Paul Skenes may already be the face of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but now he’s getting a mentor who could make him baseball’s next unstoppable force. The Pirates have hired former Houston Astros pitching coach Bill Murphy to take over their staff for the 2026 season – a move that could turn an already elite rotation into one of MLB’s best.
Murphy, 38, was a key architect behind Houston’s dominant pitching during their World Series run in 2022, helping stars like Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, and Cristian Javier achieve career-best numbers.
Under his guidance, the Astros led the American League in ERA (2.90), shutouts (18), and WHIP (1.09), cementing their reputation as the gold standard for pitching development.
Murphy can transform Skenes
Now, Murphy will bring that same expertise to Pittsburgh – and to Paul Skenes, who is already the frontrunner for the 2025 National League Cy Young Award. Skenes, 23, has dazzled in his first full MLB season, posting a 1.97 ERA, 216 strikeouts, and a 0.95 WHIP, while limiting opponents to a .199 batting average.
Murphy replaces Oscar Marin, who was dismissed after the 2025 campaign despite the Pirates ranking in the top 10 across nearly every major pitching category, including third-fewest home runs allowed and the most shutouts in baseball (19).
Team insiders said pitchers wanted “more direction and modernized coaching” – something Murphy, known for his analytics-based approach and bilingual communication skills, is expected to deliver immediately.
Murphy to reunite with Kelly at Pirates
Murphy’s arrival reunites him with manager Don Kelly, with whom he briefly overlapped in Houston’s system. Together, they’ll oversee a talented group headlined by Skenes, Mitch Keller, and rising prospects Braxton Ashcraft, Hunter Barco, and Bubba Chandler.
If Murphy’s track record in Houston is any indication, Skenes’ best days – and possibly a Pirates playoff run – could be just beginning.
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