. "I absolutely love being in the big leagues and I love my job in the Minor Leagues. So it's good both ways."