Derek Shelton
{{short description|American baseball player and coach (born 1970)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name = Derek Shelton
| image =
| caption = Shelton as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates
| team = Pittsburgh Pirates
| number = 17
| position = Catcher / First baseman / Coach / Manager
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|7|30}}
| birth_place = Carbondale, Illinois, U.S.
| bats = Right
| throws = Right
|statyear = April 23, 2025
|stat1label = Managerial record
|stat1value = 304–429
|stat2label = Winning %
|stat2value = {{Winning percentage|304|429}}
| teams =
As coach
- Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|2005}}–{{mlby|2009}})
- Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2010}}–{{mlby|2016}})
- Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2017}})
- Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2019}})
As manager
- Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2020}}–present)
}}
Derek Lee Shelton (born July 30, 1970) is an American former minor league catcher and first baseman and professional baseball coach. He is the current manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). After his playing career in the New York Yankees organization ended in 1993, he coached and managed within the Yankees minor league system between 1997 and 2002. He then served as a minor league hitting coordinator for the Cleveland Indians starting in 2003.
Shelton was the hitting coach for the Cleveland Indians from 2005 until 2009, and the Tampa Bay Rays from 2010 until 2016. Shelton then worked as the quality control coach for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017. He was the bench coach for the Minnesota Twins from 2018 through 2019.
Amateur and collegiate career
Shelton's father Ron coached baseball and freshman basketball while serving as an associate principal at Warren Township High School after his own professional playing career within the Baltimore Orioles organization ended.{{cite news |last1=Castle |first1=George |date=August 25, 2020 |title=Warren grad Derek Shelton recalls father's coaching as he navigates challenging first season as Pirates manager: 'My dad's one of the best communicators around.' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/sports/ct-lns-spt-baseball-warren-pirates-derek-shelton-st-082520-20200824-zfhm6l3fcngj7ddgwcitqcnraq-story.html |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=Lake County News-Sun}}{{cite news |last=Peterson |first=Richard |date=August 14, 2022 |title=When Ron Shelton met Ron Shelton |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/life/goodness/2022/08/14/ron-shelton-baseball-writer-derek-pirates-movies/stories/202208020112 |access-date=April 23, 2023 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} Derek Shelton received his first set of catcher's equipment at the age of three, and later graduated from Warren, where he played for his father's baseball teams. Shelton's mother Kathy was also a teacher.{{cite news |last1=DiPaola |first1=Jerry |date=December 5, 2019 |title=Pirates manager Derek Shelton's path guided by 'hard-nosed' competitiveness |url=https://triblive.com/sports/pirates-manager-derek-shelton-loved-the-game-of-baseball-from-the-age-of-3/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review}} His brother is Craig.
After graduating from high school, Shelton attended Southern Illinois University where he played college baseball for the Salukis. In his sophomore year (1990), the Salukis won 49 games and the Missouri Valley Conference championship, and played in the NCAA Tournament. Shelton led the Missouri Valley Conference in 1991, his junior year, by throwing out 43% of opposing baserunners attempting to steal.{{cite web |date=October 22, 2009 |title=SHELTON NAMED RAYS' HITTING COACH |url=https://siusalukis.com/news/2009/10/22/Shelton_Named_Rays_Hitting_Coach.aspx |website=Southern Illinois Salukis}}{{cite web |date=November 27, 2019 |title=DEREK SHELTON NAMED MANAGER OF PITTSBURGH PIRATES |url=https://siusalukis.com/news/2019/11/27/baseball-derek-shelton-named-manager-of-pittsburgh-pirates |website=Southern Illinois Salukis}} While at SIU, Shelton earned a degree in criminal justice and minored in political science.{{cite news |last1=Mackey |first1=Jason |date=February 3, 2020 |title=The personal side of Pirates manager Derek Shelton |url=https://www.theprogressnews.com/the-personal-side-of-pirates-manager-derek-shelton/article_86eab4ab-27e1-593d-a9a3-7223e4a54fc7.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423004732/https://www.theprogressnews.com/the-personal-side-of-pirates-manager-derek-shelton/article_86eab4ab-27e1-593d-a9a3-7223e4a54fc7.html |archive-date=April 23, 2023 |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}
Minor leagues
=Playing career=
