Fansided

Pittsburgh Pirates give contract extensions to Hurdle, Huntington

By Michael Collins

Mar 31, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) is presented with the 2013 Manger of the Year award by Pirates former manager Jim Leyland (right) before the Pirates hosted the Chicago Cubs in the opening day baseball game at PNC Park. The Pirates won 1-0 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) is presented with the 2013 Manger of the Year award by Pirates former manager Jim Leyland (right) before the Pirates hosted the Chicago Cubs in the opening day baseball game at PNC Park. The Pirates won 1-0 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

It seems that last year’s return to the postseason, resurgence of fan interest and an N.L. Manager of the Year award were enough to convince the Pittsburgh Pirates to give contract extensions to manager Clint Hurdle, and general manager Neal Huntington.

The Pirates announced on Saturday that the organization has signed both Huntington and Hurdle through the 2017 season, with a club option for 2018. [Source: ESPN]

The turnaround for the Pirates–who returned to playoff baseball for the first time since 1992 last season–was a long-awaited thing for fans, who suffered through over 20 years of frustration and losing seasons after dominating the division during the early ’90s.

Huntington was hired in 2007, and was responsible for the rebuilding of the Pirates’ farm system into one of the best in baseball. Hurdle won the 2013 N.L. Manager of the Year award after leading Pittsburgh to a 93-win season, and a wildcard playoff berth.

It’s a long time coming that an organization as rich in history as the Pirates once again has some stability in the front office and the dugout, and with the young stars advancing through their minor league system, the Pirates are going to be in the hunt for the playoffs for years to come.

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