INDIANAPOLIS – The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced that Miguel Pérez will return for his third season as manager of the Indianapolis Indians for the upcoming 2024 season. Additional returners include hitting coach Eric Munson for his third year and pitching coach (previously bullpen coach) Drew Benes, who split 2023 between Indy and Double-A Altoona.
The Pirates also announced the additions of bench coach and former Indians infielder Chris Truby, integrated baseball performance coach (IBPC) Bart Hanegraaff, pitching coach Cibney Bello and bullpen, catching/game planning coach Chad Noble.
Manager Miguel Pérez
Pérez, 40, is entering his 10th season as a minor league coach for the Pirates, seventh in a managerial role and third as Indianapolis’ manager. With the Indians in 2023, he coached 12 players to their major league debuts, which ties Indy’s most since becoming the Pirates’ affiliate in 2005 (also: 2016). Working in a new playoff format with the International League season split into two halves, he led the Indians to a 37-37 record in the second half, moved into a share of first place three times and had his team above .500 from June 30-Aug. 9. The former catcher began his coaching career in 2014 and made his way through Indianapolis as a coach in 2016. As a player, he was signed by Cincinnati as an international free agent out of Guatire, Miranda, Venezuela on Nov.15, 2000, and became the first player from his hometown to make his MLB debut on Sept. 7, 2005, vs. Milwaukee. He served as an Indians backstop for brief stints during the 2009, ’11 and ’12 seasons.
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