Sun May 11 20:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Pirates’ New Manager Ejected in Record-Breaking Speed
**Pittsburgh, PA** – Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly made history, albeit in an unusual way, becoming the fastest manager ejected from a game since at least 2010. Just two games into his tenure, replacing the recently dismissed Derek Shelton, Kelly was ejected in the sixth inning of Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Braves.
The ejection came after Kelly vehemently protested a series of borderline calls by home-plate umpire Clint Vondrak. A microphone picked up Vondrak stating his refusal to continue listening to Kelly’s complaints. While Kelly maintained he was simply “protecting his guys,” the incident led to his dismissal from the game.
Adding to the unusual circumstances, the Pirates were already operating without a bench coach following Kelly’s promotion. Third base coach Mike Rabelo stepped in as acting manager after Kelly’s ejection. Kelly hopes to fill the bench coach position in the coming days.
Despite the managerial upheaval, the Pirates rallied in the later innings, forcing extra innings before ultimately falling to the Braves 3-2 in 11 innings. The loss, however, was overshadowed by Kelly’s swift ejection, a feat unmatched in recent MLB history. While manager ejections aren’t officially tracked, the Elias Sports Bureau confirmed that no other active manager has been ejected so quickly.
Kelly, who cites Hall of Famer Jim Leyland as a major influence, admitted that even Leyland hadn’t offered advice on how to avoid a rapid ejection. The Pirates’ unusual managerial situation continues to unfold as they navigate the season under their new, and unusually brief, skipper.
First Piper 