Shelton was a minor league catcher in the New York Yankees organization in 1992 and 1993,{{cite news |last1=Berry |first1=Adam |date=August 4, 2020 |title=Shelton 'kind of expected' Baldelli's BP prank |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/derek-shelton-pranked-by-friend-rocco-baldelli |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}} advancing from the Short-Season A Oneonta Yankees to the Single-A Greensboro Hornets before an elbow surgery ended his playing career.{{cite news |last1=Nesbitt |first1=Stephen J. |date=July 21, 2020 |title=Anchorman, Crash Davis, a golden bat and Derek Shelton's dream come true |url=https://theathletic.com/1930339/2020/07/21/anchorman-crash-davis-a-golden-bat-and-derek-sheltons-dream-come-true/ |access-date=April 23, 2023 |work=The Athletic}}{{cite news |date=December 5, 2019 |title=The Pirates' hiring process tested the Shelton family's resolve. They passed |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2019/12/05/Pittsburgh-Pirates-manager-Derek-Shelton-family-wife-Alison-kids-house-hiring/stories/201912050131 |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}{{cite news |last1=Berry |first1=Adam |date=July 24, 2020 |title=Patience clearly among Shelton's assets |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/derek-shelton-long-path-to-be-manager |access-date=April 23, 2023 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}} Shelton played 46 games in his minor league career, and finished with a .341 batting average, one home run, and 19 runs batted in.{{Cite web |title=Derek Shelton Register Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=shelto002der |access-date=January 20, 2017 |work=Baseball Reference}}
=Coaching career=
Shelton became a minor league coach in 1997,{{cite news |last1=Bollinger |first1=Rhett |date=November 6, 2017 |title=Twins name Shelton new bench coach |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/derek-shelton-named-new-twins-bench-coach-c260795042 |access-date=April 23, 2023 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}} and managed Yankee minor league teams for three seasons, from 2000 through 2002. His teams achieved a .624 winning percentage, and he won the New York–Penn League championship in 2002 with the Staten Island Yankees.{{cite news |last1=Hollander |first1=Sophia |date=September 11, 2002 |title=BASEBALL; In Class A, Yankees Are Still Winners |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/11/sports/baseball-in-class-a-yankees-are-still-winners.html |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Dan |date=September 12, 2002 |title=Baby Yanks need one more |url=https://nypost.com/2002/09/12/baby-yanks-need-one-more/ |access-date=April 23, 2023 |work=New York Post}}{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Dan |date=September 13, 2002 |title=S. I. Yanks wrap it up |url=https://nypost.com/2002/09/13/s-i-yanks-wrap-it-up/ |access-date=April 23, 2023 |work=New York Post}}
Major league coaching career
Shelton was the minor league hitting coordinator for the Cleveland Indians organization from 2003,{{cite news |date=December 6, 2019 |title=Those who knew Derek Shelton as a young coach believed he would manage someday |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2019/12/07/Pirates-derek-shelton-manager-neal-huntington-ben-cherington-bob-nutting-frank-coonelly-clint-hurdle-mark-shapiro-joe-maddon/stories/201912060122 |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}{{cite news |last1=Mackey |first1=Jason |date=April 14, 2023 |title=Derek Shelton should — and will — get the opportunity to finish what he started with Pirates |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2023/04/14/pirates-derek-shelton-contract-manager-john-russell-continue-future/stories/202304140063 |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} until he replaced major league hitting coach Eddie Murray on an interim basis in the midst of the 2005 season.{{cite news |date=June 5, 2005 |title=Anemic Cleveland fires hitting coach Murray after defeat |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/jun/05/anemic-cleveland-fires-hitting-coach-murray-after/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=The Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press}} Republished as: {{cite news |date=June 5, 2005 |title=Murray Is Fired by Indians |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jun-05-sp-bbnotes5-story.html |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press}} Shelton became the Tampa Bay Rays' hitting coach after the 2009 season.{{cite news |date=October 21, 2009 |title=Rays hire Derek Shelton as hitting coach |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/rays-hire-derek-shelton-as-hitting-coach |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=Fox Sports}}{{cite news |date=October 21, 2009 |title=Shelton joins Rays staff |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4582499 |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} The Rays fired him in September 2016.{{cite news |date=September 6, 2016 |title=Rays fire hitting coach Derek Shelton |url=https://www.dailycommercial.com/story/news/2016/09/06/article-788295fe-b3d1-55be-911c-4bd7953b3ebf-html/25365104007/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=Daily Commercial |agency=Associated Press}}{{cite news |date=September 6, 2016 |title=Rays fire hitting coach Derek Shelton, promote Chad Mottola |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17478439/tampa-bay-rays-fire-hitting-coach-derek-shelton |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=ESPN}} On December 12, 2016, the Toronto Blue Jays hired him as a quality control coach for the 2017 season.