Bradenton, FL (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Tuesday that
they have exercised manager Clint Hurdle's contract option for the 2014 season
while adding a club option for 2015.
Hurdle's original three-year deal was set to expire at the conclusion of the
upcoming campaign.
"Clint's leadership, infectious positive energy, passion and knowledge
transcend the clubhouse and we believe he is the right man to help us return
championship caliber baseball to Pittsburgh," said general manager Neal
Huntington.
The Pirates hired Hurdle in November 2010 after the club suffered through a
57-105 season. The team has improved dramatically under the 55-year-old
Hurdle, winning 72 games in 2011 and 79 last year.
However, both campaigns started with promise and ended with late-season
swoons.
The Pirates were in first place in late July of 2011 before finishing fourth
in the NL Central with a mark of 72-90. Last year, they were in first place as
late as July 18 and appeared set to at least finish above .500 for the first
time since 1992, but a 9-23 finish sent them to a losing record for the 20th
straight season.
"I feel privileged to have the opportunity to continue and finish what we
started," said Hurdle. "There's no place I would rather be than in a Pirates
uniform."
Prior to joining the Pirates, Hurdle spent parts of eight seasons as the
manager for the Colorado Rockies. He guided the club to the NL pennant in
2007, but was let go 46 games into 2009.
The Sports Network