The Pittsburgh Pirates named Dave Turgeon, who is entering his 10th season as a coach in the team’s system, to manage the Double-A Altoona Curve. He replaces Michael Ryan, who was fired last season.
Turgeon spent last season as manager of the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, where he connected with prospects from five major league organizations, including the Pirates.
He also has been the Pirates’ coordinator of instruction since 2015. Previously, he spent eight seasons as a college coach at Boston College, Connecticut, Duke and Virginia Tech.
“Everything that I’ve done to this point has prepared me to go up there and meet whatever challenges that I have there,” Turgeon said in a statement. “Managing has always been one of the most enjoyable things because I love going through life with a group of guys for six months through the ups and downs and come together as a team. That is one of my favorite things about player development.”
Turgeon, 54, will be joined by pitching coach Tom Filer, 63, who held the same post for the Curve in 2010 when it won its first Eastern League championship. He has been an assistant pitching coordinator in the Pirates’ system since 2015.
The Curve’s new hitting coach, David Newman, 46, joins the Pirates organization for his 10th season as a coach. He spent last season managing the Mobile BayBears, the Los Angeles Angels’ Double-A affiliate in the Southern League.
Also, the Curve named Jorge Islas as its athletic trainer. He held the same post for Single-A Greensboro last season. Joe Schlesinger will return for his fourth season as the team’s strength and conditioning coach.
In two other managerial moves, the Pirates named Kieran Mattison manager in Single-A Greensboro after he led the Rookie League Bristol team last season, and Miguel Perez moves from Greensboro to Single-A Bradenton.
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