{{cite news |date=December 16, 2016 |title=Blue Jays hire Derek Shelton as quality control coach |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18265748/toronto-blue-jays-hire-derek-shelton-quality-control-coach |access-date=April 24, 2023 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}{{cite news |date=December 12, 2016 |title=Toronto Blue Jays name Derek Shelton quality control coach for 2017 season |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/toronto-blue-jays-name-derek-shelton-quality-control-coach-for-2017-season-1.3200342 |access-date=December 12, 2016 |work=CTV News |agency=The Canadian Press}}{{cite news |last1=Lott |first1=John |date=December 13, 2016 |title=Blue Jays hire Derek Shelton as first quality control coach |url=https://theathletic.com/29553/2016/12/13/blue-jays-hire-derek-shelton-as-first-quality-control-coach/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=The Athletic}} On November 6, 2017, the Minnesota Twins hired Shelton as bench coach for the 2018 season.{{cite news |date=November 6, 2017 |title=Twins Name Derek Shelton Bench Coach |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/twins-name-derek-shelton-bench-coach-260787874 |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}}{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Phil |date=November 7, 2017 |title=Twins name Derek Shelton bench coach |url=https://www.startribune.com/twins-name-derek-shelton-bench-coach/455634823/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108205009/https://www.startribune.com/twins-name-derek-shelton-bench-coach/455634823/ |archive-date=November 8, 2017 |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=Minnesota Star Tribune}}
On November 27, 2019, Shelton was named the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{cite news |date=November 23, 2019 |title=Pirates hire Twins bench coach Derek Shelton as manager |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28176445/pirates-hire-twins-bench-coach-derek-shelton-manager |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=ESPN}}{{cite news |last1=Topkin |first1=Marc |date=November 27, 2019 |title=Former Rays hitting coach Derek Shelton named Pirates manager |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2019/11/27/former-rays-hitting-coach-derek-shelton-named-pirates-manager/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=Tampa Bay Times}}{{cite web |author=Perrotto |first=John |date=November 27, 2019 |title=Pirates name Derek Shelton new manager |url=https://triblive.com/sports/derek-shelton-named-pirates-new-manager/ |access-date=November 27, 2019 |website=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review}} Shelton became the 41st manager in club history. On April 22, 2023, the Pirates announced that Shelton's contract had been extended.{{cite news |last1=delos Santos |first1=Justice |date=April 22, 2023 |title=Pirates extend manager Shelton: 'He's the right guy to lead us' |url=https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/derek-shelton-pirates-extension |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=Pittsburgh Pirates |publisher=MLB.com}}{{cite news |date=April 22, 2023 |title=Pirates manager Derek Shelton receives contract extension |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/36265388/pirates-manager-derek-shelton-receives-contract-extension |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=ESPN}}
=Managerial record=
{{updated|April 23, 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Team | rowspan="2"|Year | colspan="5"|Regular season | colspan="4"|Postseason | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result |
| PIT||2020
||60||19||41||{{Winning percentage|19|41}}|| 5th in NL Central || – || – || – || – | ||||||||
| PIT||2021
||162||61||101||{{Winning percentage|61|101}}|| 5th in NL Central || – || – || – || – | ||||||||
| PIT||2022
||162||62||100||{{Winning percentage|62|100}}|| 4th in NL Central || – || – || – || – | ||||||||
| PIT||2023
||162||76||86||{{Winning percentage|76|86}}|| 4th in NL Central || – || – || – || – | ||||||||
| PIT||2024
||162||76||86||{{Winning percentage|76|86}}|| 5th in NL Central || – || – || – || – | ||||||||
| PIT||2025
||25||10||15||{{Winning percentage|10|15}}|| || – || – || – || – | ||||||||
| colspan="2"|Total|| 733 || 304 || 429 || {{Winning percentage|304|429}}|| || 0 || 0|| {{Winning percentage|0|0}} || |
Personal life
Shelton and his wife, Alison, have three children: Jackson, Kristina, and Gianna. They live in Treasure Island, Florida.{{Cite news |last=Mackey |first=Jason |date=July 21, 2020 |title='He's ready for this': Inside the rare makeup of Derek Shelton |url=http://liber.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2020/07/21/Pirates-Derek-Shelton-leadership-traits-Alison-Ron-wife-dad-Joe-Maddon-MLB-manager-debut/stories/202007200053 |access-date=July 26, 2020 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=486359|brm=shelto002der}}
{{Pittsburgh Pirates roster navbox}}
{{Pittsburgh Pirates managers}}
{{MLB managers by team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shelton, Derek}}
Category:American expatriate baseball people in Canada
Category:Baseball coaches from Illinois
Category:Cleveland Indians coaches
Category:Greensboro Hornets players
Category:Major League Baseball bench coaches
Category:Major League Baseball hitting coaches
Category:Minor league baseball managers
Category:Minnesota Twins coaches
Category:Oneonta Yankees players
Category:Sportspeople from Carbondale, Illinois
Category:Pittsburgh Pirates managers
Category:Tampa Bay Rays coaches
Category:Toronto Blue Jays coaches
Category:Southern Illinois Salukis baseball players
Category:Baseball players from Lake County, Illinois