Sports

Pirates make coaching changes for 2017 staff

Andrew McCutchen #22 of the Pirates is greeted by Gregory Polanco #25 as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the third inning at Dodger Stadium on August 12, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Pirates have named Kimera Bartee as the outfield and baserunning/first base coach, Joey Cora as the infield/third base coach and Tom Prince as the bench coach for the 2017 season, according to a news release from the Pirates on Saturday.

The 44-year-old Bartee spent the last nine seasons as Pittsburgh’s Minor Leagues outfield/baserunning coordinator after joining the organization in 2008. He also served as manager at State College in 2011. Bartee was originally selected by Baltimore in the 14th round of the 1993 First-Year Player Draft and made his Major League debut with the Tigers in 1996.

Primarily a center fielder during his playing career, Bartee played all three outfield positions and was named the International League’s Fastest Baserunner and Best Defensive Outfielder in 1997. Bartee spent parts of six seasons as a player in the Major Leagues with Detroit (1996-1999), Cincinnati (2000) and Colorado (2001) before beginning his minor league coaching career in the Baltimore organization.

Prince spent the 2016 season -- his 33rd in professional baseball and 23rd in the Pirates organization -- as the minor league field coordinator. He also spent 11 seasons managing in the Pittsburgh farm system, most recently with Double-A Altoona in 2015.

Originally selected by Pittsburgh in the fourth round of the 1984 First-Year Player Draft, Prince made his Major League debut with the Pirates in 1987 and went on to play parts of 17 seasons in the big leagues with Pittsburgh (1987-1993), Los Angeles-NL (1994-1998), Philadelphia (1999-2000), Minnesota (2001-2003) and Kansas City (2003). Since retiring as a player following the 2003 campaign, the 52-year-old Prince has spent the last 13 seasons as a coach or manager in the Pirates minor league system.

The 51-year-old Cora served as manager for the Altoona Curve in 2016 and led the club to a 76-64 regular season record and a wild card berth. A native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, Cora was a first-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 1985 and spent 11 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Padres (1987, 1989-90), White Sox (1991-1994), Mariners (1995-1998) and Indians (1998). The switch-hitting infielder batted .300 with 40 doubles, 11 home runs and 54 RBI with the Mariners in 1997,  and was named to the American League All-Star team.

Cora was a member of the Major League staff of the White Sox for eight years under manager Ozzie Guillen from 2004-2011. He was Chicago’s third base coach for three years (2004-2006) before spending the final five years as the bench coach. Cora also joined Guillen in 2012 and served as the bench coach and infield instructor for the Miami Marlins.

The 2016 bench coach, Dave Jauss, will remain with the Major League staff as a coach in 2017. Brad Fischer, who was a Major League coach in 2016, has been offered a role in Player Development, but is still considering his options, the release stated.