Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Pirates are undergoing significant changes in their front office, as John Baker transitions from his role as director of coaching and player development to a new position overseeing the performance team. This information was disclosed by sources to MLB.com, though the club has yet to confirm the move officially. The search for a new farm director is currently underway.

In his new capacity, Baker will be responsible for managing various aspects such as strength and conditioning, nutrition, mental skills, sports science, and more across both Major and Minor League levels. This shift is part of a broader series of changes anticipated within the team's management structure.

Baker joined the Pirates in November 2020 with a focus on individualized player development strategies aimed at maximizing player potential. This approach has been particularly successful with pitchers like Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, and Luis Ortiz advancing through the system to become key rotation members. However, challenges remain on the offensive side as top position-player prospects have struggled at the Major League level. These issues have prompted additional offseason changes, including hiring Matt Hague as hitting coach.

Before joining the Pirates, Baker worked with the Chicago Cubs as a mental skills coordinator and head applied mental skills coach. His coaching career began in 2015 when he served as a special assistant in the Cubs’ baseball operations department.

This transition marks one of several director-level changes for the Pirates this offseason. Max Kwan is set to become the new director of international scouting, succeeding Junior Vizcaino. Kevin Tenenbaum is expected to take over as vice president of research and development. Additionally, a new pro scouting director will be appointed following Will Lawton's move to another role within the organization.