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The Pittsburgh Pirates are making a move to strengthen their pitching development by bringing in Houston Astros Triple-A pitching coach Sean Buchanan, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Buchanan is expected to work with the upper levels of the Pirates' minor league system, though his specific role has not been officially defined, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
This hire marks the Pirates' first coaching addition of the offseason and could significantly bolster their pitching infrastructure as they aim for success in 2027 and beyond.
Buchanan's Background and Track Record
Buchanan has served as the pitching coach for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys for the past two seasons and as the Astros' organizational pitching coach for five seasons. Under his guidance, Sugar Land's pitching staff delivered impressive results. In 2025, the team allowed the fewest runs and earned runs in the Pacific Coast League, posting the third-lowest ERA (4.97), the lowest batting average against (.248), and leading the league with nine shutouts. The following year, Sugar Land continued to excel, recording the lowest WHIP (1.40) and BAA (.243), the second-lowest ERA (4.51), and the second-most shutouts (nine) and strikeouts (1,346) in the PCL.
Before his time at Sugar Land, Buchanan worked as the pitching coach for Double-A Corpus Christi in 2024, High-A Asheville in 2023, and the Florida Complex League Astros Blue in 2022. He was also credited with helping Astros right-handed starter Peter Lambert become the best in the rotation in 2026, as reported by Rome. Lambert finished the season with an 8-10 record in 29 starts, a 3.82 ERA over 155.2 innings, 154 strikeouts against 59 walks, a .232 BAA, and a 1.25 WHIP.
Buchanan's coaching career also includes eight seasons at seven different collegiate programs, ranging from Division I Lehigh to Division III schools Albright College, Bard College, SUNY New Paltz, and DeSales University, as well as NAIA Ave Maria University and NJCAA Dutchess Community College.
Reuniting with Murphy and Impact on Pirates' Pitchers
The Pirates' hire of Buchanan comes a year after they brought in Astros pitching coach Bill Murphy as their MLB pitching coach. Murphy and Buchanan previously worked together in Houston and will now collaborate in Pittsburgh, albeit across the major and minor league levels.
Pittsburgh boasts a promising rotation for 2027, featuring 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, 2026 All-Star Braxton Ashcraft, Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, and Bubba Chandler. The bullpen also has solid pieces in left-handed closer Mason Montgomery, right-handed setup man Luke Weaver, and middle relievers Lake Bachar, Carmen Mlodzinski, and Yohan Ramírez.
Buchanan will have the opportunity to work with young pitchers such as left-hander Hunter Barco and right-handers Khristian Curtis, Wilber Dotel, and Antwone Kelly, who could contribute in various roles on the major league staff next season. He is also likely to see top prospects like Seth Hernandez, Reinold Navarro, Levi Sterling, and Connor Wietgrefe during Spring Training, helping prepare them for the majors in the coming years.