PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In first place for 33 days of the regular season, Pirates manager Derek Shelton picked as a coach for the National League in the All-Star Game in a couple of weeks in Seattle.
Shelton selected by National League manager Rob Thomson, the announcement made to the team by Andrew McCutchen in the clubhouse.
“I was unaware,” Shelton said. “I’m the one that usually calls meetings and then I walked into a room and everyone was in there. Actually, my dad, my cousin’s husband and their kids were in there because they were here earlier to shag. It was really special. To hear the things that Cutch said means a lot. This is a guy that’s been to All-Star Games, not an All-Star Game, which he made me aware of. The fact that the reception from the team, for them to get together and do those things makes me feel good about what we are building here and the group of guys in that room.”
The 52-year-old is in his fourth season leading the Pirates and it’s the first time he’s been a part of the MLB All-Star Game. Overall his record is 179-284 with the Bucs, but having his best season to date.
“You guys have seen me get emotional a couple of times,” Shelton said. “This one. It is special to be recognized. To be able to sit in a room with the best players in the National League. The fact that I was chosen and the history I have with (Thomson). I think I expressed it last year when (Thomson) took over in Philly. He was a mentor of mine. He’s someone that played a large part in my career as I was a player on a team that he coached on. Then he was the field coordinator and farm director when I first started coaching. I learned a lot of what I know about coaching from Rob Thomson.”
“About 10 days ago he called me (although he missed the first call as he was getting his daughter ready for volleyball) and asked me this. It was an emotional moment for my wife and I. I’m so excited for my family. From talking to the other people that have done it, they say it’s one of the greatest experiences of their life. To be able to be on the field in Seattle is really going to be cool. I’m sure I will be emotional during those days.”
Before joining the Pirates he was a former coach with the Twins, Blue Jays, Rays and Cleveland. He was a catcher for two seasons in the Yankees organization before injured ended his playing career and he became a minor league coach and then manager with New York before starting his major league career.
Shelton will coach with others from the Phillies coaching staff as he coached together with Thomson in the minor leagues, noting he actually lived in his house when he didn’t have any money.