Huntington The Pittsburgh Pirates today extended the contracts of General Manager Neal Huntington and Manager Clint Hurdle for three years, with club options for the 2018 season, the team announced.
“Neal and Clint have led a team of baseball professionals, in the front office and on the field, that has transformed the Pittsburgh Pirates into a club that again must be reckoned with in the National League,” said Team President Frank Coonelly. “We are extremely pleased that they will continue to lead this team in Pittsburgh.”
“I have a tremendous amount of personal respect and appreciation for the impact that Neal, Clint and their staffs have had on our organization,” said Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting. “My expectation has been and remains that they, led by Frank, will continue to play a lead role in our success for years to come.”
Huntington was named General Manager on September 25, 2007.
The Pirates last season won 94 games, advancing to the post season for the first time since 1992. In addition, the Pirates farm system has become one the deepest and best in baseball, resulting in a No. 1 ranking by Baseball America entering the 2014 season.
Entering the 2014 season, Hurdle oversaw a 37-game improvement in the season win total of the Pirates, culminating in the 94 victories a year ago. For his efforts in 2013, he was named Manager-of-the-Year by The Sporting News and the N.L. Manager-of-the-Year by the BBWAA.
Hurdle was named manager of the Pirates on November 15, 2010 and has posted a 248-242 record (.506 winning percentage) in his four seasons at the helm.