Pittsburgh Review

Matt Hague has taken on the role of hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking a return to the organization where his professional career began. Hague was originally drafted by the Pirates in 2008 and had a notable playing career, including leading the International League with 165 hits in 2011.

Hague's playing career spanned 11 years, during which he played for both Pittsburgh and Toronto before retiring in 2018. He then spent five seasons with the Blue Jays, working as a scout and hitting coach at various levels. In 2024, he served as Toronto’s assistant hitting coach.

Reflecting on his return to Pittsburgh, Hague said, “I don’t think I’ve fully grasped everything yet, but there are a lot of emotions, especially excitement and joy.”

In preparation for Spring Training, Hague emphasized understanding players individually. “The first thing is gaining an understanding of the players," he stated. "You can have all the plans you want, but those have to be adjusted accordingly with player profiles.”

Hague discussed his coaching philosophy: “You can’t tell all the guys to execute the exact same thing... They’re at the Major League level because they know how to solve problems with their bodies and mentality-wise.”

Regarding the current roster of hitters like Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz, Hague remarked on their athleticism: “It is an exciting group... it’s about bringing that together to where they do grow.”

Hague also expressed enthusiasm about working with Pirates manager Derek Shelton: “With Sheltie, you really listen when he speaks because it’s a fun conversation. It’s never dull."

As pitching continues to evolve with faster velocities and varied strategies, Hague acknowledged the challenge this presents for hitters. “Always," he responded when asked if his job is to put hitters in successful positions. "The way teams are designing pitches... you have to be able to identify and understand those."